Trial in Wonderland

Logic Level 3

While walking through Wonderland, Alice met the White Knight, who was on his way back from the courthouse.

"I have just witnessed a wonderful trial," announced the White Knight. He explained, "the defendants were the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, and the March Hare. Exactly one of them was guilty, but I don't recall which. At the trial, the Cheshire Cat announced himself to be guilty. The White Rabbit and the March Hare each accused exactly one of the three as well, but I don't recall what they said. I also don't recall how many of the three made true statements."

Alice exclaimed, "Can't you give me any more details than that?"

The White Knight replied, "Well, I told Tweedle Dee everything I've told you so far, but I was also able to tell him who the White Rabbit and the March Hare accused. Tweedle Dee was then able to tell me how many of the three statements were true."

The White Knight continued, "Then I came across Tweedle Dum and told him everything I've told you so far, but I also told him that the guilty party told the truth and who the White Rabbit accused. Tweedle Dum still didn't know who was guilty."

It is a well-known fact that both Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are highly logical. Who did the March Hare accuse at the trial?

Cheshire Cat White Rabbit March Hare Alice

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1 solution

Maggie Miller
Jul 17, 2015

From the White Knight's first statement, we know that the Cheshire Cat accused himself.

We know that when Tweedle Dee knew all the accusations made, he knew exactly how many were true. The only way this could be true is if all three of the defendants accused distinct people. Therefore, the March Hare and the White Rabbit accused the March Hare and the White Rabbit, in some order.

Edit: Note that Tweedle Dum is told everything we've been told so far, so he was also able to deduce that the March Hare and the White Rabbit accused the March Hare and the White Rabbit, in some order.

Then if Tweedle Dum was told that the White Rabbit accused the March Hare, he would know that the Cheshire Cat was the only defendant to accuse himself. But since Tweedle Dum was told that the guilty party told the truth, he would have known that the Cheshire Cat was guilty. Therefore, the White Rabbit couldn't have accused the March Hare, so must have accused himself.

Therefore, the March Hare must have also accused himself.

What if Tweedle Dum was told that the White Rabbit accused the March Hare and suppose March Hare accused himself, Then how would Tweedle Dum know that Cheshire Cat was the only defendant to accuse himself? Is the information given to Tweedle Dee known to Tweedle Dum?

Rahul Badenkal - 5 years, 11 months ago

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Tweedle Dum doesn't know the extra information given to Tweedle Dee, but he was told that the Knight told Tweedle Dee who the March Hare and White Rabbit accused, and from that Tweedle Dee determined how many statements were true. (The important part is, "I told Tweedle Dum everything I've told you so far," which includes what we know about Tweedle Dee.)

Then by the same logic we used, Tweedle Dum knew that the March Hare and the White Rabbit accused the March Hare and the White Rabbit, in some order. So if he was told that the White Rabbit accused the March Hare, Tweedle Dum would know that the March Hare accused the White Rabbit.

Hope this helps

Maggie Miller - 5 years, 11 months ago

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Ok, Now I get it. Thanks

Rahul Badenkal - 5 years, 11 months ago

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