The Dead End - 08/01/2013

See an answer or request an answer!

The Dead End - 08/01/2013

Postby showmyiq » Tue Jan 08, 2013 4:28 pm

I was recently reading a great thriller and I was inspired by one of the chapters – “The Dead End”.
The main character crossed his path with a psychopath suicide bomber and the psycho told:

If what you say is a lie, I will press the button and blow the bomb.
On the other hand if what you say is a truth, I will detonate the bomb via the wires.


What should he say in order to get out of this ridiculous situation without bomb explosion?

The-Dead-End-Puzzle.jpg.gif
The Dead End Puzzle
The-Dead-End-Puzzle.jpg.gif (31.9 KiB) Viewed 23919 times
User avatar
showmyiq
Site Admin
 
Posts: 390
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:45 pm

Re: The Dead End - 08/01/2013

Postby showmyiq » Thu Jan 10, 2013 4:36 am

Some may consider that if the main character stand stool and said nothing – that is a possible solution. But what if the bomb has a detonator anyway?

Another possible solution is to ask the psycho a question (this way we are going to avoid the lie and truth factor), but if he considers that as a cheat – he is going to push the button/ cross the wires.

We should construct such sentence – neither lie, neither true. The best and shortest solution I have found so far is using the Russel Paradox schematic. What if the main character says to the psycho – “I lie.” (“I am lying.”).
If he is saying the truth, then he is a truth teller and sentence like “I lie.” is contradiction. On the other hand if he is lying then “I lie” is false statement, therefore he is a truth teller and again we meet a contradiction. We can continue like that forever and we are not able to determine is this sentence is true or a lie. So this will really perplex the suicide bomber and we can avoid the damage for sure.
User avatar
showmyiq
Site Admin
 
Posts: 390
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:45 pm

Re: The Dead End - 08/01/2013

Postby telkante » Sat Apr 20, 2013 1:29 am

I also used a paradox for my answer, but slightly different:
If what you say is a lie, I will press the button and blow the bomb.
On the other hand if what you say is a truth, I will detonate the bomb via the wires.


So, what if I were to say "you will press the button"?
If it's viewed as a truth, he will use the wires, thus making it a lie.
However, if it's a lie, he will use the button, making it a truth.
telkante
 
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 1:26 am

Re: The Dead End - 08/01/2013

Postby showmyiq » Sat Apr 20, 2013 6:38 am

Excellent solution!
User avatar
showmyiq
Site Admin
 
Posts: 390
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2012 9:45 pm


Return to Answers

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

cron