Re: Peace, Love, and Balls in Sacks

Mattis Fishman (mattis@argos.argoscomp.com)
Fri, 06 Nov 1998 12:13:00 -0500 (EST) 

	Hello Kari,

	I was sorry to see that your equanimity was affected by the problem
	of the balls in sacks. Let's see, here's the problem:

<< In a far-off land still relatively unspoiled by western influence, a wise
 monk carrying two sacks approaches his pupil.

 "In one of these sacks", says the monk, "are 10 white balls. In the other
 sack are 10 black balls. Never mind where I got them. I will randomly draw a
 ball from one of the sacks. If it is white, you will be enlightened. If it
 is black, you will remain forever in the dark."

 "Before I draw a ball, I will turn my back, during which time you may change
 the contents of the sacks by moving balls from sack to sack. When you are
 done, however, there must still be 10 white and 10 black balls total between
 the two sacks."

 Is there any way for the pupil to increases his chances of seeing the light?
>>
	As I have already posted, the answer to this riddle is: "yes, there
	is a way"

	I know, I am being cute, you probably want to know how he can increase
	his chances. Well, much like my old astrophysics professor,
	Dr. Bergerac, expounded, it just so happens that there is not just
	one way to do this but myriad ways which I have discovered.
	That you did not manage to stumble onto any of them is a shame,
	but still, you were the only person (besides myself, a former
	applied physics candidate), who seems to have been bothered by this
	seemingly non-literary challenge, which is probably not solvable
	using post structural or theological methodology, sarcasm or earnesty.
	A sense of humor would help, so Matt S. gets a tip of the hat.

	In the great tradition of internet humor, then, let me present
	the top 5 ways in which the pupil can increase his chance of seeing
	the light:

	5. glue all the black balls to the bottom of the sacks

	4. paint all the black balls white (the formerly black balls
	   will still be in the sacks)

	3. place all the black balls into one sack, knot it, and
	   place it together with the white balls into the other
	   sack

	2. place the white balls into the two sacks, and place the sacks
	   on the ground with the black balls in between them. 
	   The black balls will still be "between the two bags".

	and finally,

	1. to "increase his chances of seeing the light" he can turn
	   on a lamp

	I admit, that some of them are "cheating" a bit, but you get
	the idea, which is the point of this whole excercise - to get ideas.

	Have fun,
	Mattis