Problem 5

Result: Fail

Time limit: 45 minutes

Question: A man who lives on the tenth floor takes the elevator down to the first floor every morning and goes to work. In the evening, when he comes back; on a rainy day, or if there are other people in the elevator, he goes to his floor directly. Otherwise, he goes to the seventh floor and walks up three flights of stairs to his apartment. Can you explain why?

Reflection:

At first I gave myself unlimited time. Then it was taking too long so at about half an hour gone by I said just 15 minutes more.

So the man takes the elevator when it’s raining so I figured the stairs must be outdoor.

I figured that the man walks the last three flights of stairs for fitness.

Then I wondered why he took the lift the whole way when other people were there. Was he embarrassed by his fitness regime? I guessed that he wanted to take the lift with others because he wanted something off them. I concluded that he was a fitness instructor and he was looking for more clients every time he got the lift.

Then I realized I was assuming that it was him that wanted to talk to others. What if it was the others wanted something off him? I thought maybe he was giving them advice or listening to their problems.

So I thought maybe he was a handyman of sorts or maintenance man for the building.

Turns out I was closer with the assumption he wanted to ride the elevator with others 🙂

I got it wrong, can you figure it out?