Robber Policeman River Crossing Puzzle | MindYourLogic River Crossing Puzzle

In the "Robbers and Policemen" river crossing puzzle, a group of 2 robbers and 3 policemen must cross a river using a boat that can carry a maximum of 2 people at a time. The challenge is that, at any given point, the number of robbers must never exceed the number of policemen on either side of the river; otherwise, the robbers will overpower the policemen. The goal is to transport all the robbers and policemen safely to the other side of the river without breaking this rule.

Steps to Solve the Puzzle:

Step 1: Two policemen (P1, P2) cross the river to the other side.

Step 2: One policeman (P1) stays on the other side, and the second policeman (P2) returns with the boat.

Step 3: The two robbers (R1, R2) cross the river to the other side.

Step 4: One policeman (P1) returns with one robber (R1) to the original side.

Step 5: The two policemen (P1, P2) cross to the other side again.

Step 6: One policeman (P1) stays on the other side, and the second policeman (P2) returns with the boat.

Step 7: The last policeman (P3) and the robber (R1) cross the river.

Step 8: The robber (R1) returns with the boat.

Step 9: Finally, the one robbers and last policeman (R1, P3) cross to the other side together.

Conclusion:

By following these steps carefully, all the policemen and robbers are successfully transported across the river without the robbers ever outnumbering the policemen on either side. This puzzle emphasizes strategic planning, as it requires careful management of the boat trips to ensure the safety of all involved. The key to solving this puzzle lies in ensuring that the balance of power is maintained on both sides of the river throughout the process.