• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 06:43
CEST 12:43
KST 19:43
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL22] Finals Preview: Sweet Victory!9[ASL22] Ro4 Preview: Mirror Mirror6[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: Within Reach5[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy11[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver5
Community News
[$1250] International ShieldBattery League29Weekly Cups (October 5-11): Farewell to 5.0.162Rollback Netcode in Brood War1275.0.17 Patch Notes - October 7, 202624Weekly Cups Results (Sep 28-Oct 4)0
StarCraft 2
General
No more sc2 streamers on team liquid? SCII needs to put more weight on strategy and tact Server Blocker Terran AddOns placement How do you feel about the mass reverts in the 5.0.17 PTR?
Tourneys
RSL goes to London! 2026 Offline Finals Nov 21-22 Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20) Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2) $3,500 WardiTV Not-Summer Championship
Strategy
[H] ZvP Mid-Late Game: Stalkers Collossi HT
Custom Maps
[G] How to playtest arcade maps [A] Nemrods 1/4 players [M] (2) Sweltering Sands [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 547 Temple Of Terror Mutation # 546 Catch the Train Mutation # 545 And Drops and Rifts
Brood War
General
Practice Partners (Official) Rollback Netcode in Brood War [Megathread] Daily Funny Videos GG Lan Fest Sofia, Bulgaria [this November] [Recap] Hive ZvZ in MonstarZ vs Dreams
Tourneys
[ASL22] Grand Finals [$1250] International ShieldBattery League 2v2v2v2 Tournament Small VOD Thread 2.0
Strategy
Cliff Jump Revisited (1 in a 1000 strategy) Simple Questions, Simple Answers Replay Review Process - What do you do?
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread Dawn of War IV Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread General RTS Discussion Thread
Dota 2
Dota 2 Champions League Season 3 Begins April 25!
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
Russo-Ukrainian War Thread US Politics Mega-thread Artificial Intelligence Thread The Chess Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
Serral Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion!
Sports
MLB/Baseball 2023 Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
ShieldBattery on Mac
Kraekkling
The Link Between Gaming and …
TrAiDoS
[ASL22] Ro4 Day1 Ticket Giv…
bITt.mAN
38 yo Retired SWE loo…
PurE)Rabbit-SF
Can Bots Beat Pros?? Starcr…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 9886 users

really interesting puzzle, took me a while!

Blogs > DoctorHelvetica
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
DoctorHelvetica
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States15034 Posts
October 31 2009 11:34 GMT
#1
[image loading]


Try to come up with a solution to this puzzle, it took me a really long time to figure out. It's a good one.

Solution: + Show Spoiler +
C knows his hat is black, if his hat was white then D would have seen two white hats and yelled that his hat was black. Because D did not do this, C realized that D must be seeing 2 different hats and that his hat is therefore black.


*****
RIP Aaliyah
writer22816
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United States5775 Posts
October 31 2009 11:54 GMT
#2
Great puzzle!
8/4/12 never forget, never forgive.
madnessman
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States1581 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-10-31 12:25:29
October 31 2009 12:11 GMT
#3
damn i'm really tempted to look at the solution. i've been staring at the diagram and instructions for like 5 minutes and i haven't figured it out yet.

EDIT: I GOT IT!
+ Show Spoiler +
If B and Cs hats are the same color D knows that his hat is obviously the other color and can call it out. If D does not call out a color C knows his hat is a different color than the guy in front of him and can call it out.


Here is another "guess the hat" brain teaser. This time there are 10 guys buried in the ground in a line. They are all facing forward so guy #1 can see everybody's hat (but his), guy #2 can see 3-10, guy #3 can see 4-10, etc... They each have a 50/50 chance of getting either a black or white hat (so it's not necessarily 5 x black and 5 x white). They all have to guess the color of their hat. Guy #1 guesses first, guy #2 guesses second, etc...

They have time before the test to agree on a strategy. There is a strategy which will save at least 9/10 guys for sure. What is it?

This isn't a trick question. They can't give audio clues like making your guess in a high pitch or a low pitch to tell the person in front of them what hat color they have. It's a logic/math solution.
Flicky
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
England2675 Posts
October 31 2009 12:13 GMT
#4
I hate when these puzzles make me feel slow.

