<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[justpuzzles]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://justpuzzles.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[Teun Spaans]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://justpuzzles.wordpress.com/author/teunspaans/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[The Babuschka and the&nbsp;pearls]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>Before going home, Inspector Simon Mart visited a pearl shop on the island of KoaLoao, where every native was either a TruthTeller or a LieSpeaker, he decided he really had to take home a souvenir.</p>
<p>He looked around in one of the local pearl shops. It was not very large, but his eye fell on a nicely crafted Babuschka &#8211; one of those russian dolls where, when you open it, it contains another similar doll, which, when you open it, ok, you get it.<br />
This babuschka contained 3 smaller dolls, and had six small pearls inlaid for the eyes of the dolls. He picked it up and weanted to buy it, but his eye fell on a pillow with 4 beautiful large pearls, some entire white, some entirely black. He remebered that all pearls on this island were either black or white.<br />
&#8220;How many of these large pearls do you have?&#8221; Simon asked, interested.<br />
&#8220;Not very many&#8221; the shopowner asnwered. &#8220;My neighbour next door has more, and he has 29 pearls of this size.&#8221;<br />
&#8220;That doesnt tell me how many you have&#8221; the inspector remarked.<br />
&#8220;Well, if I would put all my large pearls in a bag, both black and white, and you would take out two at random, the chances would be exactly 1 in 5 that you would have two black ones.&#8221;<br />
&#8220;Don&#8217;t believe a word he says!&#8221; the servant in the shop warned him. &#8220;My boss is a notorious LieSpeaker! Our neighbour has 30 pearls of this size, and the chances are exactly 1 in 4 that you would take out 2 white pearls!&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;That makes things clear!&#8221; answered inspector Mart. &#8220;Thank you!&#8221;</p>
<p>How many pearls does the shop owner have? And who is speaking the truth?</p>
<p>Please try to solve the puzzles on your own. You are welcome to remark on the puzzles, and I love it when you comment variations, state wether they are too easy or too difficult, or simply your solution times. Please do not state the soultions &#8211; it spoils the fun for others. I usually make the solution available after one or two weeks through a link, which allows readers to check the solution without the temptation to scroll down a few lines before having a go at it themselves.</p>
<p>When you have solved this puzzle, you can check your solution <a href="https://justpuzzles.wordpress.com/Solutions to puzzles 250-500/#260">here</a></p>
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