Argentine, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Equator competed at the Olympic Games, placing first through fifth in an event. They said:

Argentine: "I was not last."
Brazil: "Canada got the bronze."
Canada: "Argentine ended behind Equator."
Dominican Republic: "Equator got silver."
Equator: "Dominican Republic didn't get gold."

The gold and silver winners lied, but the other three told the truth. How did the event end?

(In reply to Uh, Hello? by RandyOrton)

Actually, Randy, you didn't post a solution.  You posted an answer.  You didn't explain any of your logic in arriving at the answer, so I don't think anyone could agree that you posted a solution.  And just so that I don't sound unfair to you, David Shin didn't post a solution either, just an answer.

So Old Original Oskar! was the first to truly solve the problem and post a solution.  Since I just showed God to be wrong, does that mean I should expect the universe to implode momentarily?  If it doesn't does that prove something else ;)

And just for those of you whose brains think a little differently and wanted to see a slightly different approach, here is my solution.

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First notice that Argentine cannot be gold or silver. If he were, he’d be telling the truth when he should be lying. So Argentine is telling the truth and must be in 3rd or 4th position.

Second Equator can’t be silver. If he were, then DR actually did get gold, but then DR’s statement would be true when it should be false. Therefore Equator can’t be silver and DR’s statement must be a lie. So DR must be gold or silver.

Third, Equator can’t be gold. If he were, then his own statement would be true when it should be false. Therefore we know that Equator is one of the truth tellers, and DR must have gotten silver since he is a liar who didn’t get gold.

Fourth, Canada can’t be gold. If he were, then Brazil’s statement would be false, and we have no more room for liars.

So the only country left to be gold is Brazil. Since Canada is telling the truth, the only possible order for Argentine and Equator (based on the fact that gold and silver are taken, and Argentine can’t be last) is for Equator to take bronze and Argentine to be fourth. Which leaves Canada in last.

Brazil, DR, Equator, Argentine, and Canada is the order.

Posted by nikki on 2004-09-27 15:29:05