Farmer Al's dilemma
Farmer Al is taking a leviathan, a lion, a llama and a (giant) lettuce (6 feet in diameter) to market. In order to cross the river, there is a boat that can hold him and ONE of the others.
If the llama is left alone with the lettuce, it will eat the lettuce.
If the lion is left alone with the llama, it will eat the llama.
If the leviathan is left alone with the lion, it will eat the lion, UNLESS the lettuce is also present. (Leviathans are calmed by the smell of lettuce.)
What is the minimum number of crossings Farmer Al has to make to safely get all four across the river? if you think it cannot be done, enter 0.
The answer is 9.
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1 -- Al takes llama across
2 -- Al returns
3 -- Al takes leviathan across
4 -- Al returns
5 -- Al takes lettuce across
6 -- Al returns with llama
7 -- Al takes lion across
8 -- Al returns
9 -- Al takes llama across and heads for market