Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

From this site that was linked to in the job interview questions thread...

[ QUOTE ]
The warden meets with 23 new prisoners when they arrive. He tells them, "You may meet today and plan a strategy. But after today, you will be in isolated cells and will have no communication with one another.

"In the prison is a switch room, which contains two light switches labeled A and B, each of which can be in either the 'on' or the 'off' position. I am not telling you their present positions. The switches are not connected to anything.

"After today, from time to time whenever I feel so inclined, I will select one prisoner at random and escort him to the switch room. This prisoner will select one of the two switches and reverse its position. He must move one, but only one of the switches. He can't move both but he can't move none either. Then he'll be led back to his cell.

"No one else will enter the switch room until I lead the next prisoner there, and he'll be instructed to do the same thing. I'm going to choose prisoners at random. I may choose the same guy three times in a row, or I may jump around and come back.

"But, given enough time, everyone will eventually visit the switch room as many times as everyone else. At any time anyone of you may declare to me, 'We have all visited the switch room.' and be 100% sure.

"If it is true, then you will all be set free. If it is false, and somebody has not yet visited the switch room, you will be fed to the alligators."

What is the strategy they come up with so that they can be free?


[/ QUOTE ]

I'm about 99.9% sure that it is impossible to come up with a strategy that guarantees freedom. I'll explain my reasons later if you want.

If I'm right, that's a really dumb question, it shouldn't be on a website, and it's creator owes me some time. If you made this up, and it's impossible, I hope your babies are all eaten alive by a gay tiger.

Am I reading it wrong?

Re: Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

[ QUOTE ]
From this site that was linked to in the job interview questions thread...

[ QUOTE ]
The warden meets with 23 new prisoners when they arrive. He tells them, "You may meet today and plan a strategy. But after today, you will be in isolated cells and will have no communication with one another.

"In the prison is a switch room, which contains two light switches labeled A and B, each of which can be in either the 'on' or the 'off' position. I am not telling you their present positions. The switches are not connected to anything.

"After today, from time to time whenever I feel so inclined, I will select one prisoner at random and escort him to the switch room. This prisoner will select one of the two switches and reverse its position. He must move one, but only one of the switches. He can't move both but he can't move none either. Then he'll be led back to his cell.

"No one else will enter the switch room until I lead the next prisoner there, and he'll be instructed to do the same thing. I'm going to choose prisoners at random. I may choose the same guy three times in a row, or I may jump around and come back.

"But, given enough time, everyone will eventually visit the switch room as many times as everyone else. At any time anyone of you may declare to me, 'We have all visited the switch room.' and be 100% sure.

"If it is true, then you will all be set free. If it is false, and somebody has not yet visited the switch room, you will be fed to the alligators."

What is the strategy they come up with so that they can be free?


[/ QUOTE ]

I'm about 99.9% sure that it is impossible to come up with a strategy that guarantees freedom. I'll explain my reasons later if you want.

If I'm right, that's a really dumb question, it shouldn't be on a website, and it's creator owes me some time. If you made this up, and it's impossible, I hope your babies are all eaten alive by a gay tiger.

Am I reading it wrong?

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a solution. It's possible.

Re: Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have a solution. It's possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

Please post it or PM me. (although I'm about 65% sure you're just trying to piss me off more and I was right)

Re: Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have a solution. It's possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

Please post it or PM me. (although I'm about 65% sure you're just trying to piss me off more and I was right)

[/ QUOTE ]

You're terrible with probability assessments. I assure you I have found a correct solution to this problem and I hoped that by telling you that you would be able to find a solution yourself.

Hint in white below:
<font color="white">Use an idea involving parity.</font>

Re: Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

How bout all the prisoners agree that the first time, and only the first time, that they each visit the switch room, they drop a button removed from their clothes onto the floor in front of the switches, and the first prisoner to count 23 buttons on the floor makes the statement to the warden?

Re: Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have a solution. It's possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

Please post it or PM me. (although I'm about 65% sure you're just trying to piss me off more and I was right)

[/ QUOTE ]

You're terrible with probability assessments. I assure you I have found a correct solution to this problem and I hoped that by telling you that you would be able to find a solution yourself.

Hint in white below:
<font color="white">Use an idea involving parity.</font>

[/ QUOTE ]

I promise I've fully thought through it. I'm officially stumped. Make fun of me all you want, but please tell me the answer.

Re: Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

I just provided one 4 minutes before your latest post that did not violate the stated terms of the problem.

Re: Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I just provided one 4 minutes before your latest post that did not violate the stated terms of the problem.

[/ QUOTE ]

That answer is silly and you know it.

Re: Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

Why is it silly? Because it ignored the switches? What makes my solution not a workable solution?

Re: Logic Problem that is Making Me Angry. (Hence the angry face)
 

[ QUOTE ]
How bout all the prisoners agree that the first time, and only the first time, that they each visit the switch room, they drop a button removed from their clothes onto the floor in front of the switches, and the first prisoner to count 23 buttons on the floor makes the statement to the warden?

[/ QUOTE ]

The purpose of the puzzle is to use the swithes, not think outside of the box. Use the damn switches.