Logic Puzzles

[Doug31]

Re: Logic Puzzles

Well, there's still obviously something I'm missing. What can the first person do? They obviously have to try at least 30 boxes. Even if they do 30, that would still only be a 30% chance, which would mean everyone else would need a 100% chance, would obviously wouldn't happen, so they need to try more than 30. If they try 40, then that's a 40% chance, and even if the second person know it was in one of the first 40, they'd still barely have more than a 1/2 chance of finding theirs, which would mean it's already below 30%. If the first person tries 50, then they're still at 50%, but then the next person now knows the first person's was one of the first 50, but still is limited to a 50/99 chance by choosing the second 50, which is still a microscopic difference over 1/2, which means they still lose. Let's see, what else can they do. Person one could open different boxes than just 1-50, but it really makes no difference. Hmm, are they any other options. The first person could open 50, and the second person could guess that the first person probably found it about half way through, which would be about 25, and start from there, and keep repeating that, but they'd still already be under 30% after even the second person. I really don't get this. There must be something I don't understand.

[Kit-]

Re: Logic Puzzles

From your posts, you perfectly understand the problem. You're just approaching the problem in the wrong way.

[~HentaiXXX~]

Re: Logic Puzzles

One Prisoner does all the Even Numbered boxes which equals 50.
Then another would do all Odds. which equals 50 also.
Then they'd do that back and forth...i hope?

[madmatt621]

Re: Logic Puzzles

~HentaiXXX~ : Change your damn avatar.

[Doug31]

Re: Logic Puzzles

Yea, and this other approach is probably something that I completely don't understand you're allowed to do.

If there were 2 people and 2 boxes, and each person got to pick one box, then the first person tries a box, and has a 50-50 chance. Then the second person would know if they were still alive that it must be the second box, so that would be 50%.

Now, if there were 3 people, 3 boxes, and each got 2 choices, then the first person could try the first 1, so they'd be at 33.33~%. But, then the remaining two would know they both had to be in the last 2, which would be a 100% chance, so I can see how it could be done like that, as well.

Now, if there were 4 people, 4 boxes, and 2 choices each, I can't even see how to do that. What can the first person do? They have to pick 2 boxes or it's already less than 30%, so they pick 2 boxes...50%. Then the next person now knows the first person's was in one of the first two, so theirs is much more likely to be in the second 2. So the only way they can stay about 30% from that point is to pick the second 2. Even still, there was only a 2/3 chance that it would have been in one of the second 2, so they're down to 33.33~%. Now, the third person would only have a 50% chance, so it's over.

What am I missing here?

Edit: And ~HentaiXXX~, that would give the first person a 50/100 chance, and the second person a 50/99 chance, which is already only 25.2525~%, so it's already too low of a chance after only 2 people, just like all the ways I can come up with.

[thecheat372]

Re: Logic Puzzles

its a trick question?
i mean
theres an answer
but its not going to be like that...
itll be something that youd have to think up...
but its hidden in the text

[Doug31]

Re: Logic Puzzles

Ok, I got it, it is a trick question. The people want to die, so it's a success if they don't find their ID numbers, which they can make have a 100% chance of happening by all picking the first 50 boxes.

[thecheat372]

Re: Logic Puzzles

lol,
i like that one

[~HentaiXXX~]

Re: Logic Puzzles

good enough fer me doug =P

[Doug31]

Re: Logic Puzzles

And it even meets the 50 other people wouldn't get theirs if it continued clue, as well.

[thecheat372]

Re: Logic Puzzles

yep, and it never specified what theyre trying to succeed at

[Kit-]

Re: Logic Puzzles

Yea, and this other approach is probably something that I completely don't understand you're allowed to do.

I'll tell you right here and right now that this method only involves which boxes to pick.

What am I missing here?

Well, did you read the first hint?

its a trick question?
i mean
theres an answer
but its not going to be like that...
itll be something that youd have to think up...
but its hidden in the text

There's nothing hidden in the text. It all involves the order in which you pick boxes.

Ok, I got it, it is a trick question. The people want to die, so it's a success if they don't find their ID numbers, which they can make have a 100% chance of happening by all picking the first 50 boxes.

Nice try, but I said only method. If I wanted that, there would be more than one method. (Like having everybody pick just the first box)

[thecheat372]

Re: Logic Puzzles

arg...hmm..
what could it be?!!?!

[Doug31]

Re: Logic Puzzles

It's impossible. The end.

[thecheat372]

Re: Logic Puzzles

what if the first guy were to talk to the second guy and find his number?

then, hed have a 50% chance to find his own and 50% chance to find the next guys', with that, he could either put it in the first box or move that box,
although they get put back in original position. so that more than likely doesnt work