Math Is Fun Forum / The Evil King

Roraborealis · 2005-06-22 02:36:55

In a kingdom, there rules a King. The King is very evil and nobody likes him. The King's son, the prince, however, is a very nice person and everybody likes him and wants him King instead.

The King one day got very jealous by this fact and decided to try and do away with the prince, so he stuck a bar of gold in his bag. A guard found the gold in his bag and accused him of stealing. There was no evidence that the prince had stole the gold, so the kingdom gave him a 50/50 chance to stay alive instead of being executed for theivery.
They placed one green and one red grape in a bag. If the prince took the red, he would die. If he took the green, he would live. But what the whole kingdom didn't know was that the King swapped the green for another red, so they were both red grapes. The prince knew this because he caught the king doing it.

When the prince is presented with the bag, how does he live?

MathsIsFun · 2005-06-22 07:42:03

Run very fast. That works for Rincewind (of Discworld).

Zach · 2005-06-22 08:08:49

Discworld rocks.

...

Erm... As for the puzzle, allow me to contemplate the idea first.

Mr T · 2005-06-23 06:37:38

get evry1 hu likes da prince 2 overthrow the king. simple innit yo!!!

justlookingforthemoment · 2005-06-23 17:10:09

He forces the grape into the King's mouth - and va la - the King dies!?

Roraborealis · 2005-06-23 17:12:27

Good thinking - I never even thought of that - but the answer's wrong!
You were sort of on the right lines, but it's only the prince that does something with the grapes....that may help a bit.

justlookingforthemoment · 2005-06-23 17:18:08

He pretends to eat it, then pretends to die...the whole kingdom thinks he is dead so they leave him alone and the prince can run away...

That idea was just as worse as the first one.

MathsIsFun · 2005-06-23 17:30:33

Yeah, that could work. He swaps the grape for an identical non-poisonous one just before eating it (his best friend the magicician taught him how to do it).

And, actually, everyone will be amazed at his ability to overcome death, they will elect him King for life.

justlookingforthemoment · 2005-06-23 17:53:10

The prince stabs the King away in a room when they are having supper, and then takes a potion (also from his friend the magician) which makes him look like the King, so everyone thinks he is the King, but he is still the Prince!

or

He throws the gold bar at the King, which knocks the King out. The King dies and the prince is immediately crowned because he is heir to the throne.

MathsIsFun · 2005-06-23 19:26:23

Roraborealis wrote:
... If the prince took the red, he would die ...

I had assumed it was a POISONOUS grape, but you didn't actually say it was, right? It is just a selection procedure.

justlookingforthemoment · 2005-06-23 21:07:05

Ah ha! Now I understand, MathsIsFun!

becca · 2005-06-23 23:30:38

justlookingforthemoment wrote:
He pretends to eat it, then pretends to die...the whole kingdom thinks he is dead so they leave him alone and the prince can run away...

That idea was just as worse as the first one.

i think ths is funny (not)

Roraborealis · 2005-06-24 01:06:49

MathsIsFun wrote:
I had assumed it was a POISONOUS grape, but you didn't actually say it was, right?

I didn't, and I can tell you it wasn't, because it's not really a vital piece of information! The only way the grapes are coloured differently s to indicate the prince's fate, but since all the grapes in the bag are the same colour, the the prince only has one fate: death.

He has to do something to make it look like he picked a green...........

Mr T · 2005-06-24 05:15:22

say "look a green grape!"

mathsyperson · 2005-06-24 06:26:57

What if the villagers don't know what he took, but try to deduce what he took...

Feel free to moderate this if I've made it too obvious and spoiled everyone's fun.

Roraborealis · 2005-06-24 16:48:40

You haven't at all.

Mr T · 2005-06-25 00:12:25

all of suggestions would have worked!!! accept it and move on with ur life

justlookingforthemoment · 2005-06-25 16:43:22

Spray paint the grape?

Roraborealis · 2005-06-25 18:54:35

I'm afriad not.

justlookingforthemoment · 2005-06-25 18:57:07

Doh! Um...

Roraborealis · 2005-06-25 19:04:28

Do you give up? I can tell you I did.....

Last edited by Roraborealis (2005-06-25 19:04:44)

katecaroline · 2005-06-30 05:44:19

Ummm he peels the grape quickly? If you take the skin off of a red grape, it's green

Roraborealis · 2005-06-30 05:58:54

No...........

MathsIsFun · 2005-06-30 08:39:42

I think I know, if you asked someone else ... no, no I won't say.

justlookingforthemoment · 2005-06-30 16:42:58

I've got no idea at the moment, but don't tell us the answer yet, please Rora!

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#1 2005-06-22 02:36:55

The Evil King

#2 2005-06-22 07:42:03

Re: The Evil King

#3 2005-06-22 08:08:49

Re: The Evil King

#4 2005-06-23 06:37:38

Re: The Evil King

#5 2005-06-23 17:10:09

Re: The Evil King

#6 2005-06-23 17:12:27

Re: The Evil King

#7 2005-06-23 17:18:08

Re: The Evil King

#8 2005-06-23 17:30:33

Re: The Evil King

#9 2005-06-23 17:53:10

Re: The Evil King

#10 2005-06-23 19:26:23

Re: The Evil King

Roraborealis wrote:

#11 2005-06-23 21:07:05

Re: The Evil King

#12 2005-06-23 23:30:38

Re: The Evil King

justlookingforthemoment wrote:

#13 2005-06-24 01:06:49

Re: The Evil King

MathsIsFun wrote:

#14 2005-06-24 05:15:22

Re: The Evil King

#15 2005-06-24 06:26:57

Re: The Evil King

#16 2005-06-24 16:48:40

Re: The Evil King

#17 2005-06-25 00:12:25

Re: The Evil King

#18 2005-06-25 16:43:22

Re: The Evil King

#19 2005-06-25 18:54:35

Re: The Evil King

#20 2005-06-25 18:57:07

Re: The Evil King

#21 2005-06-25 19:04:28

Re: The Evil King

#22 2005-06-30 05:44:19

Re: The Evil King

#23 2005-06-30 05:58:54

Re: The Evil King

#24 2005-06-30 08:39:42

Re: The Evil King

#25 2005-06-30 16:42:58

Re: The Evil King

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