Three prisoners are each given a hat that is either red or blue. They can see the hats of the others but not their own. If the first prisoner says he does not know the color of his hat, and the second prisoner hears this and also says he does not know, what can the third prisoner conclude about his own hat color?
Category: Brain Teasers · Difficulty: expert
Hint: Consider the implications of their statements.
Answer
His hat is blue.
Explanation
The first prisoner not knowing means there isn’t a definitive color he sees on the other two; if the second also doesn’t know, it indicates the third's hat must be blue.
This is a expert brain teasers riddle — one of the harder riddles here. The answer is His hat is blue..
More Brain Teasers riddles
- I carry but never consume, I fill but never spill. What am I?
- I observe without eyes, I wait without breath. What am I?
- I shape spaces without walls, I create shelter without roofs. What am I?
- I change without moving, appear with light, and vanish in shade. What am I?
- I hold what you cherish, cannot be seen, and break with a word. What am I?
- I slip away when noticed, leave no trace behind, and return when ignored. What am I?
- I dance on lips but make no noise, carried by hearts but heard only inside. What am I?
- Born from light but not a source, I mimic forms yet vanish when caught. What am I?