I don't know, that's just kind of what they look like to me--the cartoons in this Towers-of-Hanoi type puzzle game. Rules explained in Engrish here; a solution (that I do not promise is the best or most efficient) is below the fold.

First, a review of the rules:

--Only the adults (the cop, the mother, or the father) may operate the raft.

--Maximum two occupants on the raft for any trip.

--A parent of sex a cannot be left with children of sex b, unless parent of sex b also is present.

--The thief cannot be left with any family member unless the cop also is present.

So:

--Choose a sex, male or female, and denote it sex a.

--Send the cop and the thief on the raft to the destination riverbank.

--Return the cop alone.

--Send the cop with a child of sex a.

--Return the cop and the thief.

[The destination riverbank now contains one occupant, a child of sex a.]

--Send a parent of the same sex as a with the second child of sex a.

--Return the parent alone.

[Destination riverbank occupants (2): Both children of sex a.]

--Send both parents.

--Return the parent whose sex is b.

[Destination riverbank occupants (3): Parent and two children, all of sex a.]

--Send the cop and the thief.

--Return the parent of sex a.

[Destination riverbank occupants (4): Two children of sex a, the cop, and the thief.]

[Originating riverbank occupants (4): Both parents and two children of sex b.]

--Send both parents.

--Return the parent of sex b.

[Destination riverbank occupants (5): Parent and two children, all of sex a; the cop; and the thief.]

[Originating riverbank occupants (3): Parent and two children of sex b.]

--Send the parent of sex b with one of the remaining children, also of sex b.

--Return the cop and the thief.

[Destination riverbank occupants (5): Both parents and 3 (out of 4) children.]

[Originating riverbank occupants (3): Cop, thief, and one child of sex b.]

--Send the cop with the last child.

--Return the cop.

--Send the cop and the thief, and you're done.

Posted by Ilyka at May 21, 2005 11:36 AM in trivia