There are four people (gender doesnt matter) seated in the following arrangement:
They are in a straight row facing the back of one another, with the exception of the first and second person in between which there is a solid brick wall, just so they cant see each other. Everyone is facing the wall so the first person is the only one not looking at the back of someones neck.
Each person is wearing a hat which they cannot see. Half of the hats are black and half are white and they alternate in color, but the people seated are unaware of this. Think pure logic.
2007-03-27 15:33:22 · 6 answers · asked by ridin512deep 3 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Jokes & Riddles
and why?
2007-03-27 15:43:35 · update #1
veruca salt, I didnt catch that but, yes the second person also is not staring at some one's neck. the key is "over time" someone will be able to stand up and say with complete confidence what color hat they are wearing. and no they cant talk to each other, or they will be shot down : P
2007-03-28 01:22:21 · update #2
Assuming P1 is the person on their own side of the wall, the answer is P3.
P1 |wall| P2 P3 P4
P4 can see both P3 and P2. If P3 and P2 had the same color hat, P4 could see that, and therefore would know that they were wearing the opposite color hat by process of elimination.
Since the hats alternate in color, P4 cannot know for sure what color hat they have. P3 knows that P4 could easily determine their own hat color, but since P4 says nothing, this tells him that P2 and P3 (himself) have different color hats. As he can see what color hat P2 has, he will know that he has the opposite.
2007-03-30 00:39:05 · answer #1 · answered by nick_g22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe I'm missing something here. First of all, you said that "the first person is the only one not looking at the back of someones neck." I fail to see how this is possible if a brick wall separates the first and second person. The first person cannot see anyone else, as s/he is staring at a brick wall. Likewise for person number two. Person three sees the color of person two's hat, and person 4 sees the hat of person three.
If, however, a person cannot simply take off the hat and look at it, there is no way to tell with "absolute assurance" what color s/he is wearing. The people do not know that the hat colors alternate black and white. S/he could ask the person behind him/her what color the hat was, but they would have no way of knowing if the answer given was correct.
2007-03-27 23:37:15 · answer #2 · answered by Veruca Salt 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I need some time. Is this question under 5th grade math and is there a chance for me to win a million dollars from Jeff Foxworthy??
2007-03-27 22:59:28 · answer #3 · answered by Clifford M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you think I could answer THIS?!?!?! Ha!!!!!! lol! hell I feel dumb T_T
Wait wait!!!! Could it be hair color....no. Dang it!
No offense but have you seen any1 answer it???? Can u just tell us the answer plz?!?
2007-03-27 22:40:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
wow i have nooo clue wats the answer?
2007-03-27 23:09:36 · answer #5 · answered by unknown 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
2ed?
2007-03-27 22:40:52 · answer #6 · answered by yo!!!!! 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