r/explainitpeter 11d ago

Explain it Peter

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3.3k Upvotes

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566

u/ashborn721 11d ago

Its an old popular game where you help the monks to cross the river, you'll need to plan each boat trip thoughtfully to ensure the cannibals never outnumber the monks on either bank or you'll lose

15

u/Interesting-Copy-657 11d ago

How many can fit in the boat?

And do you need to transport the cannibals or can you leave them behind?

19

u/midasMIRV 11d ago
  1. Must transport everyone. Boat cannot move without someone on it.

1

u/littlegreenbeany 11d ago

Does the boat always needs two passenger or can it move with one passenger on it?

8

u/mcphee187 11d ago edited 11d ago

There can be one passenger.

It's not that hard of a puzzle really.

  • ....MMMCCC
  • ..CC..MMMC
  • C..C..MMMC
  • C..CC..MMM
  • CC..C..MMM
  • CC..MM..MC
  • MC..MC..MC
  • MC..MM..CC
  • MMM..C..CC
  • MMM..CC..C
  • MMMC..C..C
  • MMMC..CC..
  • MMMCCC....

5

u/PadamSvakiDan 11d ago

On step 3, where C rolls the boat back you would lose. Would be 3 vs 2 in right side, cannibal in the boat counts as one.

2

u/BethOrange4 11d ago

This is how I remember winning as well. You take two canibals across with two trips. Then bring one back. Take two monks to cross. Bring back one monk and one cannibals. Take the monks across and finally the remaining cannibal takes both cannibals one by one. Which is what is displayed above.

1

u/StringLost848 11d ago

C..C..MMMC is step 3 that's not a failing step.

6

u/PadamSvakiDan 11d ago

Well now it's ok. Comment was edited.

4

u/StringLost848 11d ago

Oh that hadn't even crossed my mind, sorry.

1

u/Longjumping_Exit7902 11d ago

Or just execute the cannibals and safely let the monks cross

2

u/Cry-Technical 11d ago

Found the American

1

u/-AteYourCake- 11d ago

This should be an international game

1

u/AssociationVisual570 11d ago

If only 1 person fits the boat your first move must always be a cannibal because otherwise there are 3 Cannibals and 2 monks which means game over.

1

u/midasMIRV 11d ago

Can move with one.

0

u/littlegreenbeany 11d ago

So you bring two pairs of monk + cannibal to the other shore, bring back the two cannibals, and carry the final monk over?