Professor Layton Wiki
Professor Layton Wiki
095 - A Magic Square096 - On the Stairs097 - Maiden's Escape

On the Stairs is a puzzle in the European version of Professor Layton and the Curious Village. For the puzzle in the American version of the game, go here. The puzzle must be solved in order to progress the story.

Puzzle

Jim, Mike, Steve and Tom are standing on the stairs. You know the following about them:

1. Jim and Tom are not next to each other.
2. Steve and Mike are one step apart.
3. Tom is on a higher step than Steve.

So, which of A, B, C, and D is Jim?

Hints

Click a Tab to reveal the Hint.

This puzzle is about conditions. Ask yourself: what if Jim were A? What if he were B? Start with a possible answer and see if it fits the conditions of the question.

Steve and Mike are next to each other. In other words, they are one of the groups AB, BC, or CD.

Combine the information in the second hint with the fact that Tom is above Steve.

You can then add the information that Jim is not next to Tom, so...


Solution

Incorrect

Too bad!

Correct

That's right!

Jim is D. Steve and Mike are next to each other, and Tom is above Steve. Since you know Jim is not next to Tom, he must be on the lowest step, so he is D.

A is Tom, and Steve and Mike are B and C, although there is no way of knowing which is which with this information.