king & poison

[ssuvi]

In a far away land, it was known that if you drank poison, the only way to save yourself is to drink a stronger poison, which neutralizes the weaker poison. The king that ruled the land wanted to make sure that he possessed the strongest poison in the kingdom, in order to ensure his survival, in any situation. So the king called the kingdom's pharmacist and the kingdom's treasurer, he gave each a week to make the strongest poison. Then, each would drink the other one's poison, then his own, and the one that will survive, will be the one that had the stronger poison.
The pharmacist went straight to work, but the treasurer knew he had no chance, for the pharmacist was much more experienced in this field, so instead, he made up a plan to survive and make sure the pharmacist dies. On the last day the pharmacist suddenly realized that the treasurer would know he had no chance, so he must have a plan. After a little thought, the pharmacist realized what the treasurer's plan must be, and he concocted a counter plan, to make sure he survives and the treasurer dies. When the time came, the king summoned both of them. They drank the poisons as planned, and the treasurer died, the pharmacist survived, and the king didn't get what he wanted.
What exactly happened there?

[psuresh1982]

I need one clarification suvi...Suppose if the person eat some other poison or something after he eat strong poison then what will happened? Is he live or he died ?

If he died means, if you eat strong poison at lastly then only you lived. Am i correct?

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suresh

[TigerElango]

Hi ssuvi/psuresh,

Solution:

The treasurer plan would be drinking a weaker poison before he meets the pharmacist, and he would also bring water along with him.
In this case he would drink the stronger poison(which will be brought by the pharmacist), which will neutralise the posion (he drank before the meeting). And then he will drink the water which he will bring.

But the pharmacist thought the other way. He also brought water with him. so in this case
1) the treasurer would have already taken weaker poison and then he will drink brought by the pharmacist and then his own water. So he will die.
2) but the pharmacist will drinkt the water brought bu treasurer and then his own water. So he will be safe.

And for the king, there is no use in this. Because both of them had brought only water, which is of no use.


My professor had told this problem in my college days. But this is an interesting one.

Hope everyone got it.


Regards,
Elangovan R.