The Farmer’s River Crossing Puzzle
A farmer needs to take his fox, chicken, and a sack of grain to the market. The problem? He has to cross a river, and the bridge can only hold him and one item at a time.
There’s another issue:
- If he leaves the chicken alone with the grain, the chicken will eat it.
- If he leaves the fox alone with the chicken, the fox will have a meal.
How can the farmer get all three across the river safely?
Show Answer
Answer: How to Get Everything Across Safely
The farmer has to be smart about how he moves his items, making sure nothing gets eaten. Here’s the step-by-step solution:
- Take the chicken across first and leave it on the other side.
- Go back alone and take the sack of grain across.
- Bring the chicken back with him to the starting side.
- Leave the chicken, and take the fox across next.
- Go back alone one last time and grab the chicken.
Now, all three—the fox, chicken, and grain—are safely on the other side, and nothing got eaten!