This one's an oldie, but it's pretty neat and tidy.

An anthropologist is studying a couple of tribes in a jungle in South America. One of these tribes always speaks the truth. These people are helpful and honest. The other tribe is a group of cannibals who always lie.

One day, the anthropologist is being pursued by some of these cannibals. He comes to a fork in the road. He knows from his maps that one way leads to the home of the good tribe, who will help him. One path leads to the evil tribe, who will eat him alive.

Unfortunately, he doesn't have his map with him and he can't remember which way to go.

There is a tribesman standing at the fork. The anthropologist only has time to ask one question - what single question will tell him the correct path?

Dear Rusty,

The shredder challenge look interesting. If it were run today I wonder how many would choose to simply outsource the sucker to India?

Dear TurnRightThenLeft,

The question is of course “If I ask your mate what is the way to the village which way will he point?” you then take the opposite route.

I have used this several times to good effect.

No one has answered the question of how many grooves in a 45RPM record yet. Care to take a stab?

Dear csteele,

How many grooves on a 45rpm?

One (spiraling) on each side.

In other words - two.

Nice try csteele - there's no mate. Just one guy.

Dear Turnrightthenleft,

Ah ha. Yes. Sorry my misreading.

The best I can do is the same as the answer I gave to WMtrevor's problem;

You would to put to the man the following;

If I asked 'Is the path to the left the way to the village?' would you answer me 'Yes'?"

If the answer is 'Yes' take it, if 'No' take the one to the right.

A good puzzle. Thank you.

Dear Lexi,

Well done, that is unless the record was by Marvin Gaye then there would be 10 + 1 each side.

csteele, a hint re TRTL... "If I asked someone from the other village... what would they say?"