Brain Teasers
The Murder in the Dressing Room
Heather, a performer in a play, was sadistically murdered in her dressing room by one of the other four actors: Edgar, Frank, George, and Hans. Each actor had his or her own dressing room; rooms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5:
Room 1 is small and borders rooms 2 and 4.
Room 2 is large and borders rooms 1, 3, 4, and 5.
Room 3 is large and borders rooms 2 and 5.
Room 4 is large and borders rooms 1, 2, and 5.
Room 5 is small and borders rooms 2, 3, and 4.
Here are some facts:
1. The murderer's room and Heather's room border the same number of rooms.
2. Heather's room borders Edgar's room and Frank's room.
3. George's room and Hans's room are the same size.
4. Frank's room does not border George's room.
Who killed Heather?
Room 1 is small and borders rooms 2 and 4.
Room 2 is large and borders rooms 1, 3, 4, and 5.
Room 3 is large and borders rooms 2 and 5.
Room 4 is large and borders rooms 1, 2, and 5.
Room 5 is small and borders rooms 2, 3, and 4.
Here are some facts:
1. The murderer's room and Heather's room border the same number of rooms.
2. Heather's room borders Edgar's room and Frank's room.
3. George's room and Hans's room are the same size.
4. Frank's room does not border George's room.
Who killed Heather?
Answer
Edgar murdered Heather.From fact 1, Heather couldn't be in room 2, and from fact 4, neither Frank nor George could be in room 2. This leaves only Edgar and Hans.
Suppose Edgar was in room 2. From fact 3, George and Hans are either in rooms 1 and 5 in some order, or in rooms 3 and 4 in some order. The same will be true for Heather and Frank. But in either case, Heather's room does not border Frank's room, contradicting fact 2. So Hans must be in room 2.
From fact 3, George is in either room 3 or in room 4. If George is in room 4, this leaves rooms 1, 3, and 5 for Heather, Edgar, and Frank. But room 1 does not border either of the other two rooms, so this contradicts fact 2 and George must be in room 4.
Now we need to put Heather, Edgar, and Frank in there respective rooms. We are left with rooms 1, 4, and 5, room 4 being the only one that borders each of the other two, so Heather must go there. From fact 4, Edgar must be in room 5 and Frank in room 1. And from fact 1, Edgar murdered Heather.
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