Riddle game.
" Correct. Riddling floor is yours. |
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How is a raven like a writing desk?
I win! Seriously though: The man who invented it doesn't want it. The man who bought it doesn't need it. The man who needs it doesn't know it. What is it? I don't have sig :D -- gracy123
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Must be a coffin then.
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" Indeed. your turn! I don't have sig :D -- gracy123
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The Primeordial Inquiry
There are four men, claiming to tell the truth about secret numbers. But who is to be trusted?
Spoiler
A claims: „The first number is no prime number. B is lying.“ B claims: „The third number is 17. A lies.“ C claims: „The second number is bigger than the third.“ D claims: „The fourth number is smaller than the second. C lies.“ You are also granted a manuscript with important hints:
Spoiler
The first number is the second prime number. The second number is unknown. The third number is the sum of the 1st and 4th number. The fourth number is unknown. The sum of all four digits is a prime number. Can you find the numbers? |
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So, here goes, thanks for the 15 minutes of fun, i'm sure i got it terribly wrong but oh well :)
If number 1 = w, 2 = x, 3 = y, 4 = z. A says w is not prime, B lies. B says y = 17, A lies. C says x > y. D says z > x, C lies. From manuscript: w is the second prime number = 3. x = x. y = w + z. z = z. Since A says w is not prime, and the manuscript says it is....then A must be lying. So B could maybe be telling the truth, and y = 17. If w = 3, and y = 17, then z = y - w = 14. So then only x is left. I don't like D, so I decided he must be lying. This is the part where I diverge from the conventional solution, maybe? or maybe I'm waaaay too late. The lowest prime number that allows everything to addto prime and x > y is 53, unless i missed a divisor. So then x = 19. So,number 1 = 3, number 2 = 19, number 3 = 17, and number 4 = 14. Thanks for the happy fun time :) You are now Distinguished in Sailing!
Your ranking has gone up to Master in your archipelago! |
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" The best I can come up with is A=3 B= >17 C=17 D=14. Don't know how to find the 2nd number. |
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"No. Not yet. They both have quills. |
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"Actually, I believe the question has nothing to do with listing the numbers. The question is "Who is to be trusted?" Obviously, it cannot be A, because the manuscript contradicts him. The first number has to be 3. B is right about A lying, but if he says the third number is 17, then that means the 4th number is 14. C says that the second number is bigger than the third, so it must be higher than B's given number, 17. This is true. D is also guessing that 4th number is smaller than the second, with means the second number is larger than 14. But he also says C is lying, which means the second number cannot be 19. This means the 2nd number is the highest, and if it all adds up to a prime number, then that means the second number is 19. 3-19-17-14 = 53, a prime number. Both A and D are wrong here, so it falls to B and C; however, since C's statement must follow with B's knowledge, then C must trust B. Therefore, B must be the person you need to trust for the whole thing to be accurate. Last edited by KyleVoakes#7693 on Jul 12, 2012, 2:42:30 PM
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"This can't be assumed from the information in the problem - there's absolutely nothing in the problem as presented that says that if one of the people tells the truth with one statement, then all their statements are true. B could be telling the truth about A lying, but lying about the number. Nitpick mode engaged: Also, as stated, B is lying about the number (assuming the manuscript is correct). The last line of the manuscript is "That's "four digits", not "four numbers" - if there are four numbers, and only four digits, than means each number has only one digit, so none can be higher than 9 (unless we're working in a different base, which we weren't told). Last edited by Mark_GGG#0000 on Jul 12, 2012, 9:01:21 PM
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