Home > Riddles > The Oracle Who Knows Himself

The Oracle Who Knows Himself

Numerical territoryLevel 5 · Expert · ●●●●●

There are 100 people. On each front an integer from 1 to 100 is written (they can be repeated).

Each person sees everyone else's 99 numbers, but not their own. After thinking as much as they want, everyone simultaneously writes their own bet.

They win if at least one person gets their number exactly right. Before entering they can agree on a strategy.

Then there is no communication. Is there a strategy that always guarantees victory?

Hints

Show hints
  1. Number people like $0,1,\dots,99$ (module 100). Also represent front numbers modulo 100 (100 is interpreted as 0).
  2. Since among $0,\dots,99$ there is exactly one index equal to $S$, exactly one person is sure to get it right.
  3. Then: $g_i\equiv i-(S-x_i)\equiv x_i+(i-S)\pmod{100}$.

Solution

Show full solution

Back to the problem
Answer: Yes, there is a guaranteed winning strategy.
Number people like $0,1,\dots,99$ (mod 100).
Also represent front numbers modulo 100 (100 is interpreted as 0).
Person $i$:

  1. add the 99 numbers you see: $s_i$ (mod 100),
  2. write

$$ g_i\equiv i-s_i\pmod{100}. $$

Let $S$ be the real sum of the 100 numbers (mod 100).
Person $i$ sees $s_i\equiv S-x_i$, where $x_i$ is their real number.
So:

$$ g_i\equiv i-(S-x_i)\equiv x_i+(i-S)\pmod{100}. $$

Therefore, $g_i=x_i$ exactly when $i\equiv S\pmod{100}$.
Since among $0,\dots,99$ there is exactly one index equal to $S$, exactly one person is sure to get it right.
Conclusion: At least one person always wins.


Related riddles

Keep practicing

If you enjoyed this one, try more pure-logic riddles, explore this theme, browse the full archive, or read the riddle-solving guide.

← Previous: Chameleons with a possible ending · Next: The invisible submarine →