Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications, Seventh Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073383090
ISBN 13: 978-0-07338-309-5

Chapter 1 - Section 1.2 - Applications of Propositional Logic - Exercises - Page 23: 28

Answer

Person A is the knave, B is the spy, and C is the knight.

Work Step by Step

A says "I am the knight," B says "A is not the knave," and C says "B is not the knave." A can be the knight. In this case, B is telling the truth and must be a spy. Yet C cannot be the knave, because her statement is true. So A cannot be the knight. If A is the spy, she is allowed to lie and does so. So B tells the truth and must be the knight. C's statement is correct, so she can't be the knave, as required in the scenario. A cannot be the spy either. Can A be the knave? Her statement is a lie, as required for her to be the knave. B lies, so she must be the spy as knave is already taken. C's statement is true, so she is the knight, as required.
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.