Bridge escape (Revised)
A guard is positioned on the bridge between Germany and Switzerland. He has a hut as his barracks, and has orders to turn back anyone without a permit who wants to go into Germany, and has orders to shoot anyone who tries to get out. He will go back into the hut every 3 minutes, then come out and check. A woman is trying to escape from Germany. She takes 6 minutes to cross the bridge. Yet, she escapes. How?
A. She walks on the bridge for 3 minutes and runs across as the guard comes out.
B. She walks on the bridge for 2 minutes. As the guard comes out, she turns back. The guard requested the permit, but she didn't have on, so she was turned back into Switzerland.
C. She walks on the bridge for 2 minutes. As the guard comes out, she turns back. The guard requested the permit, but she didn't have on, so she was turned back into Germany.
D. She walks on the bridge for 2 minutes. As the guard comes out, she turns back. The guard requested the permit, but she didn't have on, so she was turned back and shot.
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1 solution
The woman walks across the bridge, then turns back as the guard comes out. When he sees her, he has orders to turn back anyone trying to get in Germany, so he will ask her for a pass. She, in turn, does not have one. The guard, who follows orders, will order her to turn back. This way, she can safely get to Switzerland. She will also have fooled the guard.