Can you solve this riddle?

[elgerber]

My 4th grade son gets an optional challenge problem every day. We don't look at most of them, but happened to look at this one. After about 10 minutes, I think I finally got it, but I'm curious to know if any of you get the same answer I did...


Mr. Baker, Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Plumber work as a baker, carpenter and plumber. None of them has a job which is the same as his name. Mr. Carpenters wife is the baker's sister. What is Mr. Plumbers job?




Erika

 

[Disney845]

Mr. Plumber is the Baker.

Edit to add: this can be easily figured out if you set yourself up a little box chart. Across the top put Mr.B, Mr.C, and Mr.P. Down the side put baker, carpenter, plumber. First you can X out the boxes where the name coorespondes to the job. Then you are left with these options.

Mr. B could be either C or P
Mr. C could be B or P
Mr. P could be B or C

Since we know that Mr. C is married to the Baker's sister, unless he was living in Arkansas or something that means Mr. C can not be the Baker either. So he has to be the plumber. Since we know Mr. C is the Plumber that means Mr. B can not be the plumber so we X that out leaving the only option for him to be the Carpenter. that leaves the only option for Mr. P to be the Baker.

 

[elgerber]

Thanks! That's what I got too. I think you got it faster though LOL.

Erika

 

[helenabear]

Got baker too

 

[elgerber]

ROFL, now if he IS from Arkansas, that's a whole other story...

Erika