Winning Number

There was a sixteen horse race in progress at the racecourse, the horses being numbered 1 to 16, but I missed the finish. I asked six of my friends to tell me the number of the winner. These were their answers:

a) It was even.

b) It was odd.

c) It was prime.

d) It was a square number.

e) It had two digits.

f) It was between 6 and 12.

However, only four had told the truth. Which number was the winner?


The answer is 11.

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3 solutions

Zico Quintina
Jun 7, 2018
  • Only one of statements a) and b) can be true, and at most one of c) and d) can be true.
  • Then (since there are four true statements) it follows that e) and f) must be true, and that exactly one of c) and d) is true.
  • From e) and f) are choices are limited to 10, 11 and 12; and only 11 satisfies one of c) and d).
Matin Naseri
Jun 7, 2018

possible elements for (It was even)=2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16 \text{possible elements for (It was even)={2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16}}

possible elements for (It was odd)=1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15, \text{possible elements for (It was odd)={1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,}} \implies 11 \boxed{11}

possible elements for (It was prime)=2,3,5,7,11,13 \text{possible elements for (It was prime)={2,3,5,7,11,13}} \implies 11 \boxed{11}

possible elements for (It was a square number)=4,9,16 \text{possible elements for (It was a square number)={4,9,16}}

possible elements for (It had two digits)=10,11,12,13,14,15,16 \text{possible elements for (It had two digits)={10,11,12,13,14,15,16}} \implies 11 \boxed{11}

possible elements for (It was between 6 and 12)=7,8,9,10,11 \text{possible elements for (It was between 6 and 12)={7,8,9,10,11}} \implies 11 \boxed{11}

Hence the answer is 11 \color{#20A900}{\boxed{11}}

Saya Suka
Mar 18, 2021

Even <==> Odd
Prime <==> Perfect square

Since a) & b) are mutually exclusive and c) & d) are also mutually exclusive, we can only choose one out of each pair, and that means that e) & f) are both the truth that describes the winning number. Two digit numbers within the limits of 6 ≤ x ≤ 12 is just 10, 11 and 12. Because none of these are perfect squares, our number must be a prime.

Answer = 11, a two-digit odd prime number between 6 and 12.

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