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Authors:
Anany Levitin
Chapter:
Introduction
Exercise:
1.2 Exercise
Question:1 | ISBN:9780132316811 | Edition: 3

Question

OldWorld puzzle Apeasant finds himself on a riverbank with a wolf, a goat, and a head of cabbage. He needs to transport all three to the other side of the river in his boat. However, the boat has room for only the peasant himself and one other item (either the wolf, the goat, or the cabbage).

In his absence, the wolf would eat the goat, and the goat would eat the cabbage. Solve this problem for the peasant or prove it has no solution. (Note: The peasant is a vegetarian but does not like cabbage and hence can eat neither the goat nor the cabbage to help him solve the problem. And it goes without saying that the wolf is a protected species.)

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Answer

This classic river-crossing puzzle can be solved with careful planning. The goal is to transport the wolf, goat, and cabbage to the other side of the river without the wolf eating the goat or the goat eating the cabbage. Here's a step-by-step solution:

  1. The peasant takes the wolf across the river and leaves it on the other side.

Riverbank A: Goat Cabbage Riverbank B: Wolf

  1. The peasant goes back alone to the starting side.

Riverbank A: Goat Cabbage Riverbank B:

  1. The peasant takes the cabbage across the river.

Riverbank A: Goat Riverbank B: Wolf Cabbage

  1. The peasant leaves the cabbage on the other side and takes the wolf with him back to the starting side.

Riverbank A: Goat Cabbage Riverbank B: Wolf

  1. The peasant takes the goat across the river.

Riverbank A: Cabbage Riverbank B: Wolf Goat

  1. The peasant goes back alone to the starting side.

Riverbank A: Cabbage Goat Riverbank B: Wolf

  1. The peasant takes the wolf across the river one last time.

Riverbank A: Cabbage Goat Wolf Riverbank B:

Now, all three items (wolf, goat, and cabbage) are safely on the other side of the river, and none of them have been eaten. The puzzle is solved!

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