Victorian Boat Ride - Solution

by
Erik Oosterwal



There may be more efficient ways of completing this problem, but this is one method that works:

1. Mr. and Mrs. Able row across.

Bb Cc        Aa



2. Mr. Able leaves the Mrs. on the far side and returns alone.

A Bb Cc        a



3. Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Charlie row over to the far side.

A B C        a b c



4. Mrs. Able returns alone.

Aa B C        b c



5. Mr. Baker and Mr. Charlie row to the far side.

Aa        Bb Cc



6. Mr. and Mrs. Baker return together.

Aa Bb        Cc



7. Mr. Able and Mr. Baker row over together.

a b        A B Cc



8. Mrs. Charlie returns alone.

a b c        A B C



9. Mrs. Able and Mrs. Baker row over together.

c        Aa Bb C



10. Mrs. Able returns alone.

a c        A Bb C



11. Mrs. Able and Mrs. Charlie row over together.

       Aa Bb Cc



At no time was a wife in the presence of another man without her husband being there to protect her honor.

Now, since the boat is on the far side, how does the next set of couples get across?  Also, is there a fixed algorithm for N couples?

All original puzzles and solutions are © Erik Oosterwal 1993-2008

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