Brainzilla

Meeting Room Zebra Puzzle

Five bosses, each one from a specific department, are in the meeting room. How much does each boss earn per month? Where do they go on vacation?

 
  • Tie
  • Name
  • Department
  • Salary
  • Vacations
  • Age
Boss #1 #1
Boss #2 #2
Boss #3 #3
Boss #4 #4
Boss #5 #5
  • Julian is at the fifth position.
  • The boss with the Red tie is going on vacation in June.
  • The man wearing the Black tie is somewhere between who earns $3,000 and Adam, in that order.
  • The 51-year-old boss makes $2,000 monthly.
  • Michael is at the first position.
  • The boss who is going on vacation in March is at one of the ends.
  • Adam sitting is next to the man who earns $4,000 each month.
  • In the fourth position is the boss who is going on vacation in August.
  • The man wearing the Black tie earns $4,000 monthly.
  • At one of the ends is the boss who makes $5,000 monthly.
  • The 46-year-old boss is somewhere to the left of the boss who works at the HR department.
  • The man from the HR department is somewhere between who is 40 years old and Thomas, in that order.
  • Nathan is going on vacation in December.
  • The Sales department's boss is exactly to the right of the 46-year-old boss.
  • The boss wearing the Red tie is somewhere to the left of the boss wearing the Yellow tie.
  • In the first position is the boss of R&D department.
  • The oldest boss is wearing Blue tie.
  • The man wearing the Yellow tie is at one of the ends.
  • The youngest boss is at the fifth position.
  • The boss of the Marketing department is 51 years old.

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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