The River Crossing Puzzle states that A farmer needs to cross a river with a goat, a wolf, and a cabbage. He has a boat, but it can only carry the farmer and one of the three items (the goat, the wolf, or the cabbage) at a time. There are some important constraints:
- If left alone together, the goat will eat the cabbage.
- If left alone together, the wolf will eat the goat.
- The farmer must find a way to get all three (the goat, the wolf, and the cabbage) across the river without any of them being eaten.
Objective:
Devise a strategy to safely transport all three items across the river while following the constraints.
Solution:
The solution to this puzzle involves careful planning to ensure that the goat, wolf, and cabbage are never left alone together in a way that would lead to one being eaten.
Step-by-Step Solution for The River Crossing Puzzle:
Step 1: First Trip Across the River
- The farmer takes the goat across the river first.
- The wolf and the cabbage are safe when left together on the starting side because the wolf does not eat cabbage.
Step 2: Return Trip
- The farmer returns alone to the starting side, leaving the goat on the other side.
Step 3: Second Trip Across the River
- The farmer takes the wolf across the river next.
- When he arrives, he leaves the wolf on the other side and takes the goat back with him to the starting side.
Step 4: Third Trip Across the River
- The farmer now takes the cabbage across the river.
- He leaves the cabbage with the wolf on the other side (the wolf doesn’t eat cabbage) and returns alone to the starting side.
Step 5: Final Trip Across the River
- Finally, the farmer takes the goat across the river once again.
All three items—the goat, the wolf, and the cabbage—are now safely on the other side of the river.
Final Answer
To safely get the goat, wolf, and cabbage across the river:
- First trip: Take the goat across.
- Second trip: Return and take the wolf across; bring the goat back.
- Third trip: Take the cabbage across.
- Fourth trip: Return and take the goat across again.
By following this sequence, all three items are safely transported across the river without any of them being eaten.