Not a very hard one but a puzzle all the same.
Three cowboys are in a three way stand off in a three way duel over the affections of a fair maiden.
Cowboy 1 shoots accurately 90% of the time.
Cowboy 2 shoots accurately 60% of the time.
Cowboy 3 shoots accurately 10% of the time.
Each cowboy has got one shot.
Who should cowboy 3 shoot?
(Its a simple puzzle, they aren't on the moon or in a parallel dimension where bad shots always shot straight).
He should shoot the fair maiden and find one he doesn't have to fight a gun fight over.
(04-16-2011, 05:20 PM)IMaDick Wrote: [ -> ]He should shoot the fair maiden and find one he doesn't have to fight a gun fight over.
Which is........the wrong answer.
"But it is also the right answer! there is more than one right answer!, wah!, wah!, wah!".
Cowboy 1 so he has better odds? Or himself, since it doesn't sound like he will make it anyways.
Cowboy three should shoot himself. He is a disgrace to armed cowboys with that pissant 10%.
Sheesh.
I hate puzzles (because I suck at them). He should duck, let the first two take their shots and then shoot the one still standing.
I don't quite get "three way duel" since a duel, by definition, is between two people...*scratches head* I dunno.
!0% guy should aim in the middle of 60% & 90% cowboy. And hopefully miss his target and hit one of the others.
(04-16-2011, 07:14 PM)username Wrote: [ -> ]I hate puzzles (because I suck at them). He should duck, let the first two take their shots and then shoot the one still standing.
I don't quite get "three way duel" since a duel, by definition, is between two people...*scratches head* I dunno.
Haven't you ever seen the Good the Bad and the Ugly? probably the most famous three way duel of all time?
Your answer by the way is incorrect.
(04-16-2011, 06:49 PM)trixie Wrote: [ -> ]Cowboy 1 so he has better odds? Or himself, since it doesn't sound like he will make it anyways.
Sorry no, swing and a miss.
(04-16-2011, 09:51 PM)Maggot Wrote: [ -> ]!0% guy should aim in the middle of 60% & 90% cowboy. And hopefully miss his target and hit one of the others.
Is.......the wrong answer.
I don't know if anyone will get this.
The answer is common sense but probably contrary to the American psyche.
I await crackers "academic" solution.
So who should cowboy 3 shoot?
All puzzles are easy when you know the answer. Shoot in the general direction of 1 then. He has a 90% chance of missing him.
(04-17-2011, 09:28 AM)Maggot Wrote: [ -> ]All puzzles are easy when you know the answer. Shoot in the general direction of 1 then. He has a 90% chance of missing him.
I wouldn't say this was easy as such, it's all about probability.
Your latest answer is incorrect.
I'd say that he should have a yap/agreement with cowboy #1, and they both shoot at #2.
Then afterward, they can have a threesome with the maiden. Everyone's happy.
Clue - Who should a cowboy with a 10% accuracy rate really be shooting at?
(04-17-2011, 10:51 AM)Ordinary Peephole Wrote: [ -> ]
Clue - Who should a cowboy with a 10% accuracy rate really be shooting at?
No one...?
(04-17-2011, 10:58 AM)trixie Wrote: [ -> ]No one...?
Is the........CORRECT ANSWER!
You got it trixie.
Cowboy 3 is statistically best off shooting his gun in the air thus effectively eliminating himself from the three way duel, this will also make cowboy 1 and 2 focus on each other as the only viable threat and cowboy 3 has a 90% chance cowboy 2 will die and a 60% chance cowboy 1 will die, both far superior to his 10% chance of hitting anybody.
Dick to come in with bitching illogical horseshit in 3, 2, 1.......
I might have to step in for ImaDick here...
So, by your answer, we have 1 cowboy who said fuck it, I'm not a good shot and will throw in the towel. He's wasted his shot, albeit only a 10% chance. In a life or death situation, I'd take my chances at 10%. Who's to say that the 90% shooter wouldnt just plug your ass (the 10 percent-er) and take his chances that the 60% shooter will miss?
You also have, by your logic, 2 cowboys shooting at each other, with a combined total of a 50-50 chance of hitting one another. It's quite possible one of them will live..and you're still stuck with 2 cowboys.
Not a good puzzle, OP...too many variables and assumptions.
I hope the bullet lands on your head when it falls back to earth.
