The Wolf, The Goat, and the Cabbages

[Singin' Stray Cat]

Some of you may have heard of this brain teaser already, but I thought I'd try it out here anyway. :)

There was once a man who made his living by taking people and things across a river. But his boat was so small that he could only take one person or thing across at a time.

One day he was given three things to take across: a wolf, a goat, and a big basket of cabbages. This was a problem - since he could only take one thing at a time, he'd have to make multiple trips. Not only that, but he couldn't leave the wolf and the goat together for any length of time, for if he did, the wolf would eat the goat. He also couldn't leave the goat and the cabbages together, for the goat would eat the cabbages.

In short, how is this guy ever going to get all three things across the river, one at a time, without ever leaving the wolf and the goat or the goat and the cabbages together?

Here's a couple of hints:

- The wolf won't eat the cabbages.

- Though it's probably an obvious solution, the man didn't tie up any of the animals or put the cabbages out of reach.

[Danielle]

He takes the goat, leaves the goat, goes back and takes the cabbages. He leaves the cabbages on the other side and takes the goat. He leaves the goat and takes the wolf. He leaves the wolf with the cabbages, goes back, and gets the goat.


Whew. Anyone follow? ;)

[Singin' Stray Cat]

hehe, Reading the answer to this puzzle is like reading the play-by-play of a ping-pong match. But I follow, and I do believe you've got it! Congratulations!! :D

I'll have to hunt for some harder stuff.... ;)