Braingle: 'Three Gunmen' Brain Teaser

Three Gunmen

Logic puzzles require you to think. You will have to be logical in your reasoning.

Puzzle ID:	#47695
Fun:	(2.46)
Difficulty:	(1.25)
Category:	Logic
Submitted By:	Mathgeek007

There are three gunmen on horses. Ab has a 100% chance of hitting his target when he shoots, but has a weak gun. He never misses. Bob also has a 100% chance of hitting, but he has a tremendous strong gun. However, Cam only has a 50% chance of hitting with his musket. Simultaneously, they all take a shot. One man is left alive. Who?

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Comments

dalfamnest Aug 08, 2010	This was fun to think through; thanks! BUT! I don't think you are using logic. You suggest one course of action, but it is simply a presumption. I think A and B would be silly to aim for each other as they know they will both be killed. It is more likely that they both aim for C. Thus C will be shot and each of A and B has only a 25% chance of being shot. This seems logical to me, but it is still presumption, not logic. In my scenario, C managed to hit his target, but we can not know who was left alive.
beyonce123 Aug 08, 2010	dalfamnest is right!
Mathgeek007 Aug 08, 2010	But honestly, why wouldyou shoot Cam? If you did that, then the other person would probably shoot you, and you know you'd be dead. Get rid of the competition.
Mathgeek007 Aug 09, 2010	Andin addition, dalamfest,he would shoot for B most likely because he has a stronger gun.
racoonieboy Aug 14, 2010	The true question is: Why are they shooting each other? But I always ask questions like that. Good teaser, even though it was pretty easy. You just gotta know what you would probably do in each guy's position.
kickass123 Oct 04, 2010	@dalfamnest .. I think the solution is quite logical.. Cam will be the one alive. Firstly it is reasonable to assume that after an initial calculation of survival probabilities, they shoot away immediately and not wait till they point guns at each other. If Ab doesn't know who Bob will shoot, killing off Bob would give him a 75% chance of survival against Bob choosing Ab randomly and shooting him which would give him a 50% chance of survival. Same logic applies for Bob. Hence they shoot each other.
monkeybar Oct 11, 2010	Great teaser even though a bit easy. But it doesnt quite make sense. If all men are logical then they shouldnt be shooting at all. If A shoot C, B will shoot A, and B will surely win (same thing for B). If A and B shoot each other then C surely will win. So yeah if they all think then one way or another who ever fire first will get killed so no one should fire at all.
Mathgeek007 Nov 06, 2010	Good job, Racers. Detour- Wiki Search or Illusion Search In wiki search, try to find my wikipage that tells you where to go for the PITSTOP. In Illusion Search, look at the comments for some of the illusion teasers. PM me also "Teaser Comment" to log your standings.
BadBunnee02 Jan 15, 2011	This was difficult for me (not a problem, though). It was fun and I rated it TOPS. Thanks for posting and thanks for visiting some of my teasers.
efurosibina Jun 28, 2011	three gunmen has chances of shooting themselves
zembobo Jul 01, 2011	The biggest problem I have with this is that there is no mention that the men know each others strengths and weaknesses. However, since the teaser implies there is only one correct answer, you have to fill in some blanks to make that true. When you do, you come to the logical conclusion (as any good Vulcan would) that Cam is left standing.
Thekid4 Aug 23, 2011	it never says that they were shooting each other.
Jayo Oct 13, 2011	I was thinking along the lines of Bob surviving. My logic was that having a stronger gun may have recoiled enough to dislodge him from his horse causing whoever was firing to miss. But, the other guy has a 100% chance if he aims at Bob right? Well in this scenario I see no difference between a strong and weak gun as evidenced by the answer; both men die. Why else mention a strong gun?? Enjoyed it though!
Mathgeek007 Oct 13, 2011	To add confusion to that fact.