perplexus.info :: Logic : How to save yourself

How to save yourself (Posted on 2006-08-20)

Your boss doesn't like you and wants to remove you but also wants to show others that he has given you a fair chance. He uses a game like this one but instead he adds a twist to this game by bringing a competitor his favorite subordinate, who is totally clueless. You are given a bowl that says LEAVE on both slips, and he is given a bowl that says STAY on both slips, both of which are put on a revolving table.

The boss says that you and the subordinate have each written a STAY and a LEAVE slip for your own bowl, but you know what is really in the bowls, while the subordinate does not. You both are supposed to pick one slip from your own bowl. A friend of yours says he will check the slips left in each bowl to prevent foul play.

Suddenly a prankster spins the table and now you don't know which is your bowl. You want to do three things: to stay, show that you have not done foul play, and show that either the subordinate's bowl is rigged or he drew LEAVE. What strategy do you use?

Submitted by Salil

Rating: 1.6667 (3 votes)

Solution: (Hide)

One method (found here) has you wait to draw until after the subordinate does. Then ask if you can draw the remaining slip, since if no foul play was used, each outcome is equally likely. If the subordinate drew "STAY", he will agree, and since you will draw "STAY" too, you will reveal his bowl is foul play. If he drew "LEAVE", he will disagree, and you will draw "STAY" from your bowl. However, you will have to destroy the remaining slip in your bowl in both cases to conceal your foul play.

Another method (found here) is to draw your slip quickly. If it says STAY, spin the table or combine the slips to conceal your foul play, since the subordinate must have drawn LEAVE. If it says LEAVE, eat the slip, implying it's the opposite of the LEAVE in the bowl, while showing the subordinate's two STAY slips are foul play.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)

Subject	Author	Date
re: No Subject	Gamer	2007-01-02 01:30:54
No Subject	Patty	2006-10-11 14:42:09
re: ?	Salil	2006-08-25 22:31:12
?	Benny	2006-08-25 10:21:54
re(2): Category?	brianjn	2006-08-23 07:40:57
re: Category?	Gamer	2006-08-22 22:18:47
Category?	brianjn	2006-08-22 08:03:57
re(2): An Issue	Salil	2006-08-22 05:08:00
re(2): Another approach	Lee	2006-08-21 18:48:41
re: An Issue	Gamer	2006-08-21 10:15:09
re(2): An Issue	brianjn	2006-08-21 07:04:21
re: An Issue	Vernon Lewis	2006-08-21 04:32:55
re: Another approach	Richard	2006-08-20 22:45:18
Another approach	Lee	2006-08-20 22:00:48
An Issue	Salil	2006-08-20 20:27:59
re: Solution	Gamer	2006-08-20 15:53:57
Solution	Tristan	2006-08-20 14:35:59
Solution	Penny	2006-08-20 13:32:39

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