Comments for blog.limedaley.com/post/puzzles

Comment #141

2004-10-08T11:03:43Z

I am not sure what you did in your html.

Your answer is correct. The original problem said the best guy went second, but after we thought about it, we decided it didn't matter.

Comment #140

2004-10-07T19:38:58Z

Well, somehow I messed up the HTML, and I can't edit my comment, but I think you can still read it.

Comment #139

2004-10-07T19:37:34Z

If each person gets only one shot, and each person can only get shot at once, then I agree with Heather. And of course there is a case to be made for the idea that it is better to be dead than a murderer...but that's another puzzle./>

Instead of shooting yourself, I say you aim into the air, and hit no one./>

A = the guy who never misses; B = the guy who hits 2 out of 3 shots. I'm assuming B shoots second, since we seem to be going in reverse order of competence. But I don't think it matters./>

You don't want to shoot B, because if you hit him, you're dead: It's A's turn to shoot, he never misses, and you are his only target. But if you kill A, B will then keep shooting at you, and he is twice the shot you are - pretty bad odds./>

Neither A nor B want to shoot at you while the other is alive, since you're such a bad shot. B can't take your way out, because A is bound to shoot him, fatally. So he has to shoot at A. If A dies, you are back where you would have been had you killed A, with this important difference: you get to shoot at B before he can shoot at you./>

If B does not kill A, A's best bet is still to kill B. Then you get at least once chance to kill A before he can kill you./>

Sounds like a pretty dangerous situation no matter how you look at it.

Comment #138

2004-10-07T18:36:33Z

I don't think you want to shoot yourself...

The fight goes from person to person, they can shoot wherever they want, once, and then the next guy goes. You keep taking turns until there is one person left.

Comment #137

2004-10-07T15:37:36Z

My first impulse would be to say "at yourself" but it really seems like you want a little more info on how the rules of the fight go. IE, does everyone have one chance to shoot at one person, and the other people can't shoot at someone who has already been shot at?

Comment #136

2004-10-07T14:13:53Z

Another puzzle from another co-worker:

There are three guys in a gun-fight, one can shoot perfectly, one guy misses one out of three times, and you, who misses two out of three times.

This is an organized fight, so only one person shoots at a time, and since you can't shoot that well, you get to go first.

Assumption 1: You want to have the best chance of walking away alive.

Assumption 2: It only takes one successful hit to kill a guy

Where do you aim?