[rookie1ja]

A Man in an Elevator - Back to the Logic Puzzles
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?
(This is one of the more popular and most celebrated of all lateral thinking logic puzzles. It is a true classic. Although there are many possible solutions that fit the conditions, only the canonical answer is truly satisfying.)

Spoiler for Solution:

The Man in the Elevator - solution
The man is a of short stature. He can't reach the upper elevator buttons, but he can ask people to push them for him. He can also push them with his umbrella.

Spoiler for old wording:

A man lives on the tenth floor of a building. Every morning he takes the elevator down to the lobby and leaves the building. In the evening, he gets into the elevator, and, if there is someone else in the elevator - or if it was raining that day - he goes back 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?
(This is probably the best known and most celebrated of all lateral thinking logic puzzles. It is a true classic. Although there are many possible solutions which fit the initial conditions, only the canonical answer is truly satisfying.)

[aayz]

rubish!

[Pollywotsit]

Hi,

I remember this one from Primary school when our teacher was trying to get a class of 7 year olds to think things out. That lesson has stuck in my memory!

I love these types of problems and just found the forum today and am having a browse round. Hope to get to know some of you soon.

PollyWotsit

[qazqaz]

couldnt he jump?

[JoJoBee]

I love the short person one, that makes sense.

My first thought about was;

He doesn't walk up the stairs because he probably is soaking wet, and who would want to walk up three flights of stairs in wet cloths. The reason why he doesn't walk when a person is in the elevator, I couldn't think of a sturdy answer, but my thought was maybe he didn't want to be rude.

[nobrainer]

I just thought he wanted to get attention or something. Maybe he wanted to meet new people. But that is very clever of you to know that he was a midget. hahaha

[Garrek99]

I am sorry but lateral thinking puzzles should be based on some practical reality.

There is not a single midget in existence that wouldn't start carrying a freakin' pencil with him so that he can press that freakin' elevator button. That is BIG BS. I apologize for being rude. I am mostly just playing around, although, I belive that the point is valid.

[pack_fanny]

Quote

I am sorry but lateral thinking puzzles should be based on some practical reality.

There is not a single midget in existence that wouldn't start carrying a freakin' pencil with him so that he can press that freakin' elevator button. That is BIG BS. I apologize for being rude. I am mostly just playing around, although, I belive that the point is valid.

ok smarty pants, i think that is logic. some short people may not be smart enough to carry a pencil. that was funny though that you spazed out.

[Veracity]

It is funny to watch a LOGIC PUZZLE turn into a discussion about whether or not a midget would start carring a pencil in his pocket to avoid walking up a few stairs to get home..LOL THAT'S NOT THE POINT. The puzzle was designed in a way that would JUSTIFY "WHY" only on a rainy day, or WHY when not alone, he would have to walk up the stairs.

[MikeFalcor]

Living in LA, I have a different answer:

Parking levels are 1-7. He parks on the 7th level, but there is no elevator access. Makes sense as he would want to drive if it were raining out...

LOL!