Brain Teasers
Babelfish Court
Many moons ago Mad Ade lived in a block of houses called Babelfish Court.
There was a number of residents from different cultures all living together, speaking various languages. 3 speak Greek, Italian and English, 2 speak Greek and Italian, 7 speak English, 2 speak Italian and English, 1 speaks English and Greek, 1 speaks Italian only and 3 speak Greek only. How many residents are there altogether?
There was a number of residents from different cultures all living together, speaking various languages. 3 speak Greek, Italian and English, 2 speak Greek and Italian, 7 speak English, 2 speak Italian and English, 1 speaks English and Greek, 1 speaks Italian only and 3 speak Greek only. How many residents are there altogether?
Answer
There are 13 Residents of Babelfish Court.If we start by adding up the number of people who speak 1 language only.
1 speaks Italian only
3 speak Greek only
Equals 4 people
Then add up those who speak more than one language.
3 speak Greek, Italian and English
2 speak Greek and Italian
2 speak Italian and English
1 speak English and Greek
Equals 8 people
4 + 8 = 12
However if you look at the people that speak more than one language 6 of them speak English but the clues tell you that 7 people speak English, hence 1 person speaks English only.
So
4 + 8 + 1 = 13 Residents
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Comments
The 3 who speak Greek, Italian and English should be included in the number of people who speak Greek and Italian, and the number of people who speak Italian and English, which is 5 for both. It is the same reasoning that 7 people speak English but counted the people who speak more than one language. Did I explain that clearly?
The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy is a good book, by the way...
no book advertising, 'tard.
I had the same line of thinking as quisitor. The teaser needed to state that two people spoke Greek and Italian but NOT English, and so on, to arrive at this answer.
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