Wednesday
7January2004
Pusillanimous...
I always thought 'Pusillanimous' is related to something that
is puzzling. I tend to associate meanings of a word with the sound or
the ring they produce in my mind. Yesterday, when I was on a puzzle I
finally thought of just confirming with Webster online if the puzzle I
was working upon is pusillanimous enough. Which reminds me that I
stand being monetarily benefited, cause had you been the person betting
on the meaning of 'Pusillanimous' I would have betted my 100
rupees on its meaning being puzzling and you would have happily pocketed
my 100 bucks.
Now things are very clear, and I know the meaning too.. happily aware
that nobody can bet me out of the meaning of the word. But the puzzle
remains unsolved... I'll be happy if anybody mails me the answer.
The puzzle is as follows.....
The warden meets with 23 new prisoners when they arrive. He tells them,
"You may meet today and plan a strategy. But after today, you will be
in isolated cells and will have no communication with one another.
"In the prison is a switch room, which contains two
light switches labeled A and B, each of which can be in either the 'on'
or the 'off' position. I am not telling you their present positions. The
switches are not connected to anything.
"After today, from time to time whenever I feel so
inclined, I will select one prisoner at random and escort him to the
switch room. This prisoner will select one of the two switches and
reverse its position. He must move one, but only one of the switches. He
can't move both but he can't move none either. Then he'll be led back to
his cell.
"No one else will enter the switch room until I
lead the next prisoner there, and he'll be instructed to do the same
thing. I'm going to choose prisoners at random. I may choose the same
guy three times in a row, or I may jump around and come back.
"But, given enough time, everyone will eventually
visit the switch room as many times as everyone else. At any time anyone
of you may declare to me, 'We have all visited the switch room.' and be
100% sure.
"If it is true, then you will all be set free. If
it is false, and somebody has not yet visited the switch room, you will
be fed to the alligators."
What is the strategy they come up with so that they can
be free?
