Question 617210
A farmer must transport a fox, a goose and a sack of feed across a river. The boat is so small that he can only carry one of them at a time. How can he make the crossing so that the fox does not eat the goose and the goose will not eat the feed. 
<pre>
Let M = the man (farmer)
Let F = the fox
Let G = the goose
Let S = the sack of feed.

LEFT SIDE OF RIVER              RIGHT SIDE OR RIVER

We start with all four on the left side of the river

     M,F,G,S   

M takes G across. Then we have this:

     F,S                   M,G                                 

M comes back alone. Then we have this:

   M,F,S                    G

M takes F across. Then we have this:

     S                    M,F,G,

M brings G back. Then we have this:

   M,G,S                    F

M takes S across. Then we have this:

    G                     M,F,S   

M comes back alone. Then we have this:

   M,G                      F,S

M brings G across. Then we have this:

                          M,F,G,S  

   
Edwin</pre>