[Guest]

A box of donations is stolen from the counter. It's estimated that the box had $253.91 in it. A crowd of 7 people saw who took the money. However, none of them speak the truth. There are no other witnesses and no security footage. Through asking the crowd questions, how do the police find the crook? What is the least number of questions they can ask to solve the crime?(The person who took the money does not come forward and confess and is not one of the 7 witnesses.)

[peace*out]

A box of donations is stolen from the counter. It's estimated that the box had $253.91 in it. A crowd of 7 people saw who took the money. However, none of them speak the truth. There are no other witnesses and no security footage. Through asking the crowd questions, how do the police find the crook? What is the least number of questions they can ask to solve the crime?(The person who took the money does not come forward and confess and is not one of the 7 witnesses.)

Who is not the person who did this

Spoiler for or 2?:

to determine if someone lies, ask 'is (a red object) red?'. Then ask the first option.

[Guest]

Who is not the person who did this

Spoiler for or 2?:

to determine if someone lies, ask 'is (a red object) red?'. Then ask the first option.

No.

It is stated that none of them speak the truth.

[Guest]

No.

It is stated that none of them speak the truth.

he's right because if you ask someone who always lies, to point out someone who didn't do it, since that person always lies, he would have to point to the person who did. If he pointed to anybody else, he'd be telling the truth in that the person did not indeed do it.

[Guest]

A box of donations is stolen from the counter. It's estimated that the box had $253.91 in it. A crowd of 7 people saw who took the money. However, none of them speak the truth. There are no other witnesses and no security footage. Through asking the crowd questions, how do the police find the crook? What is the least number of questions they can ask to solve the crime?(The person who took the money does not come forward and confess and is not one of the 7 witnesses.)

just one question.

Ask any of the seven who among the suspect pool did *not* take the money.

[Guest]

Am I correct in assuming that the person who took the money is in the crowd as well, giving a total of eight people (7 witnesses and 1 thief)? If so, I'm assuming that the thief is a liar as well..?

[peace*out]

Am I correct in assuming that the person who took the money is in the crowd as well, giving a total of eight people (7 witnesses and 1 thief)? If so, I'm assuming that the thief is a liar as well..?

If you read above, it says that the theif is not one of the 7 witnesses. He may be in the crowd, but is not being questioned.

[Guest]

If you read above, it says that the theif is not one of the 7 witnesses. He may be in the crowd, but is not being questioned.

Going by the least number of questions, just ask a witness to point out who didn't take the money. They'd have to point to the thief, otherwise they'd be telling the truth.

[Guest]

Who is not the person who did this

Spoiler for or 2?:

to determine if someone lies, ask 'is (a red object) red?'. Then ask the first option.

you ask them if they saw who didn't do it.

[Guest]

None so far.

You are making the assumption that the 7 people in the crowd lie.

[Guest]

None so far.

You are making the assumption that the 7 people in the crowd lie.

"A crowd of 7 people saw who took the money. However, none of them speak the truth."

[peace*out]

None so far.

You are making the assumption that the 7 people in the crowd lie.

thennn...

Go to someone and ask them 'Is the *insert red object here* red?

If they say yes, then ask them who it was.

If they say no, then ask them the question that everyone's been saying.

So 2.

But are you saying that some lie and tell the truth??

Uh - oh.

[Guest]

If none of the witnesses speak the truth, then one question will suffice. If you ask any of the witnesses who DIDN'T take the box, there's only one answer that's not truthful. Any witness MUST name the culprit in order to NOT tell the truth. This is, of course, assuming that each witness knows the name of the culprit.

[Guest]

That does not mean they lie. No correct answers so far.

"A crowd of 7 people saw who took the money. However, none of them speak the truth."

[/quote

Edited March 26, 2009 by hungryjeff

[peace*out]

Good riddle so far!

Would you mind answering my question at the bottom of the spoiler?

Or am I being to pushy?

[Guest]

"A crowd of 7 people saw who took the money. However, none of them speak the truth."

Are we to interpret this as none of the witnesses will say the words "the truth" then? If that's the case, then do they tell the truth or not?

[Guest]

Good riddle so far!

Would you mind answering my question at the bottom of the spoiler?

Or am I being to pushy?

I am saying none of them speak the truth. I like to believe that most people tend to fall on the honest side of the line when it comes to convicting robbers.

[Guest]

none so far

Edited March 26, 2009 by hungryjeff

[Guest]

I see what you are saying but...

None of the witnesses will speak the words "the truth". None of them will speak the truth either.

A for more guesses before a big hint.

[Guest]

Are the witnesses mute? Then police just has to write one question "Who did it?" on a paper?

Edit: I meant the police has to let someone to write the thief's name on a paper?

Edited March 26, 2009 by = W =

[Guest]

They may not be mute, but maybe if they can't speak the truth, can they write the truth???

[Guest]

ask a person what a witness would say if asked who the thief was as that way he would think "Well, the witness would lie so i must lie to this question by telling the truth about the thief"

[Guest]

Are the witnesses mute? Then police just has to write one question "Who did it?" on a paper?

Edit: I meant the police has to let someone to write the thief's name on a paper?

Correct. The witnesses are mute. The police can just ask who did it and the witnesses can point. Or they can use, sign-language, or write it down. I don't usually like the truth teller-lie teller riddles, so I figured I'd try and bait some people into thinking this one is solved with the same logic...

Edited March 26, 2009 by hungryjeff

[Guest]

Wonderful riddle! dang! another good one i missed!!!!

[Guest]

Correct. The witnesses are mute. The police can just ask who did it and the witnesses can point. Or they can use, sign-language, or write it down. I don't usually like the truth teller-lie teller riddles, so I figured I'd try and bait some people into thinking this one is solved with the same logic...

So the answer that everybody gave is correct - it takes one question, right?

Mute people can 'speak', according to Websters:

2 a: to make a written statement <his diaries…spoke…of his entrancement with death — Sy Kahn> b: to use such an expression —often used in the phrase so to speak<was at the enemy's gates, so to speak — C. S. Forester> c: to serve as spokesperson3 a: to express feelings by other than verbal means <actions speak louder than words> b: signal c: to be interesting or attractive : appeal <great music…speaks directly to the emotions — A. N. Whitehead>4: to make a request or claim —used with for —usually used in passive constructions <the seat was already spoken for>

[Guest]

So the answer that everybody gave is correct - it takes one question, right?

Mute people can 'speak', according to Websters:

2 a: to make a written statement <his diaries…spoke…of his entrancement with death — Sy Kahn> b: to use such an expression —often used in the phrase so to speak<was at the enemy's gates, so to speak — C. S. Forester> c: to serve as spokesperson3 a: to express feelings by other than verbal means <actions speak louder than words> b: signal c: to be interesting or attractive : appeal <great music…speaks directly to the emotions — A. N. Whitehead>4: to make a request or claim —used with for —usually used in passive constructions <the seat was already spoken for>

You are correct, "speak" does have other definitions. The primary definition is vocal though. If I asked you to draw me something, would you draw me a picture? Draw me something out of a hat? Draw up a legal document? Draw a gun on me? Draw me water? Can't "speak the truth" does not always mean "only tells lies". Someone who cannot speak the truth will either lie, or not speak at all. You'd have to assume they were lying for the answer "ask who didn't do it" to be correct. The point of this riddle was to trick people into making that assumption, incorrectly. I believe you were fooled by a play on words.