this post was submitted on 25 Dec 2025
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Post:

You have three switches in one room and a single light bulb in another room. You are allowed to visit the room with the light bulb only once. How do you figure out which switch controls the bulb? Write your answer in the comments before looking at other answers.


Comment:

If this were an interview question, the correct response would be "Do you have any relevant questions for me? Because have a long list of things that more deserving of my precious time than to think about this!

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[–] usernamefactory@lemmy.ca 13 points 1 day ago

Agreed, it presents as an abstract logic puzzle, but then gives a very concrete answer. It’s like presenting the trolly problem to someone, and when they give one of the two expected answers saying “no, stupid, you run ahead and untie the victims before the trolly reaches them.”

It’s compounded by the fact that the proposed physical solution isn’t even very reliable, as lots of people in this thread have said. If we’re stepping outside of the logic puzzle constraints, why not just leave the door to the room open? Or have someone stand inside and shout when the light turns on? Or ask someone who knows these switches? Or any number of boring non-brain teaser solutions.