You're right, Nebs.

I should check this thread more often. I'm always late:

He knew the person couldn't be an unmarried knight for the second question. So, the true answer was NO, and he knew it. This also must mean that the Vizier is not an unmarried knight since he would have been forced to ask the second question since the king said he would have violated the rules.

Here is what I got with a transalator:

He previously knows answer to the second question: independent of answer, he knows that vizier he is not "single knight".

Short and to the point. :wink:

I shall put spelling errors into my answer next time around

Наилучшим образом, после этого я переведу мои ответы в корейца для теперь дальше поэтому никто поймет их!

You do that

After translating this into Russian and back to english I went from this to this:

Well, then I'll translate my answers into Korean for now on so nobody will understand them!

In the best way, after this I will transfer my answers into the Korean for now further therefore no one it will understand them!

Then back to russian, and then english:
In best road, after this 4 will return my answers into the Korean for now in order not to move therefore no one it it will understand them!

To be fair to the online translator thingie, I understood what you wrote in Russian without a problem.

hehe, it's still funny. :wink:

Anyway, Nebs and DP07 are both right. Time to move to the next riddle.

The Island of Liars and Knights


Those are the riddles about the Island of Liars and Knights. This island is exclusively populated by Liars and Knights:

Liars - Inhabitans of the Island who ALWAYS lie

Knights - Inhabitans of the island who ALWAYS say the truth



Annabel's Abduction

RIDDLE #2


"Does it mean I'll never see Annabel again?" asks the sad Alexander.

"I didn't say that. You haven't tried this strategy on the Vizier yet, therefore you did not lose yet. You just told me how you'd do it. Now go and think of a better strategy. When you come up with one and then come to me and my Vizier and either find out under my conditions if the Vizier is a Knight or a Liar or admit that the task is impossible" explains the King.

Alexander thanks King Wrath and goes away. For the next couple of days he keeps thinking about this task. He comes to the conclusion that the task is, indeed, impossible, but he is too afraid to present the proof to the king yet.. "If only I knew a smart guy, who I'd explain my prrof too..." thinks Alexander.

Luckilly, he has become a friend with a famous biologist named Bacterius who visits the island at the moment. Although just a scientist, Bacterius is also a great logician and is very smart in many other fields. Alexander explains him his dilemma:

"I think my proof is correct, but I'd be very grateful if you tell me your opinion on it"

"With pleasure" says Bacterius.

Alxander starts: "Well, I see the problem this way: I ask the Vizier questions. Let's take a look at the last question. The question must be asked the way that if the Vizier says "YES" then he is one type (Knight or Liar) and if he says "NO" then he is the opposite type (Knight or Liar)."

"Right" comments Bacterius.

"Moreover, I would already have this knowledge before asking the final question. Let's say if he says "YES" then he is a Knight and if he says "NO" then he is a Liar. Since I'll know that a Knight would say "YES" and a Liar would say "NO", so I'd also know that "YES" would be a true answer and would know the answer to my question before I have even asked it. And THAT is what the conditions forbid!" explains Alexander.

Bacterius raises his eyebrows and ponders about this explanation for a while. The he says:

"I don't know if the task is impossible or not. However, if I was you, I'd not present this proof as it contains a very sublte, but still a very clear flaw and I don't know if this flaw can be get rid of."

After that Bacterius explains this flaw to Alexander and Alexander understands that Bacterius is right.


Question:

Where is the flaw in Alexander's proof?

Off the top of my head (although I think this violates the rules of the game):


The Vizier might not be able to answer some yes/no questions; I'm talking about leading questions like "does your mom know that you're a liar". The flaw in the argument would be that not all questions can be answered.

No, that's not it...

I'll give a minor hint:


There are two flaws actually. One is a more important one than the other, though.

Hahaha, I just of the winning strategy, so that is the flaw of the method :-P

Here is the flaw (i'm not giving away my staretgy yet :-P)


You can ask the Vizier a question, to which you don't know the answer in advance, but the answer "Yes" would mean the vizier is a Knight, and the answer "No" would mean he is a Liar. I can provide the question, but that would be the end of the whole series

Very good, Krem!! Excellent! You got the major flaw.


But there is still one flaw left...

Can't think of anything else...

Shall I PM it?

Go ahead

Done.

Next question will be asking for the strategy, by the way. I'll put it up later.

I can't think of a way to solve it (although I thought I had it about 5 different times before seeing the flaw in each one), but here is a possible flaw in the proof:

There is one thing you certainly do not know before asking the final question, and that is whether the Vizier is a knight or a liar. If the true answer to the question is based on whether he is a knight or a liar, then you do not know the true answer beforehand.

Yep, David, this is the major flaw. Maybe you can find the second one as well? If not, I'll PM it to you and out up the next riddle.

PM it. I give up. :wink:

The Island of Liars and Knights


Those are the riddles about the Island of Liars and Knights. This island is exclusively populated by Liars and Knights:

Liars - Inhabitans of the Island who ALWAYS lie

Knights - Inhabitans of the island who ALWAYS say the truth



Annabel's Abduction

RIDDLE #3

Naturally Alexander wis sad about the fact that his proof isn't correct. He doesn't know what to do now. He doesn't see a way to solve the task, neither does he see a way to prove that it is impossible. Not even Professor Bacterius can help him.

But the fate helps Alexander. One day he finds out where Annabel is being kept and he comes to her one night and explains her his dilemma. Annabel has never been methodically educated much, but it is worth mentioning that she has a gift of great logical thinking and she reads a lot and therefore she is extraordinary intelligent. She tells Alexander the solution to his problem within seconds.

"My love, don't worry. With one single question you can find out if the Vizier is a Knight or a Liar and you won't be breaking any conditions" says Annabel to Alexander.

She explain him the answer and Alexander is really happy.

On the next day, Alexander comes to the King and tells him that he is ready and that he can solve the whole task with only one question.

King Wraths replies: "Well, I want to see that!" He considers the task impossible and keeps laughing at Alexanders naivety quietly. "You may begin!" says the King.

Alexander goes ahead with Annabel's plan and it indeed works! After having asked only one question he knows if the Vizier is a Knight or a Liar.

"Unbelievable!" exclaims the King "I would have never thought of that! Seems like cheating!"

"But it isn't" says Alexander and explains to him why.

King Wrath admits that Alexander is right and that he wins. He liberates Annabel.


Question:

What question did Alexander ask the Vizier and how did the whole plan work?

Uh huh, one single question with either yes or no answer, and without knowing the answer beforehand.

Well, as King said that it almost felt like cheating...perhaps this:



"Are you deaf?"

Well, obviously Alexander doesn't know that for sure, he (and we) only assume he's not.

And for this to work, he better not be deaf. :evil:


And if not, there's always Krem to answer. :wink:

Looks like we'll wait for Krem... :wink:


He knows beforehand that a deaf one would not be able to answer this question with a "yes"... ;)