[MOVED] Logic puzzle: 3 People Each Hold 2 Jobs...

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geekily

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Jan 24, 2007
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I'm going over all my tests in preparation for my final next week. I got this next question right, but only because I completed most of it and then gave up and made a very lucky guess. I'm just wondering how I would actually figure it out, rather than guess.

Because of the high cost of living in Chicago, Jessica, Ben, and Nathan each holds down two jobs, but no two have the same occupation. The occupations are doctor, engineer, teacher, lawyer, writer, and painter. Given the following information, determine the occupations of each individual:

The doctor had lunch with the teacher
The teacher and the engineer went fishing with Jessica.
The painter is related to the engineer.
The doctor hired the painter to do a job.
Ben lives next door to the writer.
Nathan beat Ben and the painter at tennis.
Nathan is not the doctor.

By making a chart, I am able to determine that Ben is the doctor and engineer, Jessica is the painter, and Nathan is the teacher. However, no matter how many times I go over the clues, I can't figure out the second careers of Nathan and Jessica. What am I doing wrong?

Thank you so much for your help! I know I have the right answer - Jessica is the lawyer and Nathan's the writer - but knowing how will make me feel so much better.
 
It might help if you posted your "chart", so we could see what method you're using and what you've done so far.

Thank you.

Eliz.
 
The last bit of info tells us that Nathan is not a doctor. The second last
bit of info tells us that Ben and Nathan aren't painters. The third last
bit of information tells us that Ben is not a writer. The second bit of
information tells us that Jessica is neither a teacher or engineer.

So Nathan could be a: engineer, teacher, lawyer, writer
Ben could be a: doctor, engineer, teacher, lawyer
Jessica could be a: doctor, lawyer, writer, painter

As "painter" is only mentioned in Jessica's options, then Jessica is a
painter.

"The doctor hired the painter to do a job" means that Jessica can no longer
be a doctor, as she could not hire herself, making Ben the doctor.

"The doctor had lunch with the teacher," by the same principle, means Ben
is no longer a teacher, and rather, Nathan is a teacher.

"The teacher (Nathan) and the engineer went fishing with Jessica." Ben is
the engineer.

So Ben is an: engineer, doctor
Nathan could be a: teacher, lawyer, writer
Jessica could be a: lawyer, writer, painter

Rewriting the puzzle:

Ben had lunch with Nathan.
Nathan and Ben went fishing with Jessica.
Jessica is related to Ben.
Ben hired Jessica to do a job.
Ben lives next door to the writer.
Nathan beat Ben and Jessica at tennis.
Nathan is not the doctor.

None of these clues yield any information on the lawyer, or the writer. I
got as far as you, and I doubt you could get further unless some sweeping
generalisations are made ("lawyers don't paint, therefore Nathan is a lawyer,
not Jessica!")
 
One generalization comes to mind:

Since they are trying to save money - Ben and Jessica might live together (they are related). Then Nathan is the writer and Jessica the lawyer.
 
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