perplexus.info :: Logic : Who Stole the Birdseed?

Who Stole the Birdseed? (Posted on 2004-10-21)

Bonnie bought a bag of birdseed. She left it in her apartment (#5) before she went to work, intending to fill the feeder that afternoon. But when she got back, the bag of birdseed was gone!

There were four other people living in the same apartment building as her, all of whom were avid birdwatchers like Bonnie. One of them must have done it. Look at the clues below. If you know everybody's name, apartment number (#1 through #4), and favourite bird, you will know who is guilty.

1. The guilty person's apartment number is not numbered one higher or one lower than Hal's.
2. Joe's favourite bird is the crow; his apartment number is one lower than that of Ike (who doesn't like robins).
3. The guilty person's apartment is not #3 (the number of the finch-lover's).
4. Gil is neither at apartment #1 nor the wren-lover.

Whodunit?

Submitted by Captain Paradox

Rating: 3.0263 (38 votes)

Solution: (Hide)

  The groaner here is "If you know everybody's name, apartment number, and favourite bird, you will know who is guilty." Keep that bugger in mind.
  Now, the finch-lover is at #3. Fill that in. Joe, the crow-lover, has an apartment number one lower than Ike's. Suppose momentarily that Joe is in apartment #2. Ike would be in #3, Gil (who isn't in #1) would have to be in #4, and Hal in #1. The wren lover couldn't be in #2, #3, or #4, so Hal would have to love wrens. Therefore, Gil would love robins.
  But assuming that this is the answer, there is no way to figure out whodunit. We only know from the clues that Ike and Joe would be innocent. Remember the italicized statement. The solution will yield a culprit. This solution is therefore false.
  Now, we know that Joe can't be in #4 (Ike is in the apartment numbered one higher than his) and we already know he isn't in #2 or #3, so he and his crows must be in #1. Ergo, Ike is in #2, the robin-lover is in #4, and the wren-lover is in #2.
  But where are Gil and Hal? If Hal were in #4, then we'd only know that Gil was innocent. Thus, Hal is in #3 and Gil is in #4. That makes Joe the guilty one. This is the only solution that matches all the clues and tells us whodunit.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)

