WEEKLY PUZZLE SOLUTION

With Janak’s first answer, we know he doesn’t have 1 marble — because if he did, he’d know he had the smaller number because there’s no number smaller than 1.

Kanak absorbs this, but still doesn’t have an answer. That must mean she doesn’t have 2 — for if she did, she’d know hers had to be the smaller number.

Now Janak absorbs this too, but he too still can’t answer. Thus he doesn’t have 3 marbles.

But now Kanak knows the answer — she has the smaller number, because she must have either 3 or 4. (If 4, that would be the smaller count because Janak doesn’t have 3).

And when Janak says he knows both counts, that must mean he has 4 (because we know he doesn’t have 3) and Kanak has 3. (If Janak has any count greater than 4, he wouldn’t know what Kanak’s count is — 3 or 4).

Thus: Kanak 3, Janak 4. And after handing them out, I’ve lost all my marbles.