To those working it out, this is completely logical. There is no trickery at all. I know the picture says it, but it's easy to doubt that. There's nothing like "he leans forward and the hat falls off".
Liquipedia"I was seriously looking for a black guy" - MrHoon
HwangjaeTerran
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Finland5967 Posts
October 31 2009 12:21 GMT
#5
A knows he has got a black hat
no way they could´ve chosen a guy with white hat to be alone on the other side of the wall.
https://steamcommunity.com/id/*tlusernamehere*/
Ganfei
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
Taiwan1439 Posts
October 31 2009 12:22 GMT
#6
There are a lot of variations of this puzzle, I did a similar one back in one of my logic classes during freshman year of college. The part that irks me is that your answer relies on your compatriots (the other hat wearers) not being idiots. So that's kind of out of the question in a normal situation.
You are crushing me like a cheese sandwich
underscore
Profile Joined August 2009
252 Posts
October 31 2009 12:29 GMT
#7
Puzzles like this make we want to be an executioner. Even if they solve it I still shoot them then go home with a big smile on my face and plow my wife.
LordWeird
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
United States3411 Posts
October 31 2009 12:44 GMT
#8
This was quite simple but very fun. D would have noticed if he had seen two white hats and would have called out (if he had a brain in him). When C realized that D had not called out he figured he must have had the black hat.
Chains none
Phrogs!
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
Japan521 Posts
October 31 2009 14:13 GMT
#9
Kinda simple but fun. You have a site you got this from? I wanna keep going
Zinbiel
Profile Joined October 2008
Sweden878 Posts
October 31 2009 14:55 GMT
#10
On October 31 2009 21:11 madnessman wrote:
damn i'm really tempted to look at the solution. i've been staring at the diagram and instructions for like 5 minutes and i haven't figured it out yet.

EDIT: I GOT IT!
+ Show Spoiler +
If B and Cs hats are the same color D knows that his hat is obviously the other color and can call it out. If D does not call out a color C knows his hat is a different color than the guy in front of him and can call it out.


Here is another "guess the hat" brain teaser. This time there are 10 guys buried in the ground in a line. They are all facing forward so guy #1 can see everybody's hat (but his), guy #2 can see 3-10, guy #3 can see 4-10, etc... They each have a 50/50 chance of getting either a black or white hat (so it's not necessarily 5 x black and 5 x white). They all have to guess the color of their hat. Guy #1 guesses first, guy #2 guesses second, etc...

They have time before the test to agree on a strategy. There is a strategy which will save at least 9/10 guys for sure. What is it?

This isn't a trick question. They can't give audio clues like making your guess in a high pitch or a low pitch to tell the person in front of them what hat color they have. It's a logic/math solution.

This works, right?
+ Show Spoiler +
If they agree that number 1 will guess white if he sees an odd number of white hats and guess black if he sees an even number of white hats. If number 1 calls white and number 2 sees an even number of white hats he's got a white one. If he sees an odd number he's got a black one. Rinse and repeat, everyone have to remember when it's there turn if they should have an even or odd number of whites in front of them.
Backho fan since 080416. Favourite terran: Mind. Favourite Zerg: Jaedong.
Thats_The_Spirit
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Netherlands138 Posts
October 31 2009 14:56 GMT
#11
Nice puzzle
Adeny
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Norway1233 Posts
October 31 2009 16:09 GMT
#12
There's actually no correct answer to OP's puzzle, not even his own answer. + Show Spoiler +
Just because D sees 2 different colors doesn't mean that D's hat has to be white. For all he knows, A and C has white, B and D has black. Unfortunately your hat-men are left with a 50-50 guess for whomever is feeling lucky that day.
JeeJee
Profile Blog Joined July 2003
Canada5652 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-10-31 16:18:26
October 31 2009 16:15 GMT
#13
iv seen far too many of these puzzles this one took me no time at all :p
+ Show Spoiler +

well C can see a white hat and i assume he knows that D can see both his and B's hats. therefore C knows that D sees a white + X. if D sees white+white, he'd auto-yell black. he doesn't, because he sees white+black. C realizes this and since he's not the white (cos he can see the white) he's sure he's black


also @adeny
+ Show Spoiler +

what? D's color doesn't matter, he's not the one guessing, because like you said, he can't be sure of his color cos he sees diff ones. C is the one guessing and C knows his color 100% given 2 conditions:
-he knows that D can see B and C's hats
-D is not an idiot
(\o/)  If you want it, you find a way. Otherwise you find excuses. No exceptions.
 /_\   aka Shinbi (requesting a name change since 27/05/09 ☺)
Zinbiel
Profile Joined October 2008
Sweden878 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-10-31 16:16:27
October 31 2009 16:15 GMT
#14
On November 01 2009 01:09 Adeny wrote:
There's actually no correct answer to OP's puzzle, not even his own answer. + Show Spoiler +
Just because D sees 2 different colors doesn't mean that D's hat has to be white. For all he knows, A and C has white, B and D has black. Unfortunately your hat-men are left with a 50-50 guess for whomever is feeling lucky that day.

You don't seem to understand.

