March 8, 1999
Problem of the Month

The Sherandomen and the Handleymen



In a certain country lived two and only two groups of people, SHERANDOMEN and HANDLEYMEN.

The Sherandomen were incurable liars who never told the truth.

The Handleymen were incapable of telling a lie.

A stranger, visiting in this land, asked 3 natives of the country to which groups they belonged.

The first man said something the visitor did not hear.

The second said, "He said he is a Handleyman."

The third man immediately retorted, "The first man is a liar because he is a Sherandoman."

How many Sherandomen and how many Handleymen are there among the three natives?

Can you tell which ones are Handelymen and which ones are Sherandomen?

Explain.



Solution to the Problem:

There were two HANDLEYMEN and one SHERANDOMAN.

The first had to say, "I am a Handleyman," whether he was or not.

The second man told the truth and is a Handleyman.

If the first man lied, the third man told the truth; if the first man told the truth, the third man lied.



Correctly solved by:

No One


Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher