The farmer's boy has been sent to the market. He takes his dog for company. He also has a plump goose to sell, and a bag of corn. He knows he must be careful. He must make sure his dog doesn't have a chance to eat the dog, and he must make sure the goose doesn't have an opportunity to eat the corn. So he must be with them all the time, or keep them separated. The boy is having an uneventful trip to market when he discovers the river is high. He will have to carry his dog, goose, and corn across one at a time, put each down, and go back for the others.
How can he get each item across safely, and uneaten?
(Thank you to all who respond.)
goose across
go back
dog across
go back with goose
corn across
go back
goose across
To safely get each item across the river without them being eaten, the farmer's boy can follow these steps:
1. First, the boy should take the goose across the river and leave it on the other side (We will refer to the other side as side B).
2. The boy should then return alone to the original side of the river (side A) and take the dog across the river to side B.
3. On side B, the boy leaves the dog and takes the goose back across the river to side A.
4. The boy leaves the goose on side A and takes the corn across to side B.
5. On side B, the boy leaves the corn and returns alone to side A.
6. Finally, the boy takes the goose across the river from side A to side B.
By following this strategy, the boy ensures that neither the dog nor the goose are left alone together, preventing any chance of the dog eating the goose. Similarly, the goose and corn are never left alone together, ensuring that the goose doesn't eat the corn.