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    $\begingroup$ Two questions: 1. Do they know in which order they go? For instance, are they going in alphabetical order and they know it? 2. If not, is the clock randomly set before the first prisonner passage? $\endgroup$
    – Florian F
    Commented Feb 16, 2023 at 22:52
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    $\begingroup$ Is it a running clock? By the way at the end on standing clock 720 positions under the conditions described is possible to be displayed. which is equal to 6!. Thera are 7! possible arrangements, so somehow try to use the known information for each mathematician himself. $\endgroup$
    – z100
    Commented Feb 16, 2023 at 23:23
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    $\begingroup$ @FlorianF 1. the king determines the (random) order. At the beginning they are all in the same room. So partially, they know the order. 2. this is not important, let's assume it's showing the right time. $\endgroup$
    – theozh
    Commented Feb 17, 2023 at 5:28
  • $\begingroup$ @z100 it's not important whether the clock is running. It's not explicitly mentioned, but they can stop it. Yes, you have more information. $\endgroup$
    – theozh
    Commented Feb 17, 2023 at 5:57
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    $\begingroup$ I understand that if the clock is running the mathematicians make it stop, so it will not run again. I'm also assuming that supervisors won't notice that and won't not "fix/start" the clock. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 18, 2023 at 12:06