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Puzzle: 100 Prisoners and One Light Bulb

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A new prison has been built. It holds exactly 100 prisoners. Each prisoner is held in a solitary room with no way of communicating with the other prisoners, or anyone on the outside. Each day, the warden selects one prisoner at random, and escorts the selected prisoner to a central room for one hour. There is nothing in the central room except a light switch that controls a light bulb installed in the ceiling, which is visible but out of reach. While a prisoner is in the central room, they are allowed to turn the light switch on or off. They can also decide to tell the warden that they are certain that all 100 prisoners have been in the room. For simplicity's sake, assume the light in the central room is off before the first prisoner goes in.

If they are correct then everyone will be set free, but if they are not correct, then everyone will be executed. So, it is essential that they only talk to the warden when they are 100% positive that they are correct.

All 100 prisoners are allowed to gather together for one hour before they are put in prison to discuss their strategy for getting out. Can you come up with a plan that guarantees success (eventually)?

posted Jan 28, 2014 by Asmita Agrawal

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