There are ten men standing in a line from tallest to shortest. The man in the back can see the nine men in front of him, the next man can see eight, etc. Each man is wearing a hat that is either black or white. Each man is asked to say what color hat he is wearing, if he is correct he lives and if he is wrong he dies. The men can answer in any order they want, but can only say black or white. They are allowed to come up with a strategy before they start. What strategy should they use to ensure the maximun number of them survive.
2006-09-28 09:34:54 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Jokes & Riddles
OK, just to clarify, this is not a trick question that involves them standing in a circle or taking off their hats. There is a pure logical answer. So far answer six makes the most sense, but there is a way to ensure more than 5 of the men live.
2006-09-28 10:28:21 · update #1
the man at the back states the colour of the persons hat in the 5th position, 9 calls 4th's colour, 8 calls 3's colour etc. so when it get to the the front five men they already know their answer will be correct. chances are the first five people who guessed have a 50-50 chance on being correct so lets say a poss 7-8 out of 10 survive...
2006-09-28 09:54:05 · answer #1 · answered by The Dazzler 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make two men stand facing each other,i.e, for example, the first and second man facing each other in the line and so on for the others. BUT before they are lined, each group of two could think up of a sign system so as to tell their face-to-face neighbour his hat's colour. the first man could nod if the second man's hat is white and blink his eyes if it's black.
2006-09-29 00:58:01 · answer #2 · answered by halokitty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each one should take his own hat off and look at it. That was easy.
you didn't say that they couldn't look.
Just in case they can't look
Each man can put his right hand on the right shoulder of the one in front of him if he has a black hat and put his left hand on the guy's left shoulder if it is white. The last guy has a 50/50 chance at living.
2006-09-28 16:52:10 · answer #3 · answered by xox_bass_player_xox 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Surely the man at the back can tell those in front of him in turn what colour their hat is, and they can then tell the guy with the gun (or whatever). Based on what he sees, the man at the back can deduce if there is a pattern to the distribution of the hats and therefore what his own is likely to be.
2006-09-28 18:38:27 · answer #4 · answered by pompeii 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each man answers on the behalf of the man in front of him. The man at the front of the line is the only person that would lose since he has nobody in front of him.
2006-09-28 18:07:08 · answer #5 · answered by creskin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell the first guy to turn around
2006-09-28 16:46:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can snatch the Gun from the person who is holding it. Simple!
2006-09-28 16:42:54 · answer #7 · answered by lenziath 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
look in a mirror
2006-09-30 18:59:09 · answer #8 · answered by gungrave4531 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
man it is hard i dont kno
2006-09-28 16:37:51 · answer #9 · answered by posh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get the person behind them to tell them the colour of the hat.But stand in a circle.i dunno lol -x-
2006-09-28 16:38:54 · answer #10 · answered by kez_124 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