Prisoner and Policeman Puzzle | Puzzles for Interview - Interview Preparation PDF Download

Introduction 

In this puzzle, a policeman has decided to punish a prisoner and has asked him to make a statement. However, the prisoner needs to make a statement that will keep him alive. If the statement is true, he will be hanged to death and if it is false, he will be shot dead.

Solution

The prisoner cleverly said, ‘I will be shot dead’. Now, if the policeman says that this statement is true, then the prisoner will be hanged to death, which means that his statement was false. On the other hand, if the policeman says that the statement is false, then the prisoner will be shot dead, which will make his statement true.

Explanation

The prisoner's statement is a paradox, which is a statement that contradicts itself. When the policeman tries to determine if the statement is true or false, he falls into a trap because either decision will lead to the prisoner's death. The prisoner has cleverly used this paradox to keep himself alive.

Conclusion

This puzzle teaches us how sometimes we need to think outside the box to find a solution. It also shows how paradoxes can be a powerful tool to confuse and mislead people.