There are four prisoners in a line with a brick wall separating them to three and one. They are wearing alternative coloured black and white hats, but they do not know this. They only see ahead of them - which prisoner can solve the colour of their hat?

Let the prisoners be named: A(black); WALL; B(white), C(black), D(white)

The middle prisoner in the row of three must know the colour of their hat.

D can see A and B but cannot work out the colour of their hat.

Neither A nor B can see the colour of anyone else's hat.

As D does not say anything, they will all know that B and C are wearing different colour hats. C can see the colour of B's hat and will know they have the other coloured hat.

SG
Answered by Shannon G. Oxbridge Preparation tutor

2541 Views

See similar Oxbridge Preparation Mentoring tutors

Related Oxbridge Preparation Mentoring answers

All answers ▸

How would I approach a question on an unseen text?


How many baths of paint does it take to cover 10km of road markings?


Tell me why you want to study Classics at this university? (personal statement)


What should I include in my Oxbridge personal statement to show passion for my subject (eg History) outside my A Levels?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning