1:
One box is big, the other is small.
The keyhole in the big box is larger than the key to the smaller box. So, I
pick up the larger box, shake it around a bit, till the key to the smaller
box falls out through the keyhole of the larger box. Click, clack, and we
are done.
2:
The big box is big and heavy. The small box is frail. I use the big box to
smash the small box, extract the key from the wreckage, open the big box.
Alternative; it's a hardcopy version of The Spike, suitable for box
smashing.
3:
Ah hah! Thought of this while typing the other two.
One box is the room we are in, with a locked door; the other is a little box
in the floor. The key to the little box is on the floor, the key to the
larger one is in the little box.
----Actually, I think the box-smashing answer is the most likely to work.
Emlyn
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dale Johnstone" <DaleJohnstone@email.com> To: <extropians@extropy.org> Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2001 6:49 AM Subject: Re: Riddles (was: Lateral Thinking)
> > I previously wrote: > > > Ok, try this one: > > > > There are two locked boxes, an old and younger brother; > > The keys to each, are inside the other; > > > > To cheer up the ozzy, I leave a copy of 'The Spike'; > > Of which you're free to use, in any way you like; > > > > To keep him smiling, I promise no meta-tricks; > > No Eliezer Yudkowsky's, xgl's, or tooth picks; > > > > Now all that remains, is for me to ask; > > How do I open each box, and complete the task? > > > > > > It's actually quite an easy one. I request that Eliezer and xgl sit this > one > > out to give others a shot at it. You're both free to respond privately > > though. > > I expected someone would guess this pretty quickly, but only Eliezer has > attempted it. He gave the following answer: > > >1) Take the key from A. > >2) Using the key from A, unlock B. > >3) Take the key from B. > >4) Using the key from B, unlock A. Be sure to do this before Step 1. > > While technically correct in a minimal sense, I can't declare him winner > because he does not explain how the apparent paradox was evaded. I need a > glowing lightbulb 'aha!' type answer. I'm pretty sure Damien would have > roasted me otherwise. > > Here's a couple of clues: The boxes are real wooden boxes with locks built > into them, but they are not the same size. > > Only the first 2 lines are really relevant to the puzzle. They rest is > mainly to distract you and to tease Damien. > > Eli & xgl: feel free to join in publically. > > Apologies to anyone who maybe found the puzzle added to the noise. I will > post the solution next Friday and be done with it. > > Cheers, > Dale Johnstone. > AI Researcher. > > >
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 09:56:16 MDT