[Guest]

A king wanted to end a war that had been going on. So he set forth a call his kingdom to create a weapon that would melt away anything it touches. The king hated liars, so anyone he caught lying, he would hang him/her. He was a smart king and had really good logical sense.

A jester comes into the king's court one day and says, "I have the answer. I have a magic potion that meets your needs." He pulled out a dark, opaque vial that had smoke fuming out of it.

The king looked at him and said, "Have this jester hanged, he is lying."

How did the king know?

[Guest]

If the potion was real wouldn't it 'melt away' the vial??

[Guest]

a weapon that would melt away anything it touches.

Really Anyything????

A jester comes into the king's court one day and says, "I have the answer. I have a magic potion that meets your needs." He pulled out a dark, opaque vial that had smoke fuming out of it.

How the vial would haev been able to hold it? Staying in touch with the potion without melting.

[Guest]

the jester was holding the vial, which would mean it doesn't melt away Everything. Tada!

[Guest]

using that logic, then it would be impossible to have such a weapon and anyone who would present one to the king would be hung!!

[Guest]

He was a smart king and had really good logical sense.

It seems that he wasn't that smart afterall. Else he wouldn't have ordered the impossible.

[Guest]

using that logic, then it would be impossible to have such a weapon and anyone who would present one to the king would be hung!!

no container would hold such a solution, and everyone presenting a solution would be a liar..

The King has devised a creative way to catch the liars...

[Guest]

Too bad for the alchemists... While I agree with the answer that the potion should melt the vial... BUT... what if the magic potion works when it comes in contact with something only after the magic words have been said?

[Guest]

BUT... what if the magic potion works when it comes in contact with something only after the magic words have been said?

I wish liquids could hear me.

[Guest]

I read this problem, thought, "That's an easy one. I'll post a reply"

Unfortunately, you all got there first!

[Guest]

Since it's a magic potion, wouldn't you need a "magic vial" to contain it? Ah Ha, the rules of magic don't always mesh with the rules of physics.

[Guest]

Since it's a magic potion, wouldn't you need a "magic vial" to contain it? Ah Ha, the rules of magic don't always mesh with the rules of physics.

If there had been something really magical, then instead of a making a weired "potion", I had tried to prepare a charm such that uttering it once could kill my enemy.

Edited October 22, 2009 by RRR

[Guest]

Too bad for the alchemists... While I agree with the answer that the potion should melt the vial... BUT... what if the magic potion works when it comes in contact with something only after the magic words have been said?

I agree, but, since the problem presupposes the existence of magic, one might also be able to create a magic vial to hold the magic solvent. For example, a vial which maintains the solution within suspended in a vacuum.

If it has to be able to "melt away anything it touches" wouldn't it also have to melt away liquids, which by their very definition cannot be melted? After all, melting is defined as "to become liquid" so liquids of course cannot melt.

sorry, I have a thing for devil's advocacy.

Edited October 22, 2009 by glamdringob

[Guest]

Yep everyone got the answer. Pretty easy.

The "magic potion" should have melted away the vial.

[Guest]

since the liquid was in a vial that hadn't disolved...