Chaubey's Den

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Paradox !!!

Able to get it ;) ...

A judge makes two statements to a condemned prisoner: You will be hanged at noon one day next week, Monday through Friday. The choice of day will be a surprise to you, in that you won't know the day of the hanging until the executioner knocks on your cell door at noon that day.
The prisoner reflects on these statements, and then smiles. If the hanging were on Friday, then it wouldn't be a surprise in the sense announced. For he would know by Thursday night that he was going to be hanged on Friday, since no hanging had yet occurred and only one day was left. So the hanging can't be on Friday. But then the hanging can't be on Thursday either. If it were, then it wouldn't be a surprise either. For he would know on Wednesday night that he was going to be hanged on Thursday, since no hanging had yet occurred and only two days were left, one of which (Friday) he already knows is impossible. So a Thursday hanging is impossible too. Similar reasoning shows that the hanging can't be on Wednesday, Tuesday or even Monday! He
returns to his cell confident in his safety.
The next week, the executioner knocks on his door at noon on Wednesday - an utter surprise. Everything the judge said has come true, but where is the flaw in the prisoner's reasoning?

4 Comments:

  • Could you please explain?

    By Blogger Amy, at 10:33 AM  

  • hey chaubey, could not figure it out, reveal the answer...

    By Blogger shashi, at 9:56 PM  

  • Amy and Shashi,
    May be this can be of some help to you.
    http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/U/Un/Unexpected_hanging_paradox.htm
    Betn Amy, please help me in getting your identity.

    By Blogger Abhishek Prakash Chaubey, at 11:28 PM  

  • Sorry the link I wanted to post didnt come properly

    http://www.absoluteastronomy.com
    /encyclopedia/U/Un
    /Unexpected_hanging_paradox.htm

    By Blogger Abhishek Prakash Chaubey, at 11:40 PM  

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