Question 39
King Arthur had to fight the three headed dragon and three tails. His task was made easier when he managed to get a magic sword that could, at one stroke, do one and only one of the following things: - Cut off a head; - Cut two heads; - Cut a tail; - Cut two tails. In addition, the fairy Morgana revealed the dragon's secret to her: - If a head is cut off, a new one grows; - If two heads are cut, nothing happens; - In the place of a tail, two new tails are born; - If two tails are cut off a new head grows and - the dragon dies if it loses its three heads and the three tails. How many blows will King Arthur need to kill the dragon?