fork in the road.
a man stands there.
you want to get to the capital of the country, but...
you don't know the country's name.
now, we assume that all congressmen lie, and that all normal citizens do not.
this man could be either one.
you can ask one, and only one question.
what do you ask him?
Are you a liar?
You point to a road, and ask if I were to ask you if that was the road to the capital, would you say yes?"
That's assuming that Everybody Lies.
Quote from: Silverhawk79 on September 17, 2008, 04:15:57 PM
Are you a liar?
he could say "no, i'm not" but be lying about it.
plus that wouldn't tell you about which road you wanted to take.
Quote from: mackormoses on September 17, 2008, 04:19:03 PM
You point to a road, and ask if I were to ask you if that was the road to the capital, would you say yes?"
That's assuming that Everybody Lies.
but thats not the point - he could always lie or never lie.
he could say "yes, that's the road" but that would tell you nothing about him, and it could easily be the other road because he's lying.
or, he could be telling the truth, but you wouldn't know it because you wouldn't know if he were a congressman or not.
I'd ask what 2 + 2 is.
If he answers this simple question wrong, we know who it is.
Quote from: JudgementBoyGold on September 17, 2008, 04:37:55 PM
I'd ask what 2 + 2 is.
If he answers this simple question wrong, we know who it is.
How does that answer what road to go down?
You can only ask one question remember?
Quote from: Linkfan71 on September 17, 2008, 04:38:50 PM
Quote from: JudgementBoyGold on September 17, 2008, 04:37:55 PM
I'd ask what 2 + 2 is.
If he answers this simple question wrong, we know who it is.
How does that answer what road to go down?
You can only ask one question remember?
If he gets it right, he's honest. If he's wrong, he's either a liar or a freaking retard.
You can't ask a second question.
Quote from: JudgementBoyGold on September 17, 2008, 04:37:55 PM
I'd ask what 2 + 2 is.
If he answers this simple question wrong, we know who it is.
no. thats not lying.
if you ask me what the 500th digit of e is, and I say... 3. lets assume thats incorrect. however, i dont know that. does that make me a liar?
also, as has already been stated, you dont get to ask another question.
Take out your map. If you don't have one, just follow one road and if it's the wrong one, just take the other one.
I would ask him "If you aren't a congressmen, where is the capital?"
There's my guess.
Quote from: Jono2 on September 17, 2008, 04:44:36 PM
Quote from: JudgementBoyGold on September 17, 2008, 04:37:55 PM
I'd ask what 2 + 2 is.
If he answers this simple question wrong, we know who it is.
no. thats not lying.
if you ask me what the 500th digit of e is, and I say... 3. lets assume thats incorrect. however, i dont know that. does that make me a liar?
also, as has already been stated, you dont get to ask another question.
You could ask him what direction is his right, that solves the lieing thing but that doesn't tell us where to go...
...First you should try to find out whether he is a normal citizen or a congressman...
...You'd examine his clothes; if he looks like a casual person, he will most likely be a normal citizen...
...If he has work attire, we can assume he is a congressman or a working normal person...
...Next you'd smile, and he will most likely smile in return...
...Depending on the whiteness of his teeth, we can determine how much time he spends on personal hygiene...
...The brighter his teeth, the higher a chance he is a congressman...
...Next, you throw a quarter directly in front of him...
...If he reacts, he is most likely a normal citizen, if he doesn't give a darn, probably already has bajillions of quarters...
...Again, he's either a congressman or a working normal person...
...Lastly, we yawn...
...It's scientifically proven that yawning is 'contagious'...
...If he yawns, he's probably a normal citizen; if not, he's probably a congressman since he's been awake for a while, has had his coffee and/or breakfast...
...Then, the question we should ask is "Where is the nearest store?"...
...If he is hesitant to answer, he's a congressman, if he answers in an instant, he's a normal person...
...Now to whether or not he is lying, we just assume he's telling the truth and follow the road he leads us to...
Quote from: Zies on September 18, 2008, 07:07:35 AM
...First you should try to find out whether he is a normal citizen or a congressman...
...You'd examine his clothes; if he looks like a casual person, he will most likely be a normal citizen...
...If he has work attire, we can assume he is a congressman or a working normal person...
...Next you'd smile, and he will most likely smile in return...
...Depending on the whiteness of his teeth, we can determine how much time he spends on personal hygiene...
