Question: A farmer is trying to cross a river
with a bag of corn, a hen, and a fox. The
farmer's boat is only big enough to take
himself and one other item per trip. The
hen cannot be left alone with the corn or
she will eat it. Likewise the fox cannot be
left with the hen, or the hen will be eaten.
How does the farmer get all three items
across the river?
Answer: The farmer takes the hen across first, and
leaves her on the other bank. Next, he comes
back, loads the fox onto his boat, and takes
him back across the river. He drops off the
fox on the opposite bank, picks up the hen,
and brings her back to the original bank. He
swaps the hen for the corn, and returns to the
far bank with the corn - leaving it with the
fox. Then, he returns once more to the original
bank to get the hen. Once he brings her
across, all four are happy to be on the other
side!