The year is 1985. You are on the ground floor of a four-story building. On the top floor there is a lightbulb. On the ground floor with you there are three light switches. All three switches are connected to electricity but only one of the switches controls the lightbulb on the top floor - the other two switches are not connected to anything.

You cannot go outside, there is no one helping you, and most importantly, you can only go up to the top floor one time to check.

How do you determine with absolute certainty which of the three switches controls the lightbulb?

If this post gets any traction I’ll post the answer.

The answer involves no wordplay, is not cheesy or impossible to figure out… just use logic and you should be able to come up with the correct answer.

  • @mutilated_sphincter
    link
    English
    2
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    ::: spoiler You turn on the first switch and leave it on for an hour, then you turn it off and turn on the second switch. You rush up the stairs - if the bulb is hot, it’s the first switch. If the bulb is bright it’s the second switch, if it’s neither it’s the third switch!

    :::

    • @breadsmasher
      link
      English
      25 months ago

      Just a note this spoiler tag doesn’t work on Voyager app for some reason

    • @UmeUOP
      link
      English
      15 months ago

      The ::: need to be on separate lines… but yes your answer is correct!

      Tap for spoiler

      Like this

      • @mutilated_sphincter
        link
        English
        15 months ago

        Tried to edit it now, but doesn’t seem to work on Boost for some reason, not yours either 🤔