QOD #16 — Solution
Solution
There is hidden information in the QOD. The solution to the problem that you turn one of the lights on, oneof the lights off, and turn one of the on for only a while. In this way, after entering the room with the lightbulbs, you will be able to tell that the bulb that is on connects to the switch that is on, that the cold bulb that's off connects to the switch that's off (you have to remember which switch in the other room way always off), and finally that the lightbulb that's warm but off connects to the remaining switch. This procedure can be done regardless of what status the switches are in in the first place (i.e. if they're all on to begin with, 2 are on, etc.)
The reason that this problem is supposed to be so difficult for computer science majors is that they tend to be taught to think about things being either "on" and "off," whereas physics majors usually deal with lightbulbs and their heat/resistance aspects (i.e. in a simple circuit.)
Comments
- Another great QOD, one I tell often. Unfortunately, in these advanced times, where we are blessed with fluorescent bulbs, I usually have to specify that the light bulbs are incandescent, otherwise those I tell will have a good excuse
- Hey, I'm a physics major, and I didn't find the problem to be a "breeze". I don't think all physics majors are aware of the "heat/resistance aspects" of lightbulbs. Go check the EE majors...
- There actually was a diagram attached to this QOD, but it's redundant, so I didn't bother scanning it
- And a few scribbles:
- Someone wrote on the bottom, "God does not play DICE - A Einstein"
- And beside that, someone drew two dice, a one and a three. On a side note, add the two dice and get four, and subtract the two and get two, thus getting 42. And we all know what 42 is
- And someone added below the quote, "...
Back to the QOD
