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 engineer's name is Smithe. Smithe cannot be the fireman, as Smithe beat the fireman in billiards. He also cannot be the conductor. The conductor lives between Columbus and NY. Mr. John cannot be the conductor's nearest neighbor because he makes 20000 a year, which is indivisible by three. Therefore the conductors nearest neighbor is Mr. Smithe (Mr. Robins lives in NY). Therefore, he cannot lives in Columbus. Therefore, the conductor must be named John or Robin. Since Smithe cannot be the conductor, nor can he be the fireman, he must be the engineer.

Posted by wes on 2004-06-01 16:50:22