I say!
By the way, wonderful news about the Duneditin 2009 conference booze cruise, which will have a large supply of MGTs.
Here's a puzzle.
There are two closed boxes. Inside the first box is the key to instant everlasting bliss and happiness. Inside the second box is the key to instant grief, sorrow, lamentations and eternal damnation.
Standing beside the two bozes are two gurus. Both gurus know the contents of both boxes. One guru always tells the truth. The other one always tells lies.
Brian Wilson approaches the gurus and the boxes. He doesn't know which box holds which key, and he doesn't know which is the guru who will tell the truth and which is the guru who will always lie.
Brian Wilson is allowed to ask either one of the gurus one question, and one question only.
What question does Brian Wilson need to ask either one of the gurus in order to be 100% sure that he can then know which box has the key to instant everlasting bliss and happiness?
Answers in a Comment, please.
I have to go away shortly to inspect some pitches in far-off places, so it may be some time until I can reveal if you have the correct answer. But, if you have the correct answer, it will in any case be obvious that it is the correct answer.
MM III
3 comments:
"What box would the other guru tell me contains the key?"
Regardless of who you ask, they will always give you the wrong answer, and you do the opposite of the advice.
But my colleagues at the institute reckon the puzzle's a bit of a cheat, since the guru has to ask the other guru a question too (unless the gurus are already well acquainted, or possibly gay).
Is the prize a subscription to the Duneditin proceedings?
Mingin'! You would ask the gurus which country full of bliss and joy in the United States of America was in which box. Of course, there should be the guru there who just hits you with a big stick if you ask him anything. Hotboy
I say!
Spot on, Robo, except in the after-answer. The gurus in question were lovers, but not gay, as one was a woman, and the other, a man.
Brian Wilson did, indeed, ask "What box would the other guru tell me contains the key?" and then did the opposite of the profered, in order to get instant everlasting bliss and happiness.
Good try, Hotters! Ten points for effort, but no joy (or bliss) this time.
MM III
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