Comparing apples and oranges?

[Ehlana]

Ahhhhhhhhhh Wamphyri! This is the "apples and oranges" logic puzzle. Originally the boxes contained apples and oranges, please forgive my edited version below: http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

... 3 boxes arrive at your Aerie, one labelled "Stakes only", one labelled "Crossbows only", and a third labelled "Stakes and Crossbows". The boxes do contain those items as described, but each box has been mis-labelled. Being the clever vampire that you are, you reach into one of the boxes, pull out one item (without feeling around for other items), and proceed to switch the labels back onto the CORRECT boxes.

How did you do that? Explain.

http://www.brianlumley.com/ubb/tongue.gif

[This message has been edited by Ehlana (edited February 19, 2000).]

[Luna]

Very clever!

[Ehlana]

Every box has the wrong label, as you mentioned.

Let's try your solution, since the explanation for why it works was missing:

Box#1 - labelled "stakes&crossbows"- if you pull out a stake, you know that it contains ONLY stakes.

Box#2 - labelled "stakes" - take the label off this box and slap it on box#1. It's either got ONLY crossbows in it or BOTH stakes&crossbows. No idea which yet. Let's look at Box#3.

Box#3 - labelled "crossbows" - must contain either ONLY stakes or BOTH stakes & crossbows. But, we now know that Box#1 is the box that contains ONLY stakes. Therefore Box#3 must contain BOTH stakes & crossbows. Relabel it.

By elimination, Box#2 must therefore contain ONLY crossbows.

QED

[Emaleth]

Heh heh love these puzzles that make you think...here is another oldie but goodie...


I am the beginning of sorrow, and the end of sickness. You cannot express happiness without me, yet I am in the midst of crosses. I am always in risk, yet never in danger. You may find me in the sun, but I am never out of darkness.


*Smiles* Have fun! :->