+ Show Spoiler +
Your scenario doesn't matter, since it isn't D who are the one with the information he needs to tell what color his hat is, it is C. C sees that B has a white hat. The fact that D doesnt cry out tells C that he and B has different colors and since he sees that B has a white one, hence his hat is black. If he had seen a black hat in front of him and no reaction from D, he would have a white hat.
Backho fan since 080416. Favourite terran: Mind. Favourite Zerg: Jaedong.
kerpal
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
United Kingdom2695 Posts
October 31 2009 16:34 GMT
#15
On October 31 2009 21:22 NoobsOfWrath wrote:
There are a lot of variations of this puzzle, I did a similar one back in one of my logic classes during freshman year of college. The part that irks me is that your answer relies on your compatriots (the other hat wearers) not being idiots. So that's kind of out of the question in a normal situation.


puzzle should say, "this diagram shows 4 puzzle nerds buried up to their necks in sand"
-orb-
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States5770 Posts
October 31 2009 16:51 GMT
#16
I don't like this one because + Show Spoiler +
it relies on D not being a retard. If I was C in that situation I would be scared as fuck to say my hat was black because I'd be worried D was just a dumbfuck tool and he didn't know what he was doing lol
'life of lively to live to life of full life thx to shield battery'
how sad that sc2 has no shield battery :(
ejac
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
United States1195 Posts
October 31 2009 17:04 GMT
#17
This seemed hard at first, but I figured it out in less than a minute.
esq>n
Pengu1n
Profile Blog Joined October 2004
United States552 Posts
October 31 2009 17:09 GMT
#18
On November 01 2009 01:51 -orb- wrote:
I don't like this one because + Show Spoiler +
it relies on D not being a retard. If I was C in that situation I would be scared as fuck to say my hat was black because I'd be worried D was just a dumbfuck tool and he didn't know what he was doing lol



This is why its just a fun logic puzzle. If it were a real live situation I think even the smartest people when trapped up to their necks so they can't move and are about to be executed would panic and lose most of their logical reasoning. Doesn't necessarily make them "dumbfuck retarded tools".

However if this was a real life situation where there was no penalty or execution, just a 10 min time limit and people buried in the sand with hats just to try to figure out the riddle, then maybe it would be fair to call them dumb ;p
revolover
Profile Joined January 2009
Canada134 Posts
October 31 2009 17:36 GMT
#19
Great problem!
Dr.Lettuce
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United Kingdom663 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-10-31 17:54:34
October 31 2009 17:54 GMT
#20
damn just spent half an hour on this.
I think the answer is C.
Because he knows B's hat is white. D would then have called out his hat was black, if C was white as well. However he didn't call out. Meaning he can see one white and black hat. Since B's is white. C can be 100% certain his hat is black?

haha yes! that was damn satisfying
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Sparkling Tuna Cup
19:00
Weekly #151 (SHIN Mod Edition)
Percival vs Krystianer
ByuN284
CranKy Ducklings73
SHIN 17
CranKy Ducklings SOOP8
LiquipediaDiscussion
AI Arena Tournament
01:00
Swiss - Round 6
Laughngamez YouTube
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
ByuN 284
SHIN 17
MindelVK 10
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 38560
Calm 4372
Horang2 687
actioN 602
Soulkey 391
Larva 378
BeSt 370
Stork 369
Soma 299
Leta 277
[ Show more ]
EffOrt 249
Last 123
sorry 112
Free 108
firebathero 107
Shinee 100
Hyun 98
Sharp 69
ggaemo 63
Pusan 61
hero 53
Mini 52
ToSsGirL 51
Yoon 39
HiyA 35
Sacsri 31
Killer 26
yabsab 14
Hm[arnc] 11
Dota 2
XaKoH 698
Counter-Strike
x6flipin285
Other Games
gofns51112
singsing597
Happy426
Khaldor70
Fuzer 69
B2W.Neo5
Organizations
StarCraft: Brood War
UltimateBattle 23
StarCraft 2
TaKeTV 11
WardiTV0
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH324
• StrangeGG 39
• LUISG 26
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV704
• lizZardDota2263
Upcoming Events
OSC
2h 17m
IPSL
5h 17m
BSL Open Qualifier
8h 17m
WardiTV Weekly
1d
IntoTheTV X SOOP
2 days
PiGosaur Cup
2 days
The PondCast
2 days
Kung Fu Cup
3 days
IntoTheTV X SOOP
4 days
FEL
5 days
[ Show More ]
FEL
6 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

ASL Season 22
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Copium Cup

Ongoing

Acropolis #5
IPSL Winter 2026-27
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 4
Acropolis #5 - GSC
HCC Season 3
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026

Upcoming

BSL Season 23
SC4ALL II: Brood War
BSL 23: Non-Korean Championship
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
eXTREMESLAND 2026
PGL Major Singapore 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
IEM Beijing 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
1win Private Club #2
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.