Before the last race, I heard the runners from Nepal, Oman and Pakistan make predictions about the final standings:

"I hope the Nepalese gets bronze, for then I'm certain to get silver."

"The Omani could get gold, but in that case I'd get silver."

"The gold medal will go to the Pakistani or to me."

I didn't know which runner said what, but as I learned later, they were all right. Furthermore, knowing which country won the race allowed me to calculate the final standings, which were... ?

well it is obvious that the predictions in order were made by either O, P, N or P, N, O

Let's see the first case

If N gets bronze, O gets silver

If O gets gold, P gets silver

Gold medallist is either N or P.

Two possibilities are true: 1st P, 2nd N, 3rd O or 1st P, 2nd O, 3rd N.

In the second case

If Nepalise gets bronze, Pakistani will get silver

If Omani gets gold, Nepalise gets silver.

Either Omani or Pakistani gets gold.

The solution is 1st O, 2nd N, 3rd O.

 

Posted by Detti on 2004-10-08 11:58:21