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Hundred tigers and one sheep are put on a magic island that only has
grass. Tigers can live on grass, but they want to eat sheep. If a Tiger
bites the Sheep then it will become a sheep itself. If 2 tigers attack a
sheep, only the first tiger to bite converts into a sheep. Tigers don’t
mind being a sheep, but they have a risk of getting eaten by another
tiger.
All tigers are intelligent and want to survive.
Will the sheep
survive?
Survival chances of the sheep are - Click Here!
Why sheep is in danger?
First let's see what happens when there are different number of tigers present on
the island. Remember we are talking about survival of the sheep that is initially present n the island and not sheep converted from tiger.
1. Suppose there are only 1 tiger and 1 sheep on the island. Then, the tiger will eat
the sheep and won't have fear of being eaten up after transformation into sheep
as there is not tiger left.
The sheep will not survive.
2. Let's suppose there are 2 tigers and 1 sheep present. Each intelligent tiger can think -
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"If I eat a sheep then I will be converted into sheep and other tiger would eat me
as it would result into '1 tiger and 1 sheep' scenario above in (1).
So, I should not take risk"
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The sheep will be survived.
3. Now suppose there are 3 tigers and 1 sheep are on the island. Each tiger would think-
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"If I target the sheep and get converted into sheep itself then on the island there
would be 2 tigers and 1 sheep as above case (2).
As per that, none of other 2 tiger would dare to attack me and I would be
survived as a sheep in the end.
So better I should attack the sheep and anyhow I will be survived in the end as a
sheep"
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The sheep will not survive.
4. Finally, suppose there are 4 tigers and 1 sheep. Now, each tiger can put logic like -
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"If I attack the only sheep and get myself converted to sheep then this case
will be reduced to '3 tigers and 1 sheep' as in case (3).
In that case, the sheep has 0 chance of survival in the end.
That means, my life will be in danger as in above case (3), if I attack
this sheep toget converted into sheep. Better, I shouldn't attack"
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The sheep will be survived.
Conclusion :
If observed carefully, it can be concluded that the sheep will be survived when there are EVEN number of tigers (Case 2 and Case 4) are present. And obviously, will be in danger when there are ODD number of tigers present on the island.
In the given situation, there are 100 tigers on the island which is EVEN number. That means, as per above conclusion the only sheep on the island will be survived.
