Problem #PRU-100461

Problems Discrete Mathematics Set theory and logic Mathematical logic Paradoxes

Problem

There are 10 strongman and 10 acrobats performing in a circus. At the beginning of the performance each strongman carried an acrobat to the arena, and at the end of the performance each acrobat carried a strongman offstage. It is known that each strongman carried an acrobat who weighed less than himself. Could it be that

(a) each acrobat carried a strongman lighter than himself? (b) there were nine acrobats each carrying a strongman lighter than himself?