100 prisoners are imprisoned in solitary cells. Each cell is windowless and soundproof. There's a central living room with one light bulb; the bulb is initially off. No prisoner can see the light bulb from his or her own cell. Each day, the warden picks a prisoner equally at random, and that prisoner visits the central living room; at the end of the day the prisoner is returned to his cell. While in the living room, the prisoner can toggle the bulb if he or she wishes. Also, the prisoner has the option of asserting the claim that all 100 prisoners have been to the living room. If this assertion is false (that is, some prisoners still haven't been to the living room), all 100 prisoners will be shot for their stupidity. However, if it is indeed true, all prisoners are set free into MENSA, since the world can always use more smart people then how is it possible?
Before this all begins the prisoners are alloweed to have a meeting in a different room about what they are to do.
2006-12-05 11:11:01 · 12 answers · asked by anikabot 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Jokes & Riddles
hmmm not sure about that one
2006-12-05 11:12:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay, from what I've read, it says a prisoner equally at random, meaning a prisoner a day.
The riddle says nothing about food or air so the prisoners would die in the cells anyway.
The prisoners can make some kind of system with the light bulb. Since the bulb is off at the VERY start and not the rest the prisoners could somehow devise a system.
Example: Since the prisoners will have to be smart to figure a way out of this. Have them keep a system of time. Like count the days each prisoner goes to the lightbulb and have a system such as:
Lightbulb off: 98 or less prisoners have already entered.
Lightbulb on: 99 or more prisoners have already been there.
So, if the light is on. The 100th prisoner can make the claim and have all of them set free.
2006-12-05 19:28:33 · answer #2 · answered by Me 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The "real" answer is one that takes forever (I'm not gonna say what it is, only that there will 1, and only 1, prisoner, who can know for sure, using this method, and he has to revisit a LOT of times).
But they can "cheat" using various methods. Like, the first time a prisoner enters the room, he rips of a part of his sleeve and leaves it. If he revisits, he does nothing. Once there are 99 pieces of cloth in the room, the 100th prisoner (who still has an intact sleeve) can call it out.
Another way to cheat, if the bulb has to be involved, is to simply smash in litterally 100 pieces and then line up the pieces from the wall and towards the middle of the room. The first time a prisoner enters, he then takes a piece from the line and places it next to the wall. If he revisits, he does nothing. When the last piece is place next to the wall, that prisoner calls it out.
Or instead of placin them in a line, the first guy could pile them, and take one piece with him. Each time a prisoner visits for the first time, he takes a piece. Revisit = nothing done. The prisoner, who takes the last piece, calls it out.
EDIT:
To Chris: Her answer is obviously not usable. They have a meeting BEFORE anyone enters the central living room. If they where to ask eachother if they had been in the room, everyone would just answer "no".
2006-12-05 19:30:42 · answer #3 · answered by darkskaners 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Beats me and I'm a member of Mensa! Unless all prisoners are allowed to write their name on the wall while in the living room or perhaps make a mark under a chair or something only after their first visit! Or that the original meeting took place in the living room!
2006-12-05 19:18:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well you would have to go through the central living room to get to the solitary cell. so yeah i think it's true that each of those hundred prisoners have been in that central living room.
2006-12-05 19:23:06 · answer #5 · answered by hoh_man 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Each time a prisoner goes there the first time they scratch a mark on the wall... 8) No clue... It really depends on if they get picked more than once...
2006-12-05 19:20:20 · answer #6 · answered by Rosemary Anna Bell Smith The 3rd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
easy peasy lemon squeesy....but i wont answer incase other people want to try and figure it out....but know some people...they will be jerks and blert out the answer
2006-12-05 19:19:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bloody hell people just look at bunnywaferx3 answer
2006-12-05 19:58:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you got it then share! This has me stumped.
2006-12-05 19:17:49 · answer #9 · answered by Lynn 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Please, people that know, answer the riddle! That's the whole point of this site...posting the answer!!!
2006-12-05 19:29:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