Saturday, January 17, 2009

Jailer and prisoners.

The jailer meets with 23 new prisoners when they arrive. He tells them, "You will be in isolated cells and will have no communication with one another, not even can see or hear each other.

"In this prison is a switch room, which contains two light switches labeled 1 and 2, each of which can be in either up or the down position. I am not telling you their present positions, as they can be in any position.

"From tomorrow, from time to time whenever I feel, I will select one prisoner at random and escort him to the switch room. This prisoner will select one of the two switches and reverse its position. Then he'll be led back to his cell.

"No one else will be allowed to alter the switches until I lead the next prisoner into the switch room. I'm going to choose prisoners at random. I may choose the same guy three times in a row, or I may jump around and come back.

At any point of time, any of you can shout and tell me, "Hey, every one of us has visited the switch room at least once".

"If it is true, then you will all be set free. If it is false, you will all die horribly. You will be carefully monitored, and any attempt to break any of these rules will result in instant death to all of you"

"You will be allowed to device a strategy and discuss among yourself to night. From tomorrow the game starts"

What is the strategy they come up with so that they can be free?

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