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Many years ago in a land far away was a King who had just the single beautiful daughter. The succession of his country would pass to her husband. When she got to an age to be married he issued a proclamation (designed to find a worthy intelligent Prince). Each year any suitors could present themselves to solve a problem he would set. The rules were simple, if the puzzle were solved the successful candidate would marry the Princess the next day and eventually inherit the Kingdom and live happily ever after. Those who failed would be executed (this rule reduced the number of volunteers).
One year there were 3 suitors. The King thought for a minute and then asked for 3 red discs and 2 yellow discs to be produced. He explained to the suitors that the rules were that each would have one of these discs placed on his back and would then go into a room with no mirrors. They would each show the other two the disc on his back and make no attempt to look at the disc on his own back. The first one who left the room knowing of the colour of disc he was wearing (and could explain how he knew) would wed the Princess.
After 5 minutes one suitor emerged and told the King the colour of his disc. "And how do you know?" asked the King. The suitor explained and the King was satisfied with the explanation. The suitor and the Princess were married the next day and lived happily ever after. Incidentally the other 2 suitors had red discs.
Explain this!
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