This is a classic, one that's been around for a while. Of course, if you got to ask two questions it would be much easier, cause you could just ask something silly, like "Are you a parrot?" and easily find out who is who. But since we have to play by the rules and only ask ONE question, here goes:
"What road would your companion say leads to the hotel?"
The liar will know that the truthful one would point to the right direction, so he will point to the opposite, the wrong direction.
The truthful one will know that the liar would point to the wrong one, so he will honestly point to the wrong path.
Since both of these guys are pointing to the one that's the wrong path, you choose the other one and get back to your hotel safely, thankful that there is such a stupid place on earth that has truth-tellers and liars walking side by side. Most other places just have them all mixed up so you can never tell the difference... </moral rant> |