...The brighter his teeth, the higher a chance he is a congressman...
...Next, you throw a quarter directly in front of him...
...If he reacts, he is most likely a normal citizen, if he doesn't give a darn, probably already has bajillions of quarters...
...Again, he's either a congressman or a working normal person...
...Lastly, we yawn...
...It's scientifically proven that yawning is 'contagious'...
...If he yawns, he's probably a normal citizen; if not, he's probably a congressman since he's been awake for a while, has had his coffee and/or breakfast...
...Then, the question we should ask is "Where is the nearest store?"...
...If he is hesitant to answer, he's a congressman, if he answers in an instant, he's a normal person...
...Now to whether or not he is lying, we just assume he's telling the truth and follow the road he leads us to...
but the nearest store could be in a city that is closer than the capital, in which case he could point you away from the capital, but still be telling the truth. or, he could point you back the way you came, technically speaking.
"Hey congressman, i'm going right to the capital, how's that sound?"
If he says yes, he is lying and I go left. If he is a normal citizen, he will say he isn't a congressman and correct me if i'm going the wrong way.
Quote from: Phaze on September 18, 2008, 11:08:40 AM
"Hey congressman, i'm going right to the capital, how's that sound?"
If he says yes, he is lying and I go left. If he is a normal citizen, he will say he isn't a congressman and correct me if i'm going the wrong way.
Why would he admit to being who he is?
If you address him as such, he would probably correct you in a lie saying he isn't the congressman.
Address either of 'em as congressman, neither will admit it and both will correct you, though of course one is lying.
Congressman: No, I'm not the congressman. Capital is that way.
Citizen: No, I'm not the congressman. Capital is that way.
You gotta do this.
Ask one of them the following (let's assume left is correct):
You: What would that man tell me about left being the way to the capitol?
If you asked the citizen, he would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
If you asked the congressman would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
Both would say left would be the other's answer, but one of them would be lying about that. One of them would have to be honest about it. I win?
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 18, 2008, 01:36:59 PM
Quote from: Phaze on September 18, 2008, 11:08:40 AM
"Hey congressman, i'm going right to the capital, how's that sound?"
If he says yes, he is lying and I go left. If he is a normal citizen, he will say he isn't a congressman and correct me if i'm going the wrong way.
Why would he admit to being who he is?
If you address him as such, he would probably correct you in a lie saying he isn't the congressman.
Address either of 'em as congressman, neither will admit it and both will correct you, though of course one is lying.
Congressman: No, I'm not the congressman. Capital is that way.
Citizen: No, I'm not the congressman. Capital is that way.
You gotta do this.
Ask one of them the following (let's assume left is correct):
You: What would that man tell me about left being the way to the capitol?
If you asked the citizen, he would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
If you asked the congressman would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
Both would say left would be the other's answer, but one of them would be lying about that. One of them would have to be honest about it. I win?
The citizen would tell you that the congressman would tell you to go right since the congressman would lie.
And even then, the congressman could lie and tell you the other man would send you back the way you came.
Quote from: HTA on September 18, 2008, 01:46:05 PM
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 18, 2008, 01:36:59 PM
Quote from: Phaze on September 18, 2008, 11:08:40 AM
"Hey congressman, i'm going right to the capital, how's that sound?"
If he says yes, he is lying and I go left. If he is a normal citizen, he will say he isn't a congressman and correct me if i'm going the wrong way.
Why would he admit to being who he is?
If you address him as such, he would probably correct you in a lie saying he isn't the congressman.
Address either of 'em as congressman, neither will admit it and both will correct you, though of course one is lying.
Congressman: No, I'm not the congressman. Capital is that way.
Citizen: No, I'm not the congressman. Capital is that way.
You gotta do this.
Ask one of them the following (let's assume left is correct):
You: What would that man tell me if he were to lie about left being the way to the capitol?
If you asked the citizen, he would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
If you asked the congressman would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
Both would say left would be the other's answer, but one of them would be lying about that. One of them would have to be honest about it. I win?
The citizen would tell you that the congressman would tell you to go right since the congressman would lie.
And even then, the congressman could lie and tell you the other man would send you back the way you came.
Mm.. fixed?
