A logic puzzle

Arcade Fire · 18 Oct 2006 at 10:40

A small island in the Pacific ocean has a population of only 50 people, all of whom have either blue eyes or green eyes. There's an odd tradition on this island, whereby anyone who finds out that they have green eyes must leave the island at sunrise the next day. There are no mirrors on this island and no one discusses eye colour, however, everyone can see everyone else's eyes. It just so happens that everyone on the island has green eyes, but since no one can see their own eye colour they all live there happily.

One day a stranger comes to the island. As he leaves he says "At least one of you has green eyes". All of the inhabitants of the island are completely logical and completely honest. What is the result... and more importantly, WHY?

unwashed potato! · 18 Oct 2006 at 10:54

i dont even udnerstand the question lol. what is the resultof what?

Arcade Fire · 18 Oct 2006 at 10:56

What is the result of the stranger's visit, i.e. what happens after he leaves?

badgermonkey · 18 Oct 2006 at 10:59

They all die from the western flu he bought them, their immune systems weren't used to that kind of thing.

nands · 18 Oct 2006 at 10:59

They al know that the others have green eyes, but they thin that theyr own eyes are blue so the strangers statement has no effect on the island at all.

Mat · 18 Oct 2006 at 10:59

They all stay, thinking that the stranger must be leaving because he has discovered that he has green eyes.

I just read the line "At least one of you has green eyes" as if he were saying it in a grumpy mood as he had to leave...

Arcade Fire · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:00

Mat said:
They all stay, thinking that the stranger must be leaving because he has discovered that he has green eyes.

No.

nands said:
They al know that the others have green eyes, but they thin that theyr own eyes are blue so the strangers statement has no effect on the island at all.

No.

Kaed · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:04

I take it that even though they are totally honest with each other, they still don't discuss eye colour?

eg,

He said at east one of us has green eye colour - is he talking about me?

Yes

Or am I completely on the wrong track?

fatiain · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:11

Nothing.

Or

They all leave.

SiriusB · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:14

I think he is after a logical reason as to why

SiriusB

fatiain · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:15

SiriusB said:
I think he is after a logical reason as to why

SiriusB

That's me buggered then.

Arcade Fire · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:15

Kaed said:
I take it that even though they are totally honest with each other, they still don't discuss eye colour?

eg,

He said at east one of us has green eye colour - is he talking about me?

Yes

They're completely honest, but they still never talk about eye colour. It's like a taboo.

Helium_Junkie · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:16

Theyre all colourblind, or they think green is blue and blue is green.
In the latter case. everyone will assume that their own eyes are the green ones and leave.

fatiain · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:16

Arcade Fire said:
They're completely honest, but they still never talk about eye colour. It's like a taboo.

Sounds like a *great* island

(and yes it is me saying I'm too thick to work it out)

Arcade Fire · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:17

fatiain said:
Sounds like a *great* island

(and yes it is me saying I'm too thick to work it out)

badgermonkey · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:17

fatiain said:
Sounds like a *great* island

It's not an island it's a puzzle

fatiain · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:19

badgermonkey said:
It's not an island it's a puzzle

I've got brown eyes, can I go there?

wizardmaxx · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:19

The entire Island will be empty in 50 days

badgermonkey · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:19

fatiain said:
I've got brown eyes, can I go there?

Everyone there has blue or green, so you magically transform eye colour upon arrival. That or you dont exist.

Mat · 18 Oct 2006 at 11:20

fatiain said:
I've got brown eyes, can I go there?

Only if you take your disc game to play... (three more)