On a train, Smithe, Robins, and John are the fireman, conductor, and the engineer, but NOT respectively. Also aboard the train are three businessmen who have the same names: a Mr. Smithe, a Mr. Robins, and a Mr. John.

Mr. Robins Lives in New York. The conductor lives exactly halfway between Columbus and New York. Mr. John earns exactly $20,000 per year. The conductor's nearest neighbor, one of the passengers, earns exactly three times as much as the conductor. Smithe beats the fireman in billiards. The passenger whose name is the same as the conductor's lives in Columbus.

Who is the Engineer?

The conductor does not live in New York. The passenger with the same name as him lives in Columbus, therefore Robins is not the conductor.

The passenger who earns three times what the conductor earns does not live in New York or Columbus, since the conductor lives exactly halfway between these points. This passenger cannot be Mr. John, who earns $20000, which is not divisible by 3. Since Mr. Robins lives in New York, Mr Smithe must be the conductors nearest neighbour.

Since Mr. Smithe does not live in Columbus, the conductor is not Smithe, so he is therefore John.

If Smithe is not the fireman, and John is the conductor, then Smithe must be the engineer.

Posted by Iain on 2004-05-18 17:10:54