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 18, 2008, 01:51:01 PM
Quote from: HTA on September 18, 2008, 01:46:05 PM
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 18, 2008, 01:36:59 PM
Quote from: Phaze on September 18, 2008, 11:08:40 AM
"Hey congressman, i'm going right to the capital, how's that sound?"
If he says yes, he is lying and I go left. If he is a normal citizen, he will say he isn't a congressman and correct me if i'm going the wrong way.
Why would he admit to being who he is?
If you address him as such, he would probably correct you in a lie saying he isn't the congressman.
Address either of 'em as congressman, neither will admit it and both will correct you, though of course one is lying.
Congressman: No, I'm not the congressman. Capital is that way.
Citizen: No, I'm not the congressman. Capital is that way.
You gotta do this.
Ask one of them the following (let's assume left is correct):
You: What would that man tell me if he were to lie about left being the way to the capitol?
If you asked the citizen, he would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
If you asked the congressman would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
Both would say left would be the other's answer, but one of them would be lying about that. One of them would have to be honest about it. I win?
The citizen would tell you that the congressman would tell you to go right since the congressman would lie.
And even then, the congressman could lie and tell you the other man would send you back the way you came.
Mm.. fixed?
I think so.
Okay I have a question for you,what would you ask?
who would you be asking this hypothetical question to? there is only the one man, and he may or may not be a congressman.
i don't know the answer to this question. some guy who is in philosophy (who also didn't know the answer) posed this question to me yesterday.
I would point out another man that looks a lot different to him and ask him if that man is a liar. If he says yes, you go to your first choice. If he says no, you go to the second man.
Quote from: Zovistograt on September 18, 2008, 04:56:39 PM
I would point out another man that looks a lot different to him and ask him if that man is a liar. If he says yes, you go to your first choice. If he says no, you go to the second man.
thats not the point, the point is to find the road to the capital.
that, and the fact that there are no other people.
(Assuming left is the answer.)
Me:Lets play a game.Nod once if left is the way to the capitol,nod twice if right is the way to the capitol(after he nods)
What color is the grass?
Congressman:(nods twice)Purple.
Normal:(Nods once)Green.
See we tell them to nod as part of a game,if he nods once left is the way to the capitol,if he nods twice right is the way to the capitol.After they nod,I ask a simple question.If they get it wrong its obviously a congressman and I go the opposite way to which they nod.If they answer it right I go where they say.
I think I did it.
...What if he nods twice and means that you have to go left twice?...
Quote from: darkmario on September 19, 2008, 08:06:42 PM
(Assuming left is the answer.)
Me:Lets play a game.Nod once if left is the way to the capitol,nod twice if right is the way to the capitol(after he nods)
What color is the grass?
Congressman:(nods twice)Purple.
Normal:(Nods once)Green.
See we tell them to nod as part of a game,if he nods once left is the way to the capitol,if he nods twice right is the way to the capitol.After they nod,I ask a simple question.If they get it wrong its obviously a congressman and I go the opposite way to which they nod.If they answer it right I go where they say.
That's 2 questions.
Ask him what's with the fork...
think about it...
Quote from: HTA on September 19, 2008, 08:29:48 PM
Quote from: darkmario on September 19, 2008, 08:06:42 PM
(Assuming left is the answer.)
Me:Lets play a game.Nod once if left is the way to the capitol,nod twice if right is the way to the capitol(after he nods)
What color is the grass?
Congressman:(nods twice)Purple.
Normal:(Nods once)Green.
See we tell them to nod as part of a game,if he nods once left is the way to the capitol,if he nods twice right is the way to the capitol.After they nod,I ask a simple question.If they get it wrong its obviously a congressman and I go the opposite way to which they nod.If they answer it right I go where they say.
That's 2 questions.
No its not.I said "Lets play a game." Then I told him "Nod once if left is the way to the capitol,nod twice if right is the way to the capitol." That isnt a question its a comand.
Also.
Quote from: Zies on September 19, 2008, 08:29:17 PM
...What if he nods twice and means that you have to go left twice?...
Read carefuly.Nod once if you turn left.And nod twice to turn right.
Quote from: darkmario on September 19, 2008, 08:45:29 PM
Quote from: HTA on September 19, 2008, 08:29:48 PM
Quote from: darkmario on September 19, 2008, 08:06:42 PM
(Assuming left is the answer.)
Me:Lets play a game.Nod once if left is the way to the capitol,nod twice if right is the way to the capitol(after he nods)
What color is the grass?
