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?

This is a logic problem, and "common knowledge" doesn't dictate. Logic does.
Mr. J cannot be Con's nearest neighbor (bc no sum x 3 will = exactly $20,000).
Given that Mr R lives in NY and another pass lives in Col, one pass must live between (the con's closest neighbor).
Given that Mr J cannot live between, Mr S lives between.
BC Mr J lives in Col, the conductor is J.
BC J is the conductor, and S is not the F,
S is the Engineer.

Posted by Dan on 2004-06-14 13:54:31