Week #8 Winter 2000
Make sure you have eaten before you
attempt to solve the WSU Math Department's

 
 

    THREE  CANNIBALS  &
    THREE  MISSIONARIES
 

Three cannibals and three missionaries arrive at a bank of a river. The only transportation across the river is a boat which holds at most two people. At no time, on either bank, can the cannibals outnumber the missionaries, for then the missionaries will eaten by the cannibals. Is is possible for all six people to cross the river without anyone being eaten? Explain your answer.

Solution