solve the riddle

in riddle •  7 years ago 


Four criminals are caught and are to be punished.The judge allows them to be freed if they can solve a puzzle. If they do not, they will be hung. They agreed.
The 4 criminals are lined up on some steps (shown in picture). They are all facing in the same direction. A wall separates the fourth man from the other three.
So to summarise :
Man 1 can see Man 2 and Man 3.
Man 2 can see Man 3.
Man 3 can see none of the others.
Man 4 can see none of the others.

The criminals are wearing hats. They are told that there are two white hats and two black hats. The men initially don’t know what colour hat they are wearing. They are told to shout out the colour of the hat that they are wearing as soon as they know for certain what colour it is.

They are not allowed to turn round or move. They are not allowed to talk to each other. They are not allowed to take their hats off.

Who is the first person to shout out and why?

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The first guy?

you sure about that

Man 2.

He can see a black hat in front of him. If he himself were wearing a black hat, then man 1 would know he is wearing a white hat and shout out first. Since man 1 does not shout out, man 2 knows that he is wearing a white hat.

2nd one.

He sees the man wearing one of the two black hats in front of him. If he was wearing black, then the man 1 would speak instantaneously that man 1 has white hat, because he is not. Then man 2 is wearing opposite hat to man 3, which is white.

this is assuming all men are logical.