Congressman:(nods twice)Purple.
Normal:(Nods once)Green.
See we tell them to nod as part of a game,if he nods once left is the way to the capitol,if he nods twice right is the way to the capitol.After they nod,I ask a simple question.If they get it wrong its obviously a congressman and I go the opposite way to which they nod.If they answer it right I go where they say.
That's 2 questions.
No its not.I said "Lets play a game." Then I told him "Nod once if left is the way to the capitol,nod twice if right is the way to the capitol." That isnt a question its a comand.
Also.
Quote from: Zies on September 19, 2008, 08:29:17 PM
...What if he nods twice and means that you have to go left twice?...
Read carefuly.Nod once if you turn left.And nod twice to turn right.
Alright listen, the point of the riddle is to ask a single question, and nothing more, to get the answer you need.
He can flat out refuse to play the game.
I could have just said, "Take me to the capital or I'll kill you" but that isn't how its supposed to work.
i suppose that could work, but thats also working with loopholes. i think the question was originally supposed to be question and question only.
plus, he could say the grass was yellow, which may be true as well.
plus, he could say the grass is Purple, and it could be equally correct. you hadn't stated where said grass was.
Assume the answer is left.
If you had a brother who would always give a different answer than you, and I asked him which was the right way to the capitol, where would he point?"
The honest man knows his "brother" would lie because he'd tell the truth, thus he points right.
The congressman knows his "brother" would tell the truth, so he lies, and points right.
Go left.
This took me a while and I went over ten different possible answers before this one clicked.
Very good one.
Quote from: Riddler_Rob on September 19, 2008, 09:04:37 PM
Assume the answer is left.
If you had a brother who would always give a different answer than you, and I asked him which was the right way to the capitol, where would he point?"
The honest man knows his "brother" would lie because he'd tell the truth, thus he points right.
The congressman knows his "brother" would tell the truth, so he lies, and points right.
Go left.
This took me a while and I went over ten different possible answers before this one clicked.
Very good one.
HO-HO-HOH!
good job, my good sir, good job.
now i can sleep tonight without this riddle bothering me.
gracias.
Quote from: Jono2 on September 19, 2008, 09:07:09 PM
Quote from: Riddler_Rob on September 19, 2008, 09:04:37 PM
Assume the answer is left.
If you had a brother who would always give a different answer than you, and I asked him which was the right way to the capitol, where would he point?"
The honest man knows his "brother" would lie because he'd tell the truth, thus he points right.
The congressman knows his "brother" would tell the truth, so he lies, and points right.
Go left.
This took me a while and I went over ten different possible answers before this one clicked.
Very good one.
HO-HO-HOH!
good job, my good sir, good job.
now i can sleep tonight without this riddle bothering me.
gracias.
It's what I do. ;]
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 18, 2008, 01:51:01 PM
Ask one of them the following (let's assume left is correct):
You: What would that man tell me if he were to lie about left being the way to the capitol?
If you asked the citizen, he would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
If you asked the congressman would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
Both would say left would be the other's answer, but one of them would be lying about that. One of them would have to be honest about it. I win?
I didn't see this post, and I'm surprised nobody acknowledged it. This is essentially the same answer. Good poop.
Look for the devil horns first ::)
Quote from: Riddler_Rob on September 19, 2008, 09:18:45 PM
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 18, 2008, 01:51:01 PM
Ask one of them the following (let's assume left is correct):
You: What would that man tell me if he were to lie about left being the way to the capitol?
If you asked the citizen, he would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
If you asked the congressman would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
Both would say left would be the other's answer, but one of them would be lying about that. One of them would have to be honest about it. I win?
I didn't see this post, and I'm surprised nobody acknowledged it. This is essentially the same answer. Good poop.
Ahah, yeah, thanks, I mixed up my words for a second there and forgot a tiny detail in the question. I remember there being a riddle like this in the movie "The Labyrinth".
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 19, 2008, 10:45:54 PM
Quote from: Riddler_Rob on September 19, 2008, 09:18:45 PM
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 18, 2008, 01:51:01 PM
Ask one of them the following (let's assume left is correct):
You: What would that man tell me if he were to lie about left being the way to the capitol?
If you asked the citizen, he would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
If you asked the congressman would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
Both would say left would be the other's answer, but one of them would be lying about that. One of them would have to be honest about it. I win?
