How do I get the chocolate?
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bpkeller
Posts: 425
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 Posted: 09:55PM Nov 9, 2009 |
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I can't figure out this one and it's been bugging me. Can someone help?
There is a man sitting at a table with three cardboard boxes in front of him, and there is a bar of chocolate under one of them. You can ask him any yes or no question, and he will answer honestly, but you may only ask one question. How can you figure out which box the chocolate is in for SURE from asking only one question?
---This message was edited on 03:02PM Dec 6, 2009--- |
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Starriddler 
Posts: 295
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Posted: 07:28PM Nov 12, 2009 |
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My guess:
Write #s 3,4,and 7 on the box.
Hold up three fingers and a thumb.
Ask,"Is the chocolate in the box labeled with how many fingers I am holding up?
Yes- 3
No- 7
It depends on your perception of finger- 4
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Shadows  
Posts: 4680
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Posted: 05:53PM Nov 13, 2009 |
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A "Yes/No" question, not a "Yes/No/It depends on your perception of finger" question. 
I think it'll require a double question, as in a question about a question about the chocolate. I'll think about it.
EDIT: Since there are three boxes, I think the three answers to the question (depending on which box the chocolate's in) are "yes", "no", and "unknown", unknown meaning that the question cannot be answered if the person answers everything honestly. Like the statement, "I am lying," except in question format. Except I haven't figured out how that might work.
Interesting problem.
If you happen to know the man sitting at the table, then this is the best answer: Just open all three boxes, ask the man a really personal question, and eat the chocolate bar while he answers.
---This message was edited on 05:57PM Nov 13, 2009---
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bpkeller
Posts: 425
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Posted: 01:46PM Nov 29, 2009 |
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 Nice idea, Shadows. But if you don't know the man?
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Psychic_Master 
Posts: 9625
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Posted: 03:14AM Nov 30, 2009 |
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Ask him "Can I look under the boxes?" - if he says "yes", then that's awesome and you can find the chocolate easily. If he says no, be a rebel and look under the boxes anyway, find the chocolate, and run away.
Edit: If you ever find the real answer, please share it with us. This is driving me insane. 
---This message was edited on 03:21AM Nov 30, 2009---
"Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do." |
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BloodMoon
Posts: 380
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Posted: 08:49PM Nov 30, 2009 |
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bpkeller wrote: I can't figure out this one and it's been bugging me. Can someone help?
There is a man sitting at a table with three cardboard boxes in front of him, and there is a bar of chocolate in one of them. You can ask him any yes or no question, and he will answer honestly, but you may only ask one question. How can you figure out which box the chocolate is in for SURE from asking only one question?
Take the middle box and turn it sideways 90 degrees so that it forms a H or I figure with the other two boxes. Then ask the guy if the chocolate is in the right (for H formation) or top (for I formation) box. No matter what he says, you now know the answer.
Yes -- It's in the top/right box. Easy answer!
No -- The the chocolate is either in the middle or bottom box, and you moved one of them! If it was in the middle, you should have felt the weight and shifting of the chocolate bar as you turned it earlier. If you didn't, then it has to be in the bottom/left box.
1 question, and you should be able to deduce the answer with just a little clever manipulation of the boxes before asking it. 
"You said you read me like a book, but the pages all are torn and frayed." My Chemical Romance (I'm Not Okay) |
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BloodMoon
Posts: 380
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Posted: 08:55PM Nov 30, 2009 |
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Or else this answer:
Label the boxes -1,0,1. Ask the question is 1 divided by the number on the box, a positive number?
If it's in box -1, then 1/-1 = -1 .. Negative, so it's a NO.
If it's in box 1, then 1/1 = 1.. Positive, so it's a YES.
If it's in box 0, then 1/0 is an impossible number. It can't be positive OR negative, so all they can do is say... UMMMM... If they can't answer yes or no, then you know it's in box 0.
;)
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gargph
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Posted: 09:00PM Nov 30, 2009 |
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For that first answer.. what if in the other boxes there were other things inside..?
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chastain101
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Posted: 09:17PM Nov 30, 2009 |
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i don't think that counts if the teaser did not mention it... 
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Psychic_Master
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Posted: 09:47PM Nov 30, 2009 |
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Ok, how about this - you point to the left-most box and ask the man "Is it in that box? Say 'yes' if it is, 'no' if it is in the middle box, and nothing if it is in the right-most box".
It's a question, followed by a statement. And the man can only answer yes or no to it. So it should work.
---This message was edited on 09:47PM Nov 30, 2009---
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jaycr
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Posted: 10:47PM Nov 30, 2009 |
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It isn't mentioned anywhere in the question that there are tops on the cardboard boxes, so I would say that you just look into them and see the chocolate bar. (put this one in the trick category)
It's not what you know, it's what people think you know. |
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bpkeller
Posts: 425
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Posted: 03:07PM Dec 6, 2009 |
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I think jaycr's got the right answer. I forgot about that. Thanks!
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grungy49
Posts: 1428
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Posted: 07:31AM Dec 15, 2009 |
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I have a teaser very similar to this that I submitted a while ago. Write 1, 2, 3 on each of the boxes, and then tell the man I am thinking of either 1.5 or 2.5. Is the chocolate in the box that has a number greater than mine? If he says yes, it is in box 3. If he says no, it is in box 1. If he can't answer, it's in box 2.
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Metalizer
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Posted: 04:30PM Dec 15, 2009 |
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I believe the right answer is to open the boxes and get the chocolate bar. It doesn't say anywhere that you can't open them.
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bpkeller
Posts: 425
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Posted: 10:01PM Dec 16, 2009 |
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...you know, I'm hating my tendencies to overthink things more and more.
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HarryPutter
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Posted: 12:02AM Dec 17, 2009 |
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I like grungy's solution.
I, however, have a way in which I will not need to cheat and look in the boxes, while still asking 0 questions. Mine would be to take him hostage and make him starve, leaving the only food available to him the food from the box. When he's about to die of starvation, and begins to reach for the chocolate, I will have WON asking NO questions.
---This message was edited on 12:02AM Dec 17, 2009---
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Starriddler
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Posted: 08:57PM Dec 17, 2009 |
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^Genius.
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jordy56
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Posted: 12:54PM Jul 20, 2010 |
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just ask him in what box the chocolate is in
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Starriddler
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Posted: 09:59AM Jul 21, 2010 |
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Um, it's a yes-or-no question, not a multiple-choice question.
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monkeybar
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Posted: 07:47AM Oct 13, 2010 |
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How about
you stand next to the middle box so that one box is to your left, one to your right and one in middle.
ask him is the box on my left?
yes-left box
no-right box
i dont know-middle box
or else rip the boxes apart and RUN
---This message was edited on 07:47AM Oct 13, 2010--- |
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