Eating at Quonk: Answer

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Answer: Babs and Yabu also eat at Quonk!

cafe empty chairs

Surprised? If not your logic is excellent! Most people think no other pair eat at Quonk. The Vulcans would be proud of you if you got it right! Why is that the answer?

We know Alice and Zach eat together at Quonk. That means that EITHER

  • the woman who likes to eat there is Alice OR
  • the man who likes to eat there is Zach.

It is not BOTH Alice and Zach who like to eat there as then they would have eaten somewhere else.

This means that the woman and man in question is EITHER

  • Alice and Yabu OR
  • it is Babs and Zach.

We cannot tell which though. Luckily, that does not matter, we have enough information. In both cases we get the same conclusion.

If it is Alice and Yabu that like Quonk, then:

  • Babs and Yabu would eat there because of Yabu.
  • Alice and Yabu wouldn’t because both are there.
  • Babs and Zach wouldn’t because neither Babs nor Zach eat there.

If it is Babs and Zach that like Quonk then:

  • Babs and Yabu would eat there because of Babs.
  • Alice and Yabu wouldn’t because neither Babs or Zach are there.
  • Babs and Zach wouldn’t because both are there.

So whichever the pair is:

  • Babs and Yabu would eat there.
  • Alice and Yabu wouldn’t eat there.
  • Babs and Zach wouldn’t eat there.

Did that make your brain ache? Dont worry its good for you! The puzzle is actually based on one devised by psychologists to be particularly difficult for Humans (though perhaps not Vulcans). It was used in an experiment aiming to show that our brains are wired to naturally think illogically in some ways! Because of that it is very counter-intuitive for us that the answer doesn’t have to have either Alice or Zach in.

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This blog is funded through EPSRC grant EP/W033615/1.