Given the classic cannibal-missionary problem that follows, and illustrate each of the steps of the general problem-solving strategy presented in your text

Question

Three cannibals and three missionaries must cross a river. Their boat can only hold two people. If the cannibals cannot outnumber the missionaries on either side of the river at any time, and each missionary and each cannibal can row the boat, explain how all six can get across the river?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

First, identify the problem goal. The problem is to get all the people across the river without the cannibals outnumbering the missionaries at any point. Second, represent the problem such as creating concrete models of the cannibals and missionaries, and third, select a strategy such as deciding to physically moving them across an imaginary river. Fourth, actually try the strategy by actually moving the models back and forth. Finally, if all the cannibals and missionaries are across the river and the cannibals have never outnumbered the missionaries, the strategy has been successful.