Gold, Silver and Bronze Puzzle

**Sooty** · #1 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 03:45 PM

One day Arthur came to Merlin and asked him, "Show me how to be a wise and good king." Merlin replied, "If you can pass a series of mental tests, I will teach you".

Merlin then showed Arthur three chests, one was labelled GOLD COINS, the second was labelled SILVER COINS, and the last, GOLD OR SILVER COINS. He stated that all the three labels were all on the wrong chests. Given that one chest contained gold, one silver, and one bronze.

How many chests must Arthur open to deduce which label goes on which chest?

Discovery · #2 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 04:21 PM

Two!

Or use a metal detector that discriminates between metals!

**Sooty** · #3 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 04:35 PM

wrong!

**red micra** · #4 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 05:49 PM

None as he doesn't have a label saying Bronze coins they would still not all be correct

**Sooty** · #5 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 08:33 PM

Also wrong

Selkie · #6 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 10:06 PM

all three!!??

Discovery · #7 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 10:41 PM

None, as it's a mental test and not a physical one.

**Sooty** · #8 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 10:44 PM

Dear oh Dear this is a level 3 puzzle (out of 10) and nobody has the correct answer yet

**Sooty** · #9 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 10:47 PM

Since all labels are on the wrong chests, the chest labelled GOLD OR SILVER COINS cannot contain either gold nor silver, so must contain bronze. Thus the chest labelled GOLD COINS must contain silver coins, and SILVER COINS must contain gold.

I suppose Red was closest but clueless as to the reason

Discovery · #10 (**permalink**) 16-07-2008, 10:54 PM

Yes I can see the logic behind it now. Just a pity I didn't see it before you put the answer up!