Here is the first in a series of riddles of the week. Let's start with a simple one that you might have heard before...
Problem
A farmer lives on a small plot of land next to a river. One day, he travels across the river in a small boat and purchases a fox, a chicken, and a bag of corn from a feed and supply store. When the farmer returns to his boat to cross the river again and go home, he realizes he has a dilemma.
The farmer can only take one item in his small boat at a time, otherwise he risks capsizing. He cannot leave the fox alone with the chicken, because the fox will eat the chicken. He cannot leave the chicken alone with the corn, because the chicken with eat the corn.
How does the farmer successfully get all three items across the river?
Hint
For those who need a little help: The farmer cannot leave the chicken alone with anything—it will eat the corn or be eaten by the fox. So, how does the farmer get all three items across the river without ever leaving the chicken alone with the fox or the bag of corn?
Solution
First, the farmer must take the chicken across the river, leaving the fox and corn alone together on the starting side. Then, the farmer goes back and gets the fox. When he takes the fox across the river, instead of leaving the fox alone with the chicken, he swaps them out and takes the chicken back to the starting side. He then swaps the chicken out for the corn and brings it across, leaving the fox and corn alone on the far side. Finally, he goes back to get the chicken, bringing all three items across the river without letting anything eat anything else.
