The Pearly Gates

[John]

You are stood between two gates. There is a guard stood in front of each gate.

One gate leads to Heaven, the other gate leads to Hell. The person guarding the gate to Heaven always tells the truth. The person guarding the gate to Hell always tells a lie. However, you don't know which gate is which, therefore you don't know which guard is going to tell the truth/fib.

Presume that you want to go through the gate to Heaven.

You have one question to ask either guard. What question do you ask?

(Don't shout out the answer if you know, please!)

[vegyjones]

(wHISPERS) i KNOW THE ANSWER

[John]

Well nearly a year later... someone must know the answer by now! :)

[johnwilly]

If I asked the other guard which gate is to heaven, which one will he tell me to take

[silax]

just ask one of them to tell you your name if he gets it right pop through his door. If he's wrong just go through the other on unless of course you think heaven will be a tad boring

[johnwilly]

Just ask one of the guards this question - If I asked the other guard which gate leads to heaven which one will he point to.

You can work out the reasoning - Just remember that one lies

[wb]

Just ask something like "Is my hair brown".

[johnwilly]

They will both point to the same gate. The one that lies will point to the gate for hell because knowing that the other guard is honest and knowing he will point to the gates to heaven, and because he lies, he will point to the gate for hell. The honest guard being honest will also point to the gate for hell.

here endeth the lesson

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Well nearly a year later... someone must know the answer by now! :)

Just a suggestion, but perhaps having a 1 week deadline for answers next time... :wink

[vegyjones]

Not being funny but I did say I had the answer a year ago (and think I told you by PM young Johnythan)

This very question featured in an old Doctor Who episode with Tome Baker! 9 (although they weren't gates to heaven and hell)

[bigcumba]

This very question featured in an old Doctor Who episode with Tome Baker!

it was in the book as well?

[vegyjones]

Should I be ashamed to admit that I don't get the reference? :pk1

[bigcumba]

Should I be ashamed to admit that I don't get the reference? :pk1

:D no, it was slightly obscure... a tome is a book, usually large and scholarly... bit like me really :wink

[vegyjones]

Ah, I get it now! Sorry for being educationally uncouth! :D

[John]

They will both point to the same gate. The one that lies will point to the gate for hell because knowing that the other guard is honest and knowing he will point to the gates to heaven, and because he lies, he will point to the gate for hell. The honest guard being honest will also point to the gate for hell.

here endeth the lesson

But - you only get to ask one of the guards. Not both of them.

I used to think what you've written above John, was the answer, but now I haven't got a clue what the answer is (I thought Vegy was correct in his PM - thanks :thumbs) because you only get to ask one guard.

[TheOldhamWhisper]

But - you only get to ask one of the guards. Not both of them.

...

As the answer to the question is going to be the same for each guard, it doesn't matter which one you ask - ergo, one question is all you need.

[John]

As the answer to the question is going to be the same for each guard, it doesn't matter which one you ask - ergo, one question is all you need.

Hmmm... but still:

If both guards answer the question:

"Are you guarding the gate to Heaven" with "YES".....

You still don't know which guard is guarding which door.

Am I missing something?

[TheOldhamWhisper]

Hmmm... but still:

If both guards answer the question:

"Are you guarding the gate to Heaven" with "YES".....

You still don't know which guard is guarding which door.

Am I missing something?

Yes - the actual question! :splapme



Just ask one of the guards this question - If I asked the other guard which gate leads to heaven which one will he point to.

[vegyjones]

Come on John, get with it son... :D

[bigcumba]

The question to ask the guard is

If I asked the other guard which gate leads to heaven which one will he point to

Ask that of the liar and he will tell you a lie - that the other guard will point to the door to hell, therefore you would not go through that door.

Ask the same question of the truthful guard - he will know that the other guard will tell a lie and he'll tell you that the other guard will point to the door to hell, which of course you won't go through.

So, it doesn't matter which guard you ask, you go through the other door.

[vegyjones]

There goes the answer of someone who has every series of Dr Who on box set! :D

[bigcumba]

There goes the answer of someone who has every series of Dr Who on box set! :D

:laugh You couldn't be more wrong there Vegy! Much as I'm a fan of the current version as well as some of the older ones (up to Tom Baker) I don't have any Dr Who stuff on DVD or video at all - the only thing I have is a double cassette set of a radio series they did in the 80's with Jon Pertwee back as the Doctor

[vegyjones]

That must be highly collectable :ooo

Especially with the new doctor who revival and all.

[bigcumba]

Sadly I don't think it's a rarity these days Vegy... I think it's still available to buy on CD now, and I know from running my stall at the record fair that tapes are just not collectable at all as they're too fragile and likely to degrade with time.

[vegyjones]

Ah bugger... means I may as well dump my Robson and Jerome casettes then :(

[bigcumba]

:laugh I almost believe you have those! You might get 10p at a car boot sale for those.

[mathare]

Ah bugger... means I may as well dump on my Robson and Jerome casettes then :(


:laugh I almost believe you have those! You might get 10p at a car boot sale for those.Even though he's dumped on them? :yikes:

Could improve the sound quality I guess

[vegyjones]

:laugh I almost believe you have those! You might get 10p at a car boot sale for those.

Nothing wrong with my tape collection, such classics as

Connor Reeves' Take My Mind
the Charity edition of It's Such a Perfect Day
KC and JoJo's All My Life
and
The unforgettable Pretty Fly for a White Guy

[bigcumba]

The unforgettable Pretty Fly for a White Guy

I prefer Weird Al Yankovic's version... Pretty Fly for a Rabbi :D

As for the rest I can forgive you the Perfect Day single as I really liked that version... and I'm a Lou Reed fan anyway and he ends the song in his own inimitable voice.