Can You Solve This Classic River Crossing Puzzle?

A farmer needs to cross a river with a fox, a chicken, and a bag of grain.

The boat can only hold the farmer and one item at a time.

If left alone, the fox will eat the chicken, and the chicken will eat the grain.

How does the farmer get everything across safely?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solution:

• The farmer takes the chicken across the river first.

  • Now the fox and the grain are left on the starting side.

• The farmer goes back alone to the starting side.

• The farmer takes the fox across the river next.

  • The farmer does not leave the fox with the chicken on the far side. Instead, he brings the chicken back to the starting side.

• The farmer leaves the chicken on the starting side and takes the grain across the river.

  • Now the fox and the grain are on the far side, and the chicken is on the starting side.

• The farmer goes back alone to the starting side.

• The farmer takes the chicken across the river one last time.

  • Now the chicken, the fox, and the grain are all safely across the river.