Brainzilla

Favorite Libraries Zebra Puzzle

Five librarians are side by side talking to each other about their favorite libraries around the world. Each one has a favorite library, author and has a collection of books. Who has 200 books in his collection?

 
  • Shirt
  • Name
  • Age
  • Library
  • Author
  • Books
Librarian #1 #1
Librarian #2 #2
Librarian #3 #3
Librarian #4 #4
Librarian #5 #5
  • The librarian wearing the Black shirt is next to the librarian who has 400 books.
  • Keith is somewhere between Gregory and Todd, in that order.
  • Jon is at one of the ends.
  • The youngest man has 400 books.
  • At one of the ends is the librarian that has the largest book collection.
  • The librarian who loves the Trinity College Library is next to the librarian who likes Hemingway.
  • The 40-year-old man is somewhere between the man wearing the Red shirt and the 30-year-old man, in that order.
  • The librarian that has fewer books is next to the librarian who loves the New York Public Library.
  • At the fourth position is the man who likes the American author.
  • Dale has 300 books.
  • The oldest librarian is exactly to the left of the librarian that loves the Trinity College Library.
  • The man wearing the Orange shirt is somewhere between the man who likes Orwell and the man who has 300 books, in that order.
  • At one of the ends is the man that has 300 books.
  • The librarian who loves the German library is exactly to the left of the librarian who likes Wilde.
  • The man that has 400 books is exactly to the right of the man that loves the Irish library.
  • Todd is somewhere to the right of the librarian wearing the Orange shirt.
  • The man who loves the Trinity College Library is somewhere between the 35-year-old man and the man who likes Hemingway, in that order.
  • The man that likes the Irish author is somewhere to the right of the man wearing the Orange shirt.
  • At one of ends is the man wearing the White shirt.
  • The librarian wearing the Black shirt is somewhere to the left of the librarian who likes the Brazilian author.
  • The man that has 300 books is next to the man that loves the British Library.

How to play

  • Start by reading all the clues;
  • Find all the "basic" clues and mark them. The most basic clue is the one that states that something is in a determined house/position. Example:
    • The German lives in house three.
  • Sometimes you are going to need to deduce some information using two or more clues;
  • All the clues must be used;
  • The game ends when all the clues are correctly checked and everything is filled.

More Zebra Puzzles

See our zebra puzzles list.

Need help?

If, after reading the instructions, you still don't understand how to play, try playing one of these simpler zebra puzzles. They were designed to be easier than the ones of the same difficulty.

Printable version

You can download the PDF version of this zebra puzzle.

Visit our Printable Zebra Puzzles page to download and print other Zebra Puzzles.

Cognitive Benefits of Zebra Puzzles

Zebra puzzles engage the brain in critical thinking and deductive reasoning. Solving these puzzles often requires the individual to interpret clues, make connections, and eliminate possibilities to arrive at the correct solution. This mental exercise not only sharpens logical reasoning skills but also improves focus, attention to detail, and analytical abilities.

Various studies on cognition and puzzles suggest that regular engagement with challenges like Zebra puzzles can have longer-term benefits. They can potentially aid in the enhancement of problem-solving skills and may even contribute to improved memory and information retention. In summary, Zebra puzzles offer an effective way to engage cognitive functions and foster intellectual growth.

Zebra Puzzles in Education

Zebra puzzles are increasingly being incorporated into educational settings as a tool for teaching logic and reasoning skills. Teachers and educators find these puzzles to be useful in engaging students in active learning, as they require students to apply critical thinking to solve complex problems. The puzzles can be adapted to various difficulty levels, making them accessible for students of different ages and abilities. They can be used as stand-alone exercises or integrated into a broader curriculum focused on mathematics, logic, or computer science.

Beyond the classroom, Zebra puzzles are also used in educational competitions and extracurricular activities to challenge students and encourage teamwork. The process of solving these puzzles collaboratively can help students learn to communicate effectively, delegate tasks, and think systematically. This hands-on approach to learning can make complex concepts more understandable and engaging, thereby enriching the educational experience.

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