FILE No.31Unsolved
While sorting seized items, it was found that the labels on the evidence bags had all been swapped around.
There are three bags. Each holds one of "rings only," "earrings only" or "a mix of rings and earrings," and the labels show the same three kinds. However, it is certain that all three labels are wrong.
To check the contents you may take out just one item from a bag. You may only look at the one item; you cannot look inside the bag.
From which bag should you take it so that one draw tells you the contents of all three bags?
If you get stuck, open the hints one at a time, in order.
Use the condition that all the labels are wrong.
What cannot be in the bag labeled "mixed"?
Once one bag is settled, what happens to the rest?
From which bag should you take it so that one draw tells you the contents of all three bags?
Choose the answer closest to the truth.
The bag labeled "mixed"
The answer is the bag labeled "mixed."
That label is wrong, so the bag is not mixed; it holds either rings only or earrings only. Take one item from it. If a ring comes out, this bag is "rings only."
The other two bags are then "earrings only" and "mixed." The bag labeled "earrings only" has a wrong label, so it cannot be earrings only, so it is "mixed." The last bag is "earrings only."
You think you have to check all three and never look for the bag that gives the strongest clue.
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