November 3, 2004
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Outside the Box

Chicken, Fox & Grain Puzzle

Today's solution to a classic problem

A farmer is standing on one bank of a river, with a fox, a chicken, and a bag of grain. He needs to get to the other side of the river, taking the fox, the chicken, and the grain with him.

However, the boat used to cross the river is only large enough to carry the farmer and one of the things he needs to take with him, so he will need to make several trips in order to get everything across.

In addition, he cannot leave the fox unattended with the chicken, or else the fox will eat the chicken; and he cannot leave the chicken unattended with the grain, or else the chicken will eat the grain. The fox is not particularly partial to grain, and may be left alone with it.

How can he get everything across the river without anything being eaten?

Traditional Answer to Chicken and Fox Dilemma

The man takes the chicken across first, leaving the fox and grain together on the other side.

He returns and gets the fox, but when he deposits the fox on the other side, he takes the chicken BACK across, so that the fox and chicken aren't left alone together.

He drops the chicken off back on the other side, picks up the grain, and takes it across to deposit with the fox.

Finally, he returns to retrieve the chicken and takes it to the other side.
At no time were the fox and chicken left alone together, nor were the chicken and grain.

At no time was more than one of them in the boat with the man simultaneously.

The reason this puzzle is so difficult for many people is that it never occurs to them that they can take something back once they've transported it to the second side. Your ability to solve this puzzle demonstrates a willingness to think "outside the box" and come up with creative solutions that still fit within the specified parameters.

2004 Answer

Who has time for such nonsense?  Barbecue the chicken, and take them all across at one time!

Savings:  6 boat trips, wear & tear on the boat, and hours saved on crossing time (to be alternatively spent on a chicken dinner with that pretty gal on the other side)...

-- source Joe-ks.com

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