Question 572523: . The Turner triplets have an annoying habit. Whenever a question is asked of them, two tell the truth and the other one lies. When asked which of them was born first, Werner said, "Virna was born first." Then Virna said, "I am not the oldest." Myrna replied,"Werner is oldest." Which of the triplets was born frst. how to determine the liar?
Found 2 solutions by Theo, bucky:
Answer by Theo(13342)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! let the triplets be W, V, and M.
W is Werner
V is Verna
M is Myrna
case 1
assume W is lying.
this means that V and M tell the truth.
W says it's V.
V says it's not me.
M says it's W.
V and M both tell the truth and do not contradict each other.
case 2
assume V is lying.
this means that W and M tell the truth.
W says it's V.
V says it's not me.
M says it's W.
W and M tell the truth but they contradict each other.
case 3
assume M is lying.
this means that W and V tell the truth.
W says it's V.
V says it's not me.
M says it's W.
W and V both tell the truth but they contradict each other.
case 1 is the only case that is possible since 2 people telling the truth cannot contradict each other.
therefore:
W is lying.
W is the oldest.
Answer by bucky(2189)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! First, determine how many possible pairings can be formed using the three persons. The possible pairings are Werner and Myrna, Werner and Virna, and Virna and Myrna.
.
One of these pairings must be the two persons who are telling the truth. So let's examine the statements each person makes in the pairings.
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In the pairing of Werner and Myrna: Werner says, "Virna was born first" and Myrna says, "Werner is the oldest." There is a conflict in these two statements, so one of them has to be lying.
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In the pairing of Werner and Virna: Werner says, "Virna was born first" and Virna says, "I am not the oldest." There is a conflict in these two statements, so one of them has to be lying.
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In the pairing of Virna and Myrna: Virna says, "I am not the oldest" and Myrna says "Werner is the oldest." There is no conflict in what these two are saying, so they are both telling the truth. Therefore, Myrna is correct when she says, "Werner is the oldest." So Werner was born first, and Werner is also the liar.
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Hope this helps you to see a way of thinking your way through this puzzle.
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