Three cups problem
Encyclopedia
The Three Cups problem is a mathematical puzzle
that, in its most common form, cannot be solved. Starting with three cups, you place one of the cups upside down and the other two right-side up. The objective is to turn all cups right-side up in no more than six moves. You must turn over exactly two cups at each move.
The solvable (but trivial) version of this puzzle starts with two cups upside down and one cup right-side up. To solve the puzzle in a single move, you need only turn up the two cups that are upside down — after which all three cups are facing up.
Puzzle
A puzzle is a problem or enigma that tests the ingenuity of the solver. In a basic puzzle, one is intended to put together pieces in a logical way in order to come up with the desired solution...
that, in its most common form, cannot be solved. Starting with three cups, you place one of the cups upside down and the other two right-side up. The objective is to turn all cups right-side up in no more than six moves. You must turn over exactly two cups at each move.
Solution
The problem is impossible to solve. An even number of cups are facing up, and you must turn over exactly two cups at each move. Since an even plus an even is an even, not an odd, no number of even flips will ever get all the three cups right-side up. To solve the problem, you need an odd number (i.e., three) of cups facing up, so the problem is impossible.The solvable (but trivial) version of this puzzle starts with two cups upside down and one cup right-side up. To solve the puzzle in a single move, you need only turn up the two cups that are upside down — after which all three cups are facing up.