His rowboat is so small that he can carry only one of them at a time.
If he leaves the coyote alone with the chicken, the coyote eats the chicken.
If he leaves the chicken alone with the corn, the chicken eats the corn.
How does he get all three across safely?
💡 Hint
On one of the trips, the farmer rows back with a passenger.
Reveal answer
1. Take the chicken across.
2. Go back alone.
3. Take the coyote across.
4. Bring the chicken back.
5. Take the corn across.
6. Go back alone.
7. Take the chicken across.
The chicken is the only item that conflicts with both others, so it must never be left with either of them. That’s why it goes first and last. The key move is step 4: after dropping off the coyote, the farmer brings the chicken back so it isn’t left with the coyote. Then the corn joins the coyote (a safe pair), and the chicken makes the last trip. It takes 7 crossings, and there is no shorter solution. (Swapping the coyote and the corn in steps 3 and 5 also works.)
Did you get it?
About This Puzzle
River crossing puzzles have been around for more than a thousand years. This is our ranch-style take on the most famous one. Grab a pen; drawing the two riverbanks helps.
How to Think About It
Figure out which item is the troublemaker. The coyote and the corn can safely be left together, so the chicken is the one that causes problems with both. Also, nothing says the farmer can’t bring something back across the river.
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