The table below illustrates one way this can be done (c=cannibal, m=missionary).
Action | Left Bank | Right Bank |
---|---|---|
Start | c,c,c,m,m,m | |
Cannibal and missionary cross river | c,c,m,m | c,m |
Missionary returns | c,c,m,m,m | c |
Two cannibals cross river | m,m,m | c,c,c |
One cannibal returns | c,m,m,m | c,c |
Two missionaries go across | c,m | c,c,m,m |
A missionary and cannibal return | c,c,m,m | c,m |
Two missionaries cross the river | c,c | c,m,m,m |
A single cannibal returns | c,c,c | m,m,m |
Two cannibals cross the river | c | c,c,m,m,m |
A cannibal returns | c,c | c,m,m,m |
The final two cannibals cross the river | c,c,c,m,m,m |