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Tue 19 Oct, 2004 08:50 pm
100 men lined up in a straight line on a straight road.
Each is given a cap.
Each cap is either red, blue or white.
The distribution is such that there can be any number of each so long as the total = 100 obviously. E.g. there could be 100 red caps or... 19 red caps, 38 white caps and 43 blue caps etc... In any order.
Each man must 'guess' the colour of the hat on his head or he will be murdered. The last man in line is asked to go first (ie the man at the back) followed by the second last man and so on. The men are given 1 hour to discuss strategy before being lined up and assigned caps.
When they are lined up each man can see all the caps in front of him.
You must work out how many people you can guarentee to save and, obviously, explain to me how.
The only hint I can give... The best possible answer is 99. There are no tricks. Each man can only say in a monotone voice red, white, or blue.
Welcome ad. Good riddle, and very hard.
It is possible to save all 100 but the 100th has to rely on luck.
Welcome Adrian, I thought it was the first man to answer who had to trust to luck, whilst the others were ok. Should you disagree with my prognosis please reply via my lawyers. :wink:
Ps. Hi Ad, good to see a new name. Testing first post, keep them coming.
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