Crossing the River w/ Mother, Father, Sons, Daughters, Cop, Criminal

  • Thread starter Thread starter LarrrSDonald
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    River
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a logic puzzle involving a mother, father, two sons, two daughters, a criminal, and a cop needing to cross a river using a boat that can only carry two at a time. Key constraints include the mother and father needing to be present with their respective children to avoid conflicts, and the criminal can only be with the cop. The solution involves a series of crossings that ensure all parties adhere to the stated rules, ultimately leading to a successful crossing without any violations. The complexity of this puzzle is noted to be greater than simpler variations but less challenging than others, highlighting the intricate balance of relationships and restrictions involved in the scenario.
LarrrSDonald
Messages
70
Reaction score
0
A little harder then the lion/goat/cabbage but easier (IMO) then the King/Queen/Peasant+wifes.

A mother, a father, two sons, two daughters, a criminal and a cop need to cross a river. They have a boat for two, as usual in these situations.

1. The mother cannot be in the presense of any sons unless the father is present.
2. The father cannot be in the presence of any daughters unless the mother is present.
3. The criminal cannot be in the presence of anyone unless the cop is present.
4. Only the father, the mother and the cop can operate the boat.
5. "being in the presence of" includes both sides and the boat.
6. Any oddball logic mistakes I made in writing this are mistakes, not an indication that this is some kind of word puzzle rather then a logic puzzle.
 
Physics news on Phys.org

Let's see here:
Cop and prisoner cross.
Cop takes the boat back.
Cop and one daughter cross.
Cop and prisoner cross back.
Mother and daughter cross
Mother takes the boat back.
Mother and father cross
Father takes the boat back
Cop and prisoner cross
Mother takes the boat back
Father and mother cross
Father takes the boat back
Father and son cross
Cop and prisoner take the boat back
Cop and son cross
Cop takes the boat back
Cop and prisoner cross
 
Correct. Not that you need me to tell you :-).
 

Thread 'Status Update by JRMichler'

Just ONCE, I wanted to see a post titled Status Update that was not a blatant, annoying spam post by a new member. So here it is. Today was a good day here in Northern Wisconsin. Fall colors are here, no mosquitos, no deer flies, and mild temperature, so my morning run was unusually nice. Only two meetings today, and both went well. The deer that was road killed just down the road two weeks ago is now fully decomposed, so no more smell. Somebody has a spike buck skull for their...
View full post »

Similar threads

Can They All Cross the River? A Puzzle for Six People and One Boat
Replies
22
Views
15K
Source: Sterling, Brain Teasers, p. 30
2
Replies
90
Views
72K
Challenge Math Challenge - December 2018
2
Replies
67
Views
14K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top