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Hats off (Posted on 2003-03-11) Difficulty: 2 of 5
Three convicts A,B and C were about to be executed. When they begged for a last chance, the hangman decided to let them battle it out with their wits.
So he put the 3 men on a flight of stairs, A at the top of the flight of stairs followed by B in the middle and then C at the base of the stairs. They are made to stand such that A can see B and C, and B can only see C, but can't see A, and C can see none.

They were then blindfolded, and on each of their head, he put a coloured cap; the colour of the cap can only either be black or white. The only thing they know for certain is that not all three hats have the same colour.
So the hangman wanted them to tell him what coloured hat is on their head within the next 5 seconds after he removed the blindfold. If any one who could guess his hat colour correctly, he would save the life of all 3 men.

After 4 seconds of his removing their blindfolds, the one in the middle {B} answered the question, and it was correct.

How did he do it?
You can assume that all the blindfolds were removed at the same moment.

  Submitted by Anoop    
Rating: 2.7857 (14 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
B answered only in the 4th second, which means that, the one on top of the stairs A did not know the answer. A is on top and can see the hats of B and C; but still A does not know the colour of his hat. This means that the colour of the hat of the man in the center and foot of the stairs {B and C} are different.

The man in the center {B}, must have realised that and realises that the man in front of him C has a hat of a colour different from his own i.e. if the person in front C has a white coloured hat, then his own is black and vice versa.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
SolutionAnswerMath Man2012-09-23 22:42:13
SolutionSolutionPenny2004-10-16 15:52:06
how do i ask thisSteve Royer2004-04-23 01:49:04
Solutionsolutionluvya20032003-03-15 14:03:05
No Subjectpraveen2003-03-15 02:52:32
the simple solutionluvya20032003-03-13 11:11:08
Solutiondave domingo2003-03-12 13:17:21
re(3): solution in my worldCharlie2003-03-12 04:49:02
re(3): solution in my world....levikAlan2003-03-11 16:32:53
re: How about with 10 prisoners?Gamer2003-03-11 16:30:40
How about with 10 prisoners?Gamer2003-03-11 16:29:30
Some Thoughtsre(2): solution in my worldErlys2003-03-11 16:21:39
3 blindfolded with hatsErlys2003-03-11 16:11:14
hats off solutionbob dew2003-03-11 09:56:27
re: solution in my worldBryan2003-03-11 08:35:13
solution in my worldCory Taylor2003-03-11 06:46:15
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