The river crossing puzzle
✓ With solution
A farmer, a wolf, a sheep, a bundle of hay and a small boat. How do they all get across safely?
Play the puzzle now
Question 1
A farmer must cross a river with a wolf, a sheep and a bundle of hay. The boat holds only him and one other thing. Left without the farmer, the wolf eats the sheep, and the sheep eats the hay.
What is the smallest number of crossings (each way counts) to get everything across safely?
- A5
- B7
- C9
- D11
Show the answer
Answer: B) 7. Seven crossings: (1) take the sheep over, (2) return alone, (3) take the wolf over, (4) bring the sheep back, (5) take the hay over, (6) return alone, (7) take the sheep over. The trick is step 4: bringing the sheep back so it is never left with the wolf.
Never miss a puzzle
Subscribe to Khamantiq on YouTube and turn on the bell to get new puzzles first.