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?

 

We assume that $20,000, when divided by three, could not equal an exact sum. Therefore, by process of elimination, Mr. John lives in Columbus. John lives in-between Columbus and NY. Mr. Smithe is nearest neighbor to John, because if Mr. John lives in Columbus and Mr. Robins lives in New York, Mr. Smithe is the only choice because the nearest neighbor would not live in either New York or Columbus. Since Smithe is not the fireman nor the conductor, he is the Engineer. Robins is the fireman.

JOHN: CONDUCTOR, SMITHE: ENGINEER, ROBINS: FIREMAN

Posted by Ben on 2004-05-28 19:29:11