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Yum, arsenic! (Posted on 2002-05-29) Difficulty: 3 of 5
In a far away land, it was known that if you drank poison, the only way to save yourself is to drink a stronger poison, which neutralizes the weaker poison.

The king that ruled the land wanted to make sure that he possessed the strongest poison in the kingdom, in order to ensure his survival, in any situation. So the king called the kingdom's pharmacist and the kingdom's treasurer, he gave each a week to make the strongest poison. Then, each would drink the other one's poison, then his own, and the one that will survive, will be the one that had the stronger potion.

The pharmacist went straight to work, but the treasurer knew he had no chance, for the pharmacist was much more experienced in this field, so instead, he made up a plan to survive and make sure the pharmacist dies. On the last day the pharmacist suddenly realized that the treasurer would know he had no chance, so he must have a plan. After a little thought, the pharmacist realized what the treasurer's plan must be, and he concocted a counter plan, to make sure he survives and the treasurer dies.

When the time came, they king summoned both of them. They drank the potions as planned, and the treasurer died, the pharmacist survived, and the king didn't get what he wanted.

What exactly happened?

  Submitted by Half-Mad    
Rating: 4.3750 (32 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
The treasurer's plan was to drink a weak poison prior to the meeting with the king, then he would drink the pharmacist strong poision, which would neutralize the weak poision. As his own poison he would bring water, which will have no affect on him, but the pharmacist who would drink the water, and then his poison would surely die.

When the pharmacist figured out this plan, he decided to bring water as well. So the treasurer who drank poision earlier, drank the pharmacist's water, then his own water, and died of the poison he drank before. The pharmacist would drink only water, so nothing will happen to him. And because both of them brought the king water, he didn't get a strong poison like he wanted.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
SolutionPlanMath Man2011-01-26 18:10:54
simpler in theory approachjohn2005-06-08 18:47:59
QuestionBut Wait...Tiffy2003-04-16 16:25:55
SolutionTa Da!Tiffy2003-04-16 16:24:36
Poision or Explosion?cges2002-12-12 06:43:16
re: not fairlevik2002-10-07 16:40:06
not fairken2002-10-07 07:44:25
re: Poisonous RelationshipsTomM2002-05-31 11:23:05
Poisonous RelationshipsJim Lyon2002-05-31 08:06:11
Solutiona 10% Solution of CyanideTomM2002-05-30 11:19:36
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