15 replies to this topic

[rookie1ja]

Honestants and Swindlecants IV. - Back to the Logic Problems
Our gringo was lucky and survived. On his way to the pub he met three aborigines. One made this statement: "We are all Swindlecants." The second one concluded: "Just one of us is an honest man." Who are they?

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Honestants and Swindlecants IV. - solution
The first one must be a swindlecant (otherwise he would bring himself into a liar paradox), and so (knowing that the first one is lying) there must be at least one honestant among them. If the second one is lying, then (as the first one stated) the third one is an honestant, but that would make the second one speak the truth. So the second one is an honestant and C is a swindlecant.

[earl11]

1st - Swindlecant
2nd - Honestant
3rd - Swindlecant

1st one says "We are all Swindlecants". If he was a Honestant, this would be false. Hence, he is a Swindlecant. Since he is a Swindlecant, this statement has to be false, and hence, atleast one of the three is a Honestant. Thus, either one or both of the others are Honestants.
2nd one says "Just one of us is an honest man". If he was a Swindlecant, then, as concluded, from the 1st person's statement, the 3rd person would be the Honestant. However, that would make his statement true, which is not possible. Hence, he is a Honestant, and his statement is true.
From the 2nd person's statement, we can infer that the 3rd person is a Swindlecant.

[nino]

Too easy

[catfishrob]

In classical logic form:
A: This person is a swindlecant
B: This person is an honestant
X="Ai + Aii + Aiii"
Y="Bi xor Bii xor Biii"
If X, then not Y
If not X, then Y
f Y, then Bii
Ai xor not Ai
If Ai, not X
If not Ai, then X
If X, Ai
If not Ai, Ai (reductio ad absurdum)
----------
Ai
Not X
----------
Y
Bii
If Bii, not Biii
----------
Not Biii
Aiii

So our three conclusions are: Ai, Bii, Aiii or First person is Swindlecant, Second is Honestant, and Third is Swindlecant

[harvey45]

In classical logic form:
A: This person is a swindlecant
B: This person is an honestant
X="Ai + Aii + Aiii"
Y="Bi xor Bii xor Biii"
If X, then not Y
If not X, then Y
f Y, then Bii
Ai xor not Ai
If Ai, not X
If not Ai, then X
If X, Ai
If not Ai, Ai (reductio ad absurdum)
----------
Ai
Not X
----------
Y
Bii
If Bii, not Biii
----------
Not Biii
Aiii

So our three conclusions are: Ai, Bii, Aiii or First person is Swindlecant, Second is Honestant, and Third is Swindlecant

how the heck do you use algebra(I'm guessing that's what it is because of the variables for swindlecant and honestant) to solve a logic puzzle? Not all of us are rocket scientists you know.

[daftpunk79]

the first one is lying because he said "we are all swindlecants" and then the second said that one of them was an honest man. therefore if the first is lying he is a swindlecant and the second is an honestant and the third would have to be a swindlecant.

[slmo]

Another possibilty???

#1 is a swindlecant (easy)

#2 is a swindlecant (being female)

#3 is an honestant (being the only honest man)

I know, it's not indicated in the original and may violate the spirit in which it was given, but isn't it logically possible?

[AlphaSleuth]

Great observation, slmo! But... if gender is a factor, then:

(1) B and C must be Honestants; and
(2) either one of them could answer "one Honest man" truthfully

[slmo]

(1) B and C must be Honestants; and
(2) either one of them could answer "one Honest man" truthfully

Thanks...ur right, my bad, B is honest

[namele]

this one was pretty easy.

it is impossible for aborigine that said "We are all Swindlecants." to be an honestant. so he is a swindlecant. he is lieing about all of them being swindlecants. so the one that said "Just one of us is an honest man." is an honestant.