a river in a canoe which only holds two people. One person has to bring the boat back (it can't be pushed, etc.). The trouble is, if there are ever more cannibals than missionaries the cannibals will eat the missionaries. How can the six get safely across?
2006-07-28 05:25:54 · 17 answers · asked by evil_lyn77 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Jokes & Riddles
First trip: one missionary and one cannibal. The cannibal brings the boat back. [On one side: two cannibals, two missionaries, on the other one missionary.]
Second trip: two cannibals. One cannibal brings the boat back. [On one side: one cannibal, two missionaries, on the other one missionary, one cannibal.]
Third trip: one cannibal, one missionary. One cannibal brings the boat back. [On one side: one cannibal, one missionary, on the other two missionaries, one cannibal].
Fourth trip: One cannibal, one missionary. One canibal brings the boat back. [On one side: one cannibal, on the other side three missionaries, one cannibal].
Fifth trip: two cannibals. All on the proper side: Three cannibals, three missionaries.
That was fun! Did i get the right answer?
2006-07-28 05:31:53 · answer #1 · answered by Mary 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
First two cannibals go together and one brings back the canoe. The second time a cannibal and a missionary go over together and the cannibal brings back the canoe. On the third trip a cannibal and missionary go, and the missionary stays.
So far there are two missionaries and a cannibal on the other side, a cannibal in the canoe, and a cannibal and a missionary alone on the side they started...still with me?
On the fourth trip a cannibal and a missionary go over and the cannibal is left. The missionary rows back and picks up the last cannibal and they row to the other side...all six are there together.
2006-07-28 05:33:21 · answer #2 · answered by Colin W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
trip 1 - missionary, cannibal
return - 1 missionary
trip 2 - 2 cannibals
return 1 cannibal
trip 3 - 2 missionaries
return 1 missionary and 1 cannibal
trip 4 - 2 cannibals
return 1 cannibal
edit:
(oops... left out a step)
trip 5 - 2 missionaries
return 1 cannibal
trip 6 - two cannibals
return 1 cannibal
trip 7 - the remaining 2 cannibals
2006-07-28 05:47:07 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bring a cannibal over, then go back and get a missionary, bring the cannibal back but leave the missionary, grab another missionary and bring him to the other side, you grab a cannibal and bring him back and then grab the other (if you're driving the boat) check ya later â¥
2006-07-28 05:35:05 · answer #4 · answered by ♥ The One You Love To Hate♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first 2 trips 1 Canibal takes the other 2 canibals accross. 1 at a time. so you have 2 canibals on the far shore and 3 missionaries and 1 canibal on the old shore.
Then 2 Missionaries go and 1 canibal and 1 Missionary return
You now have 1 C and 1 M on the far shore and 2 each on the first shore.
Now the 2 Missionaries take the canoe over and the canibal goes back. You now have all3 missionaries on the far shore and the 3 canibals on the old shore.
2 canibals come over and leave 1 and he returns to get the last canibal!
DONE!!
2006-07-28 05:53:29 · answer #5 · answered by nooodle_ninja 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A cannibal operates the boat and crosses one missionary (there are still two cannibals and two missionaries). Then the cannibal crosses a cannibal (there are two missionaries and one cannibal waiting to cross). then the cannibal crosses a missionary (one missionary and one cannibal are waiting to be crossed). Then, just to be safe, he crosses the last missionary (one cannibal waits to be crossed). Then he crosses the last cannibal. Everyone's across, no one gets eaten.
2006-07-28 05:41:51 · answer #6 · answered by L-Rad 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have two cannibals go over to the other side.
have one come back and get a missionaries.
have the same cannibal that got the missionaries get another missionaires.
leave the missionaires on the other side.
let the same cannibal go and get another cannibal
drop that cannibal off on the other side
go over and get another missionaires
take that missonaires over to the other side
problem solved.
2006-07-28 05:34:08 · answer #7 · answered by ++Laura++ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the missionaries eat the cannibals,and through a miracle recrate thm in whole form on the other side.
2006-07-28 05:27:43 · answer #8 · answered by onelonevoice 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can cross the river as shown in the following schematic. M = missionary, C = cannibal, {} = boat.
MMMCCC {}
MMMC -> {CC}
MMMC {} CC
MMMC {C} <- C
MMMCC {} C
MMM -> {CC} C
MMM {} CCC
MMM {C} <- CC
MMMC {} CC
MC -> {MM} CC
MC {} MMCC
MC {MC} <- MC
MMCC {} MC
CC -> {MM} MC
CC {} MMMC
CC {C} <- MMM
CCC {} MMM
C -> {CC} MMM
C {} MMMCC
C {C} <- MMMC
CC {} MMMC
-> {CC} MMMC
{} MMMCCC
2006-07-28 05:36:17 · answer #9 · answered by jeki_dslo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how many cannibals and how many missionaries?
2006-07-28 05:32:26 · answer #10 · answered by rajan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