Subject	Author	Date
No Subject	Ramas Cargo	2022-10-12 01:54:30
ā„–5	RussellAnderson	2020-11-28 05:31:32
Explanation To The Solution	K Sengupta	2008-06-14 15:54:19
puzzle solution	K Sengupta	2007-03-14 04:13:28
No Subject	Charles Archibals	2007-01-18 21:41:25
this is the solution	akash	2006-01-01 09:48:11
solution	athena	2005-12-31 21:29:53
No Subject	Goldwing	2005-09-21 20:01:06
It's Joe!	Nita	2005-06-01 16:51:12
Solution	artemis	2005-03-05 17:39:02
Joe did it	jeremy	2005-03-02 04:27:53
My Guess	NetGoofy	2005-02-24 15:55:08
solution	royce	2005-02-06 14:50:21
re(2): try this one	royce	2005-02-06 14:42:24
solution	royce	2005-02-06 14:35:42
re: not a solution, but an answer...	Dustin	2005-02-05 20:12:24
re: try this one	yocko	2005-02-05 08:10:22
not a solution, but an answer...	yocko	2005-02-05 08:07:53
birdseed	juan m. perez	2005-02-03 17:40:57
re(2): try this one	lita	2005-02-02 06:30:34
re: try this one	Dustin	2005-02-01 23:25:09
try this one	lita	2005-02-01 20:12:04
re(2): Solution?	Dustin	2005-02-01 20:11:21
re: Solution?	lita	2005-02-01 19:36:29
Solution?	Lisa Grindlay	2005-02-01 10:20:22
solution AGAIN?	mary burnside	2005-01-29 13:55:51
solution?	mary burnside	2005-01-29 13:52:36
This is hard	Vlad Dracul	2005-01-28 00:45:00
hopefuly the real solution	meg	2005-01-27 21:30:18
an explanation	whome?	2005-01-22 20:03:51
solution	whome?	2005-01-22 19:55:54
solution	ana	2005-01-21 18:12:59
the answer	adam	2005-01-19 23:40:27
i think i have it!!!!!!!!!	Andrew Russelll	2005-01-14 02:56:48
my solution	thanh	2005-01-05 20:17:06
i know the answer	Catherine	2005-01-02 23:50:27
re: hey! i think i got the answer!	ron	2004-12-30 23:46:09
hey! i think i got the answer!	kat	2004-12-26 01:54:27
Solution	gerald doanning	2004-12-22 08:29:13
re: My answer...check it plz!	Captain Paradox	2004-12-18 19:58:19
Hal's Number???????????	kenneth Black	2004-12-13 21:00:22
So therefore...	Vikram	2004-12-11 19:20:29
The real answer.	Vikram	2004-12-11 19:18:52
The Answer.	Vikram Sundaram	2004-12-11 18:01:05
re: maybe	Mark	2004-12-10 00:47:41
maybe?	Mark	2004-12-10 00:46:53
for sure	jenniferanistonobsessed	2004-12-08 23:16:47
i think its...	boo	2004-12-08 20:14:26
This should be it	Nebo	2004-12-08 14:55:18
My answer...check it plz!	Bruno	2004-12-08 02:07:53
i think theres more than one way	amanda	2004-12-04 01:16:46
I GOT IT~! ...i think	angela	2004-12-02 23:20:29
re: Answer here	Captain Paradox	2004-12-02 03:05:07
it was........	nate	2004-12-01 00:46:40
Answer here	Vince	2004-11-29 16:47:35
re: inewit!	Captain Paradox	2004-11-28 03:58:44
No Subject	krzy dev	2004-11-28 02:10:28
Answer	C Cantrell	2004-11-19 21:27:21
re: inewit!	nikki	2004-11-19 13:29:41
re: help???	lulu stars	2004-11-18 23:44:18
inewit!	lulu stars	2004-11-18 23:42:04
No Subject	cezar	2004-11-17 13:46:42
Okay ... Maybe	CeeAnne	2004-11-13 16:48:26
ACTUAL SOLUTION!	Emon Hunte	2004-11-13 16:19:16
re: another solution?	Emon Hunte	2004-11-13 16:11:09
another solution?	Erin	2004-11-10 20:10:36
re: i got it, i think	Captain Paradox	2004-11-10 14:30:11
i got it, i think	sean	2004-11-08 20:26:37
i got it!	kimmi	2004-11-07 17:31:11
re: help???	Captain Paradox	2004-11-05 18:31:31
help???	jessica	2004-11-05 08:43:55
No Subject	jessica	2004-11-05 08:42:06
No Subject	K	2004-11-04 18:10:36
re(2): A question	Dustin	2004-11-04 00:36:53
re: A question	Captain Paradox	2004-11-04 00:32:26
By Jo(v)e!	Lady Erudity	2004-11-03 09:33:25
A question	Dustin	2004-11-02 00:36:28
re: Yet another...	Ashley	2004-10-31 17:07:51
Yet another...	Tristan	2004-10-30 14:46:23
possible solution	kelly	2004-10-30 05:30:57
the answer is	linz	2004-10-29 22:12:45
can this be the sollution?	nita	2004-10-29 14:27:46
re(4): Just a bit of a hint	Captain Paradox	2004-10-29 00:22:29
Possible Solution	tresspasser	2004-10-28 14:59:37
re(3): Just a bit of a hint	Dustin	2004-10-27 23:04:23
re: the Solution	Captain Paradox	2004-10-27 20:52:47
re(2): Just a bit of a hint	Captain Paradox	2004-10-27 20:50:15
the Solution	Joshua	2004-10-27 19:19:02
re: Just a bit of a hint	Dustin	2004-10-27 15:54:03
re: Mini Rant... ok, maybe not mini :)	Dustin	2004-10-27 15:45:08
I think I know the answer	Jeanne Smith	2004-10-27 12:30:17
Who stole the birdseed.	rose	2004-10-27 12:06:21
Just a bit of a hint	Captain Paradox	2004-10-27 10:59:54
No subject	Jen	2004-10-27 02:34:14
No Subject	Joshua	2004-10-26 19:37:11
Think I got it??	Sally	2004-10-26 05:13:51
I got it!	thehermit	2004-10-25 16:46:17
No Subject	Tommygun	2004-10-25 16:00:46
re: i got it	Tommygun	2004-10-25 15:55:09
re: i know whodunit!!	Tom Cladis	2004-10-25 15:47:53
solution	mandy	2004-10-25 15:04:01
solution	maxson	2004-10-25 14:26:41
Not enough information	doremi	2004-10-25 13:39:09
solution...	aria	2004-10-25 03:18:08
re: Mini Rant... ok, maybe not mini :)	Jay T Barnum	2004-10-24 13:15:23
Hal	Joe	2004-10-24 00:01:29
I think	Cindy	2004-10-23 11:40:06
I finally understand it...	Penny	2004-10-23 11:26:25
i know whodunit!!	paula	2004-10-22 18:54:15
Mini Rant... ok, maybe not mini :)	nikki	2004-10-22 18:49:31
re(3): Solution	nikki	2004-10-22 18:38:29
re(2): Solution	fiend	2004-10-22 18:32:21
re: Solution	Joshua	2004-10-22 17:57:37
re: There are more than one valid answer ?	Charlie	2004-10-22 16:08:31
re(2): First comment	RandyOrton	2004-10-22 15:29:39
re: First comment	Penny	2004-10-22 13:21:36
First comment	RandyOrton	2004-10-22 12:00:14
Fun stuff	RandyOrton	2004-10-22 11:58:23
re: Solution	Penny	2004-10-22 08:26:09
re: i got it	Bruce	2004-10-22 07:25:58
re: i got it	bob909	2004-10-22 07:18:06
But the real question is....	Bruce	2004-10-22 07:11:43
i got it	Keri	2004-10-22 07:06:15
re(2): There are more than one valid answer ?	Penny	2004-10-22 07:00:38
re: No Solution!... unless I am missing something (spoilers)	Bruce	2004-10-22 06:52:40
re: There are more than one valid answer ?	Nancy	2004-10-21 23:14:05
There are more than one valid answer ?	Penny	2004-10-21 21:52:19
Solution	fiend	2004-10-21 16:20:26
re(3): No Solution!... unless I am missing something (spoilers)	RandyOrton	2004-10-21 13:14:13
re(2): No Solution!... unless I am missing something (spoilers)	nikki	2004-10-21 13:08:02
re: No Solution!... unless I am missing something (spoilers)	RandyOrton	2004-10-21 13:02:23
No Solution!... unless I am missing something (spoilers)	nikki	2004-10-21 12:50:43
Half a solution	Syzygy	2004-10-21 12:26:47
Trial and Error	RandyOrton	2004-10-21 12:12:44

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