Accordingly, no one will be surprised to hear that I wound up at Barnes and Noble this morning buying a book. I wandered through the aisles for the better part of an hour, making a list of books I'd like to get from the library and those to keep my eye out for at book sales. I had a little birthday money to spend, and I decided to treat myself to a book unlike any that I currently own. It's called, The Big Book of Riddles, Puzzles, and Enigmas. I bought it because I thought it would be a good end of class activity for my students, but I am finding that I am intrigued by it. I love testing my logic skills and bending my brain. To help you join in the fun, here's an enigma from the book.
WOLF, GOAT, and CABBAGEAccompanied by a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage, you must cross a river to get home. Unfortunately, you have a tiny boat which only permits you to transport a single load at a time. Therefore, during each trip, you must leave two unguarded on the riverbank while making the crossing. How will you manage to get all of them safely across, without one of them being eaten (the wolf will eat the goat, and the goat will eat the cabbage)?
Can you figure it out?
5 comments:
You carry the goat across first. You leave him and go get the wolf. You take the goat back with you to the first side leaving the wolf alone on the second. You leave the goat on the first side as you bring the cabbage over. You leave the wolf and the cabbage together on the second side to finally go back and get the goat and now you have all three.
I like logic puzzles too.
I figured it out too! Jeff wouldn't let me see his comment before I made my guess. I feel so smart. Thanks for the fun brain bending activity.
I guessed it right! That's a fun idea for your students, too. Happy Thankgiving!
I am puzzle impaired. It was fun to see other people get the answers right.
I got it! Just don't ask me about two trains leaving the station atdifferent times. As you know I was never very much help with math word problems!
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