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?

...that Mr. Robins doesn't live in Columbus, because he doesn't have the same name as the CONDUCTOR, he has the same name as the ENGINEER!

Naturally, we tend to automatically eliminate Mr. Robins because we know he lives in New York and we are trying to figure out who lives in Columbus, which is the sticky wicket.  It doesn't matter who lives in Columbus, he's not the one who has the same name as the ENGINEER.

 

This is the knowledge that I bring, it's universal and worldwide!

Posted by Matt on 2004-06-29 21:01:00