Hint to Puzzle #56: Crossing a River With a Fox, Chicken & Some Grain
56. A farmer is on his way back from the market, with him he has a fox, a chicken and some grain. When he reaches a river crossing he must use a small boat only big enough for him and one other item. Unfortunately if the fox is left alone with the chicken it will eat it, as will the chicken eat the grain. Explain how the farmer can cross the river.
This puzzle is not too hard, and there is a specific reason for that...At almost every stage if a move is legal and is not a reversal of your previous move, it does lead you to the right answer.
Let's consider the first move. We have to put something in the boat and take it to the other side, is it the grain? No that leaves the chicken and fox together, not good news for the chicken. Is it take the fox to the other side? It can't be as that leaves the chicken with the grain. It has to be the chicken...
Try to follow that, don't be afraid to make the farmer travel by himself, you'll get there in 7 crossings.
Where next?
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