For Halloween one year four children, who are good friends, decided that they would each wear a different costume for trick-or-treating together.

One wore a skeleton costume, one dressed up as a pirate, one wore a scary witch costume, and one dressed up as Robin Hood. From the statements that follow, what is the surname (either Finley, Smith, or Dixon) of each child, and what was the costume each wore?

1. Jimmy and Molly, neither of whom wore a pirate costume or a witch costume, are brother and sister.

2. The Smith boy lives across the street from Jimmy and Molly; he didn't wear a witch costume.

3. Billy lives several blocks away, and he didn't wear a pirate costume.

4. The one who wore a skeleton costume was the hit of the evening. He was not Sam.

5. One of the Dixons wore a Robin Hood costume.

(In reply to Solution by Syzygy)

Hi,

In the first half of your proof, Syzygy, you say that jimmy is Robin Hood and Molly is the skeleton, when the skeleton is clearly referred to as a "He", then you amend this in the second half to Molly being Robin Hood, which is correct.  But see, here is my question:  If we all have the same answer why is it that the puzzle remains listed as unsolved?  I mean am I missing something?  This puzzle seems a little easy, so what are we all missing? 

Posted by Shilo on 2005-05-08 10:11:41