brain teaser

[missmoody]

parents with two children-s on and a daughter-came to a wide river. there was no bridge there. The only way to ge to the other side was to ask a fisherman if he could lend them his boat. How does the family get to the other side and return the boat to the fisherman?

Has me stumped.

Many thanks

[squarebear]

They all sail in it together and the fisherman then takes it away.

[missmoody]

My apologies, I missed the most important bit!!
the boat could carry only one adult or two children.
How does the family get to the other side and return the boat to the fisherman.
Thanks again

[grasscarp]

First go the children. Son comes back, and father goes on the other side to his daughter. Then daughter goes back to pick her brother up and they both go to the other side to the father. Son comes back to give the boat to mother who goes to the other side (to father and daughter). Daughter jumps in and goes to her brother so they can both return to their parents. Daughter gets off and son gives the boat back on the first side of the river to the fisherman, who goes on the other side. There the daughter jumps in and goes to her brother to take him back to parents where she (where the whole family meets at last) returns the boat to the fisherman. The boat crossed the river 13 times.

[ladyalex]

Two children go over
One child comes back
One adult goes over
One child comes back
Two children go over
One child comes back
The other adult goes over,
One child comes back
Two children go over
One child comes back
The fisherman goes over
One child comes back
Two children go over
The fisherman comes back

[grasscarp]

Dont see how the fisherman can do much fishing with such a small boat anyway!

[Infomaniac]

1. 2 children cross
2. 1 child returns
3. 1 adult crosses
4. 1 child returns
5. 2 children cross
6. 1 child returns
7. 1 adult crosses
8. 1 child returns
9. 2 children cross
10. 1 child returns
11. Fisherman crosses
12. 1 child returns
13. 1 children cross
14. Fisherman returns

[squarebear]

How old are the children? Can we trust them to be able to sail a fishing vessel by themselves?