I didn't see this post, and I'm surprised nobody acknowledged it. This is essentially the same answer. Good poop.
Ahah, yeah, thanks, I mixed up my words for a second there and forgot a tiny detail in the question. I remember there being a riddle like this in the movie "The Labyrinth".
I never saw that movie, but I do know another version of the riddle that I like to ask people myself. "You come to a fork in the road and there are two men standing there. One man always lies, one man always tells the truth. One road leads to happiness, one leads to sadness. You don't know who is whom and which path leads where. You can ask one man one question; what do you ask?"
The answer is "What would that man say if I asked him the correct path?"
You always go with the opposite answer for the same reason in mine and your posts.
I just had a hard time reworking this one since it only had one person. I had to write in an imaginary brother for it to fit.
Quote from: Riddler_Rob on September 19, 2008, 10:50:34 PM
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 19, 2008, 10:45:54 PM
Quote from: Riddler_Rob on September 19, 2008, 09:18:45 PM
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 18, 2008, 01:51:01 PM
Ask one of them the following (let's assume left is correct):
You: What would that man tell me if he were to lie about left being the way to the capitol?
If you asked the citizen, he would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
If you asked the congressman would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
Both would say left would be the other's answer, but one of them would be lying about that. One of them would have to be honest about it. I win?
I didn't see this post, and I'm surprised nobody acknowledged it. This is essentially the same answer. Good poop.
Ahah, yeah, thanks, I mixed up my words for a second there and forgot a tiny detail in the question. I remember there being a riddle like this in the movie "The Labyrinth".
I never saw that movie, but I do know another version of the riddle that I like to ask people myself. "You come to a fork in the road and there are two men standing there. One man always lies, one man always tells the truth. One road leads to happiness, one leads to sadness. You don't know who is whom and which path leads where. You can ask one man one question; what do you ask?"
The answer is "What would that man say if I asked him the correct path?"
You always go with the opposite answer for the same reason in mine and your posts.
I just had a hard time reworking this one since it only had one person. I had to write in an imaginary brother for it to fit.
Yeah, you pretty much need two people, but once you know what one will say about the answer of another person, assuming there will be a 100% truth-teller VS a 100% liar or the other way around, it's solved.
A friend of mine just gave me his answer. "Just keep going straight, and ask the guy whatever you want. If there is a fork in the road, pick it up and go eat something."
Technically that can be right. I prefer my answer though.
Quote from: Riddler_Rob on September 20, 2008, 01:17:05 AM
A friend of mine just gave me his answer. "Just keep going straight, and ask the guy whatever you want. If there is a fork in the road, pick it up and go eat something."
Technically that can be right. I prefer my answer though.
Actually, From what I remember, that IS the answer.
Jesus Christ, why didn't I remember this? we had this at the first day of school D=
Quote from: Riddler_Rob on September 19, 2008, 10:50:34 PM
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 19, 2008, 10:45:54 PM
Quote from: Riddler_Rob on September 19, 2008, 09:18:45 PM
Quote from: THEEVILSPERKY on September 18, 2008, 01:51:01 PM
Ask one of them the following (let's assume left is correct):
You: What would that man tell me if he were to lie about left being the way to the capitol?
If you asked the citizen, he would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
If you asked the congressman would answer telling you that the other man would send you left.
Both would say left would be the other's answer, but one of them would be lying about that. One of them would have to be honest about it. I win?
I didn't see this post, and I'm surprised nobody acknowledged it. This is essentially the same answer. Good poop.
Ahah, yeah, thanks, I mixed up my words for a second there and forgot a tiny detail in the question. I remember there being a riddle like this in the movie "The Labyrinth".
I never saw that movie, but I do know another version of the riddle that I like to ask people myself. "You come to a fork in the road and there are two men standing there. One man always lies, one man always tells the truth. One road leads to happiness, one leads to sadness. You don't know who is whom and which path leads where. You can ask one man one question; what do you ask?"
The answer is "What would that man say if I asked him the correct path?"
You always go with the opposite answer for the same reason in mine and your posts.
I just had a hard time reworking this one since it only had one person. I had to write in an imaginary brother for it to fit.
that was basically my thought process as well. i got up to the "imaginary brother", but i couldn't figure out a way to connect them properly.