This Prisoner Riddle Will Test Your Brain, And The Answer Is Pure Genius – News18
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Quick-witted and composed, the prisoner says something so clever that he is spared.
What did the prisoner say to save his life? (Photo Credits: Threads)
Brain teasers are a fun way of testing intelligence, alertness and presence of mind. Moreover, engaging in riddles can make your mind sharper and improve your memory. Above all, you get that irresistible satisfaction when you crack the puzzle. Whether working on riddles on a laid-back Sunday or giving stumping questions to friends, brain teasers turn each one of us into detectives.
Ready for a challenge? Here’s one viral teaser that’s sure to twist your brain into knots:
Imagine this: A prisoner has to make a life-or-death decision. His captors, who seem to be very much into mind games, approach him with the following ultimatum:
“If you tell a lie, we will hang you. And if you tell the truth, we will shoot you.”
Whatever the prisoner says, it seems his captors have got him, or have they?
Quick-witted and composed, the prisoner says something so clever that he is spared.
What did he say? Take a moment to think about it. Imagine yourself in his shoes—what would you say to escape this logical trap?
If you’re stumped, don’t worry. The answer is as mind-bending as the puzzle itself. The prisoner says: “You will hang me.”
Why Does This Work?
At first, this statement might seem like a gamble, but it’s a masterstroke of logic. Here’s how it plays out:
If the statement “You will hang me” is true:
According to the rules, a truth results in a shooting.
But shooting him would, on the other hand, would imply a lie in their statement— a paradox.
The kidnappers are stuck— they cannot shoot him, as that would make his statement false, and they cannot hang him, as that would make it true.
If the statement “You will hang me” is false:
This means the prisoner cannot be hanged.
The rules say that if one utters a false statement, then he gets hanged, but in case they hang him, it would mean his statement was true, and this leads to another paradox.
Saying, “You will hang me,” the prisoner logically turns the tables on his captors. Indeed, either punishment becomes impossible for them according to their rules. The only way is to spare his life— checkmate!
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