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Author Topic:   Please solve this riddle for me!
coffee_addict
Member (Idle past 477 days)
Posts: 3645
From: Indianapolis, IN
Joined: 03-29-2004


Message 1 of 8 (105037)
05-03-2004 6:12 PM


I've been thinking about this for months and I still can't figure out the answer.
There are 3 gods. 1 of them tells the truth all the time, 1 of them tells a lie all the time, and 1 of them always answers randomly.
You can only ask 3 questions with a yes or no answer before you have to guess which one is which. What questions would you ask?
By the way, if you ask a single question to all of them and they each responded, that's 3 questions already. 1 question is only 1 question when it is directed toward 1 god.
Anyone know how to solve this?

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Primordial Egg, posted 05-03-2004 6:48 PM coffee_addict has not replied
 Message 4 by SkepticScand, posted 05-03-2004 10:39 PM coffee_addict has not replied
 Message 5 by berberry, posted 05-03-2004 11:36 PM coffee_addict has not replied

  
Primordial Egg
Inactive Member


Message 2 of 8 (105047)
05-03-2004 6:48 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by coffee_addict
05-03-2004 6:12 PM


I started a thread on this a while back.
link.
The answer's not in the thread but PaulK gave me the confidence to work it out.
If you're still having trouble, let me know.
PE
added by edit: its important that you can ask 3 questions to whoever you want (i.e all 3 to one, 2 to one and 1 to another or 1 each)
[This message has been edited Primordial Egg, 05-03-2004]

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This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by coffee_addict, posted 05-03-2004 6:12 PM coffee_addict has not replied

Replies to this message:
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Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 3 of 8 (105076)
05-03-2004 8:58 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Primordial Egg
05-03-2004 6:48 PM


ah ha!
Oh, yes, I remember that puzzle now. I haven't thought of it since then. Thanks, Lam and Egg, for bringing it back to my attention.

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SkepticScand
Inactive Member


Message 4 of 8 (105102)
05-03-2004 10:39 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by coffee_addict
05-03-2004 6:12 PM


Ouch. Difficult one
This is a good one Lam!
I can see why it is named "The Hardest Logic Puzzle Ever". I actually remembered the puzzle from Colleage, but I must admit it was a hard "nut to crack". I found a link to the answer No webpage found at provided URL: http://people.ucsc.edu/~jburke/three_gods.pdf, but I would advise anyone to try and solve it before looking at the answer
Cheers,
SkepticScand

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berberry
Inactive Member


Message 5 of 8 (105108)
05-03-2004 11:36 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by coffee_addict
05-03-2004 6:12 PM


Do I Win?
lam writes:
quote:
There are 3 gods.
Ah! The Trinity!
quote:
1 of them tells the truth all the time, 1 of them tells a lie all the time, and 1 of them always answers randomly.
Since God the Father is the one credited with creating the universe, he must be the liar. He told us he hung the stars in a firmament and we know that's not true. He told us that he created those stars after he created earth, which we also know is not true. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. This guy lies!
I can't think of anything Jesus ever lied about, so I'm guessing he's the truth-teller.
According to some of the fundies I know (like those in my family) the Holy Ghost can send mixed signals. My aunt, just hours before the death of my uncle: "I've spoken to the Holy Spirit, and I just know John's going to be okay". He was for a couple hours.
So I guess the Holy Spirit is the waffler.
Do I win?

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 Message 1 by coffee_addict, posted 05-03-2004 6:12 PM coffee_addict has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 6 by fnord, posted 05-04-2004 2:55 AM berberry has replied

  
fnord
Inactive Member


Message 6 of 8 (105131)
05-04-2004 2:55 AM
Reply to: Message 5 by berberry
05-03-2004 11:36 PM


Re: Do I Win?
quote:
I can't think of anything Jesus ever lied about, so I'm guessing he's the truth-teller.
It's not exactly lying - more like breaking a promise - but he foretold his generation that they (or at least some of them) would see the end of times before their death. See for instance Matthew 16:28 or Mark 13:30-31.
He also told his followers many times that they would receive anything that they asked for in prayer. Many unanswered prayers have been heard since then....

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 Message 5 by berberry, posted 05-03-2004 11:36 PM berberry has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 7 by berberry, posted 05-04-2004 3:02 AM fnord has replied

  
berberry
Inactive Member


Message 7 of 8 (105132)
05-04-2004 3:02 AM
Reply to: Message 6 by fnord
05-04-2004 2:55 AM


Re: Do I Win?
You're correct of course, but you take me much too seriously. That post was a joke.

This message is a reply to:
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fnord
Inactive Member


Message 8 of 8 (105136)
05-04-2004 3:39 AM
Reply to: Message 7 by berberry
05-04-2004 3:02 AM


Re: Do I Win?
Ah, I suspected that much. But I also thought it wouldn't hurt to point it out again, just in case someone would think it was true.
fnord

This message is a reply to:
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