Missionaries & Cannibals Problem

Missionaries & Cannibals Problem

Missionaries & Cannibals puzzle (mc):

3 missionaries (MMM) and 3 cannibals (CCC) are on the left bank of a river (R). A boat (B) is available which will hold two people, and which can be navigated by any combination of missionaries and cannibals involving one or two people. If the missionaries on either bank of the river are outnumbered at any time by cannibals, the cannibals will indulge in their anthropophagic tendencies and do away with the missionaries who are outnumbered.

Find a schedule of crossings that will permit all the missionaries and cannibals to cross the river from the left bank to the right bank safely.

Let
MMMCCCBr be the start where the boat, all missionaries and cannibals are on
the left bank, and

rMMMCCCB be the goal where the boat, all missionaries and cannibals are on
the right bank

Problem Solving and Planning

© Charles F. Schmidt

Missionaries & Cannibals puzzle (mc): 3 missionaries (MMM) and 3 cannibals (CCC) are on the left bank of a river (R). A boat (B) is available which will hold two people, and which can be navigated by any combination of missionaries and cannibals involving one or two people. If the missionaries on either bank of the river are outnumbered at any time by cannibals, the cannibals will indulge in their anthropophagic tendencies and do away with the missionaries who are outnumbered.
Find a schedule of crossings that will permit all the missionaries and cannibals to cross the river from the left bank to the right bank safely. Let MMMCCCBr be the start where the boat, all missionaries and cannibals are on the left bank, and rMMMCCCB be the goal where the boat, all missionaries and cannibals are on the right bank