Question

Going around the village, you come across three people. One of them is a dentist, one is a barrister and one is professor. You want to know who is who. 

Peter: I am not a professor. Shina is not a professor.

Matt: Peter is not a barrister. Shina is a professor.

Shina: Peter is not a dentist. I am not a professor.

Which of the following is true? 

पर्याय

• Shina is the professor

• Peter is the dentist 

• Matt is the barrister

• None of the above

Answer 1

Shina is the professor

Explanation:

The correct answer is that Shina is the professor. To deduce this, we evaluate the statements as a truth-teller and liar puzzle:

1. Assume Shina is the Professor: This makes Shina’s first statement (“Peter is not a dentist”) true and her second statement (“I am not a professor”) false.
2. Evaluate Matt: Matt says, “Peter is not a barrister. Shina is a professor.” Since Shina is indeed the professor, his second statement is true. Therefore, his first statement (“Peter is not a barrister”) must be false. This means Peter is the barrister.
3. Evaluate Peter: Since we now know Peter is the barrister, his second statement (“Shina is not a professor”) is false. This perfectly matches his first statement (“I am not a professor”), which is true.

To summarise the village inhabitants:

• Shina is the Professor.
• Peter is the Barrister.
• Matt is the Dentist.