Three caskets and a single true label

Question

A single gem is hidden inside one of three caskets, Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Each casket bears an engraved label:

Gold's label: "The gem is not in this casket."
Silver's label: "The gem is in the Gold casket."
Bronze's label: "The gem is not in the Silver casket."

You are told that exactly one of the three labels is true (the other two are false).

Which casket holds the gem?

Accepted Answer

There are only three possibilities for where the gem sits. Test each and count how many labels come out true. If the gem is in Gold: - Gold's label ("not in this casket"), false. - Silver's label ("in Gold"), true. - Bronze's label ("not in Silver"), true. That's two true labels. Too many; rejected. If the gem is in Silver: - Gold's label ("not in this casket"), true (the gem is in Silver, not Gold). - Silver's label ("in Gold"), false. - Bronze's label ("not in Silver"), false. That's exactly one true label. This fits the rule. If the gem is in Bronze: - Gold's label ("not in this casket"), …

Three caskets and a single true label

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