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Amy and Bill are two siblings who share a computer with their parents at home. A maximum of two user accounts can be set up on this computer, so Amy and Bill have to share an account, whilst their parents share the other account.

Several times during the week, one of the siblings is left at home alone as the parents have to work, and the siblings stay for different after-school activities.

The problem here is that Amy and Bill aren’t the closest siblings in the world, so neither of them are really willing to share their account, as one might log on whilst the other isn’t around and change the password to lock the other out of the account. Therefore, neither of the siblings trusts the other to access their account whilst one isn’t keeping a close eye on the other.

The parents do not wish to share their account with the siblings either, as they have important information stored on their computer which they do not want to risk being messed around with.

Is there a possible solution to this problem without the family having to buy a new computer?

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  • $\begingroup$ Quite honestly, I don't know what tags to put on this, so could someone help me? $\endgroup$
    – Shuri2060
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:17
  • $\begingroup$ Note that after this is solved, there is an extension to this problem which I shall post. $\endgroup$
    – Shuri2060
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:18
  • $\begingroup$ Can we set up two virtual machines on the one account, with user settings such that the password can never be changed? $\endgroup$
    – Chris Cudmore
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:22
  • $\begingroup$ Lets assume the family aren't tech-savy, and the kids are just kids. There is a simple solution, I can assure you. $\endgroup$
    – Shuri2060
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:22
  • $\begingroup$ lol I just realised what my rep was, added the logic puzzle tag - only tag that really fits I think $\endgroup$
    – Beastly Gerbil
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:22

1 Answer 1

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Nobody knows the full password.
The password for each account can be formed only if each of the account users fills in "half" (not necesarily half the length...you know what I mean) of the password

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  • $\begingroup$ Correct. I shall post the extended version of this next. $\endgroup$
    – Shuri2060
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:23
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    $\begingroup$ oh boy oh boy....bring it on. $\endgroup$
    – Marius
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:23
  • $\begingroup$ @QuestionAsker you're on a question hot-streak! $\endgroup$
    – Beastly Gerbil
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:24
  • $\begingroup$ Unfortunately, they seem to be too easy. Thankfully, I'm pretty sure the extension will not be so. $\endgroup$
    – Shuri2060
    Commented Apr 5, 2016 at 20:25

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