Monday, November 1, 2010

Deadly Poisons - One puzzle a day - Puzzle Buddies

Puzzle:
In a mythical land, if you drink poison, the only way to save yourself is to drink a stronger poison, which neutralizes the weaker poison.

The king of the land summoned two scientists, A and B, and said:
- Each of you have to make the strongest poison in the kingdom.
- You have one week's time.
- At the end of the week, both of you will drink the other one's poison, then your own.
- The one who has made the stronger poison, will survive and win.

Scientist A knew he had no chance, as B was much more experienced. So, A came up with a plan to survive and make sure that B dies.

On the last day, B came to know of A's plan. B came up with a counter plan, to make sure he survives and A dies.

At the end of the week, the king summoned both of them. They drank the poisons as planned, A died, B survived and the king didn't get what he wanted.

What happened?

Solution:
A's plan was to drink a weak poison prior to the meeting with the king, then he would drink B's strong poison, which would neutralize the weak poison. As his own poison he would bring water, which will have no affect on him. B, who would drink the water, and then his poison would surely die.
When B figured out this plan, he decided to bring water as well. So A, who drank poison earlier, drank B's water, then his own water, and died of the poison he drank before. B would drink only water, so nothing will happen to him. And because both of them brought the king water, he didn't get a strong poison like he wanted.

Winner: Sorry missed your comment the first time. Winner is Gaurave Sehgal.

1 comment:

  1. A plans to bring water and will drink a light poison beforehand. B knowing this brings water only. A dies of his own light poison. King thinks water is the poison he is looking for.

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