My Favorite Puzzle

[ammo man]

This is NOT a trick puzzle.

Three men are seated in chairs all facing the same way with blindfolds on. On their heads is a white or black hat taken from a room that contained 3 white hats and 2 black hats. They know this information. The blindfolds are removed. The men in the chairs can see the hat in front of them, but cannot see their own hat. Another man starting with the 3rd (back man) asks him the color of his hat. He does not know. The second man is asked. He does not know. The first man is asked. He does not know. So the man asking the questions starts over, again with the back or third man. He does not know. The second man does not know. The first man when asked this time knows the color of his hat.

Remember this is not a trick puzzle. Your answer will not be accepted unless you tell why.

Good luck.

Bert

[kiwistiller]

Damn these are good distractions. Needed pen and paper for that one!

>the front guy is in a black hat, or the other guys at the back would be able to figure it out. Relies on the back two guys being good with logic though! <

copy and paste that into something else to read my answer.
is that right?

[ammo man]

Sorry kiwi. Wrong. I will even tell the answer. It is white. Now tell me why.

Bert

Your first answer came up black. I don't know what you did to change it.

[kiwistiller]

there must be something wrong in my logic... I'll find it.
Edit, oh bugger me I just misread the question. Had it round the wrong way. should have shown my working . my reasoning is: <3 must see either WW or BW or WB, if he saw BB he'd know he had W. 2 realises that he or 1 (or both) must have a W, but can't solve his own with that info. 1 realises that if 2 had seen B, he'd know that he had W, or else 3 would have known he had W as well. as 3 and 2 are unable to solve, 1 must have W.>

[ammo man]

Sound logic kiwi. Very good.

Bert