HELP!!!! MATH PROBLEM

[Akonyl]

the problem with this though is if this worked, they would all be dead before the foreigner arrived in the first place, because he doesn't tell them anything they don't already know.

Spoiler:

No they wouldn't. There has to be someone who tells them: there are some people with this (insert any color) eye color, otherwise the whole process wouldn't start. imagine 499blue-eyed people, 499brown-eyed people and 2green eyed people.
Both of the green-eyed people will think: i can can see 499 blue-eyed, 499brown-eyed and 1green-eyed person. But no matter how long he waits he isn't going to figure out which eye color he has. As far has he know he might have purple eyes.
A green eyed person will think: either the other guy (I'll just make guys out of all of them for conveniece) doesn't know that that there are people with green eyes at all or I also have green eyes.
But both of them will never fugure out which one it is.
As soon as there is someone who tells them: "There are green-eyed people." He will think: either the green-eyed guy i can see is the only one-then he will figure that out immediately and commit suicide the next day, or I have green eyes as well, he can see me and is still alive after noon the next day, since he expected me to kill myself. In that case i have to kill myself on day2 at noon since i will know my own eye-color (green).

As ridiculous as it sounds there has to be someone who tells them there are people with this eye-color, even though they all know that beforehand. That is the time when they start "counting" (see answer to c-square)

(If you want a quick way to kill them all tell them there are people with red eyes. They will all kill themselves the next day  ;) )

Mmm, I see now, I was under the impression you were saying there was an importance to what he said rather than the fact that he said anything at all (although I guess what he said gave them all a same place to start their reasoning so it's still relevant).

[Moriarty]

I haven't read the last few posts but I see "Ahh... I missed that part.  In that case, yeah, you're right!"- Sayumi

So,

I got a new one:

"There are two ships of equal size and strength. One is made of wood and the other steel. Can you explain which one is heavier?"
Again, from MindTrap.

[c-square]

I got a new one:

"There are two ships of equal size and strength. One is made of wood and the other steel. Can you explain which one is heavier?"
Again, from MindTrap.

Note:  It doesn't say that the ships are actually in the water, so they could both be in drydock. 

[Jd-]

The following is a logic puzzle originally titled "Boîte rouge, boîte bleue, boîte verte" (Red box, blue box, green box).

Forewarning: This is a very difficult puzzle by most standards and you may need help to solve it.

The first to get the correct answer, I shall award them with a special forum title entirely unique to them. Incentive~!?

---

You come across three boxes: A red one, a blue one, and a green one. Two men are guarding the boxes.

The first is dependably dubious but also prevailing by nature--he knows the contents of two boxes, but will claim that he knows the contents of one. The man is very fond of the color red.

The second is dependably honest but also envious by nature--he knows the contents of one box, but will claim that he knows all three. The man is also very fond of the color red.

The two men are aware of their counterpart's favorite color and are aware of one another's traits. The two despise one another and would rather you have the contents than their counterpart, but should you end up with the false box, the man who chose the correct box will become the owner of it instead. The contents of the correct box are highly desirable to all three of you, and the two men know exactly what is inside.

Before you are to make your choice, you are first handed a piece of red paper by the first individual who states that what you are looking for is in the red box. Then, the second individual hands you a corresponding piece of green paper that states what you are looking for is in the green box.

Ultimately, you may ask each man to choose one of the three boxes in the order your prefer, with either the first man, the second man, or yourself going first (you are permitted to take a box immediately as well, before letting them choose one). Remember that they despise one another and would rather you have the prize than their counterpart, but they, too, would also like to have the box if that were an inevitability. All three of you must have a box by the end, so what is the best course of action and corresponding thought process to ensure you are the one with the correct box?


NOTE: There is at least one piece of misinformation in this text that may serve as a red herring.

[MrWiz88]

im taking the

Spoiler:

blue box..(even though my favorite color is green)

the guy who gave me the red paper gets the:

Spoiler:

green box

and the guy who gave me the green paper gets the

Spoiler:

red box

[Moriarty]

Spoiler:

Is the way to determine if you get the right box:

have them each give a different person a box, which would have the man giving the box to you the right one, and the man giving it to the other man the wrong one

Spoiler:

For example:

Say the right box is the red one.
And they both know the right box.

You make guy 1 pick first, but he has to give it to guy 2 so he picks green.
Guy 2 picks and he already has one so he gives you one, and it is the right one. (red)
You give the last one to guy one.

It is in a triangle sort of way.

[Jd-]

Spoiler:

Is the way to determine if you get the right box:

have them each give each other a box, which would have them want to give the wrong box, leaving you with the right box

Spoiler:

This problem only permits them to pick their own box. You don't get to pick for them or force them to trade at any point~

[Moriarty]

Darn... and i edited my post while you said that. . .

hmmm.

[MrWiz88]

and now we know...and knowing is half the battle

[Moriarty]

I got it

Spoiler:

The misinformation is that they despise each other. Or that the one man is honest.

So they want you to have the wrong box.

Also, the man that gave you the red paper could be lying, and so could the other man if it were the misinformation.

Have them each pick the box they told you to take, and take the blue one.

[Jd-]

I got it

Spoiler:

The misinformation is that they despise each other. Or that the one man is honest.

So they want you to have the wrong box.

Also, the man that gave you the red paper could be lying, and so could the other man if it were the misinformation.

Have them each pick the box they told you to take, and take the blue one.

Spoiler:

Can't "have them" pick a certain box. For example, the one who told you to take the red box could instead take a different box while the one who mentioned the green one could take that box or a different one, depending on the order you choose for it to work itself out in.

[Moriarty]

I got it

Spoiler:

The misinformation is that they despise each other. Or that the one man is honest.

So they want you to have the wrong box.

Also, the man that gave you the red paper could be lying, and so could the other man if it were the misinformation.

Have them each pick the box they told you to take, and take the blue one.

Spoiler:

Can't "have them" pick a certain box. For example, the one who told you to take the red box could instead take a different box while the one who mentioned the green one could take that box or a different one, depending on the order you choose for it to work itself out in.

Then is the misinformation right so far? And could you blindfold them?

[Jd-]

I got it

Spoiler:

The misinformation is that they despise each other. Or that the one man is honest.

So they want you to have the wrong box.

Also, the man that gave you the red paper could be lying, and so could the other man if it were the misinformation.

Have them each pick the box they told you to take, and take the blue one.

Spoiler:

Can't "have them" pick a certain box. For example, the one who told you to take the red box could instead take a different box while the one who mentioned the green one could take that box or a different one, depending on the order you choose for it to work itself out in.

Then is the misinformation right so far? And could you blindfold them?

I can't confirm or deny anything in fear of leading people in the right direction/the wrong direction. I will only say that I, likewise, can't confirm or deny any answers that lack a few pieces of critical information. Without those connections, it won't be considered "complete."

And nope, no blindfolding.

[Moriarty]

Spoiler:

It is reverse psycology.

Guy 2 only knows one box, the green one. Thats why he tells you to take it, he lies and doesn't want it.

Guy 1 tells you to take the red one, because he tries to trick you and really wants it.

Therefore, the right answer is the red one.

OR

guy 1 lies and also doesn't want the red one, in which case the blue one is correct.

[Moriarty]

After looking at my last post:

Spoiler:

The paper both guy gave you are wrong.
As green is the box guy 2 knows and guy 1 gave you red which he lied.

Tell guy 2 that guy 1 told you red is the right box. Let him pick first. If he picks red, green is wrong and blue is the right answer. So then you pick blue.