OnMobile Written test puzzle -1
In a far away land, it was known that if you drank poison, the only way to save yourself is to drink a stronger poison, which neutralizes the weaker poison. The king that ruled the land wanted to make sure that he possessed the strongest poison in the kingdom, in order to ensure his survival, in any situation. So the king called the kingdom's pharmacist and the kingdom's treasurer, he gave each a week to make the strongest poison. Then, each would drink the other one's poison, then his own, and the one that will survive, will be the one that had the stronger poison.
The pharmacist went straight to work, but the treasurer knew he had no chance, for the pharmacist was much more experienced in this field, so instead, he made up a plan to survive and make sure the pharmacist dies. On the last day the pharmacist suddenly realized that the treasurer would know he had no chance, so he must have a plan. After a little thought, the pharmacist realized what the treasurer's plan must be, and he concocted a counter plan, to make sure he survives and the treasurer dies. When the time came, the king summoned both of them. They drank the poisons as planned, and the treasurer died, the pharmacist survived, and the king didn't get what he wanted.
What exactly happened there?
The pharmacist went straight to work, but the treasurer knew he had no chance, for the pharmacist was much more experienced in this field, so instead, he made up a plan to survive and make sure the pharmacist dies. On the last day the pharmacist suddenly realized that the treasurer would know he had no chance, so he must have a plan. After a little thought, the pharmacist realized what the treasurer's plan must be, and he concocted a counter plan, to make sure he survives and the treasurer dies. When the time came, the king summoned both of them. They drank the poisons as planned, and the treasurer died, the pharmacist survived, and the king didn't get what he wanted.
What exactly happened there?
None of them made the poison.......
ReplyDeleteTreaurer's plan was that he would bring with him poisonless drink and he will drink any dilute poison before coming there. as pharmacist poison would be strong it will neautralize his poison which he had drank earlier.
after that he would drink his poisonless drink and thus survive.
so after knowing this plan pharmacist also brought with him poisonless drink so treasurer died due to dilute poison he drank before coming.
@pankaj absolutely correct...
ReplyDeleteThan in that case king should take the pharmacist's poison as he survived so king should interpret that his poison is strong.
ReplyDeleteI think there is problem in the question.
What if both brought poison with them and treasures poison was strong and he drank his poison first than other poison has no effect as his was stronger.
@Geecat please read last three lines of problem carefully i.e given the final scenario you have to find what could be the possible reason.
ReplyDeleteAccording to you "What if both brought poison with them and treasures poison was strong and he drank his poison first than other poison has no effect as his was stronger. " how would treasure be sure that his poison will be stronger than pharmacist.so this assumption will not lead to final result..
Problem says king did not get what he wanted?
ReplyDeleteIf @pankaj's explanation is right in that case king should take pharmacist poison. but he didn't.
So something else happened...i don't know what.