This is an amazing solution, but the original question asked for the "optimal" solution. How can we be sure that this solution is the optimal solution? Is the

This is an amazing solution, but the original question asked for the "optimal" solution. How can we be sure that this solution is the optimal solution? Is there a way to prove that no better solution can exist? Edit: apparently there is a proof of optimality, mentioned here: http://mathoverflow.net/questions/31499/100-prisoners-100-boxes-proof-of-optimality http://mathoverflow.net/questions/31499/100-prisoners-100-bo...