Brain Teasers
Mansion Murder
The owner of a mansion was tragically murdered last night. The murderer was one of the three visitors to the mansion: Ian, Jeff, and Kevin. Here are some facts:
1. The murderer arrived later than at least one of the other two visitors.
2. One of the three visitors was the town's mayor. He arrived earlier than at least one of the other two visitors.
3. The mayor arrived at midnight.
4. Neither Ian nor Jeff arrived after midnight.
5. The earlier arriver of Jeff and Kevin is not the mayor.
6. The later arriver of Ian and Kevin is not the murderer.
Who is the murderer?
1. The murderer arrived later than at least one of the other two visitors.
2. One of the three visitors was the town's mayor. He arrived earlier than at least one of the other two visitors.
3. The mayor arrived at midnight.
4. Neither Ian nor Jeff arrived after midnight.
5. The earlier arriver of Jeff and Kevin is not the mayor.
6. The later arriver of Ian and Kevin is not the murderer.
Who is the murderer?
Answer
Ian is the murderer.From facts 2 and 3, we know that at least one of the three men arrived after midnight. From fact 4, we know that it had to be Kevin. Since Kevin didn't arrive at midnight, he could not have been the mayor. And since Jeff obviously arrived before Kevin, fact 5 tells us that Jeff can't be the mayor either. Therefore, the mayor must be Ian.
Fact 6 tells us that Kevin, the latest arriver, could not have been the murderer, meaning it must be either Ian or Jeff. Fact 1 tells us that they didn't arrive at the same time, and fact 4 tells us that Jeff didn't arrive after midnight. Since we already know that Ian arrived right at midnight, Jeff must have arrived before midnight. As the earliest visitor, he couldn't have been the murderer, leaving only Ian.
Therefore, Jeff arrived before midnight, Ian (both the mayor and the murderer) arrived at midnight, and Kevin arrived after midnight. It's scary to live in a town where the mayor is a murderer!!!
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