3 Switch Problem

Flip switches and observe results to answer which switch is controlling an apparatus as you work your way through the nine challenges of the 3-Switch Problem Puzzle Park. Talk to other kids and play outdoor activities along the way.

This is a short game!

Estimated completion time of 1 hour, give or take. 

Map

The park includes three buildings, and each building hosts three of the nine challenges. 

You start at the park gate (bottom of map) and work your way up through the buildings as you attempt to complete all nine challenges in a row. If you make a mistake, you return back to the first challenge (either by walking if you fail any of challenges 1-3, or by taking the train if you fail any of challenges 4-9).

How to play

• Each of the nine challenges has a lobby with an apparatus in an adjoining room.

• The lobby has three switches.

• One of the switches controls the apparatus in the adjoining room.

• The others do nothing.

• You must determine the active switch.

• But you can only go in the adjoining apparatus room once.

• To win the game, you must successfully determine the active switch for all nine challenges in a row.

Guessing is not required - there is a better way!

Although you could try to guess correctly all nine challenges in a row to win the game, there is a better way that does not involve any lucky guessing. Can you figure it out?

Only one switch is active

As a demonstration of the way the switches work, the outdoor fountain is also controlled by one switch of a three-switch panel. The difference with the outdoor demonstration is that you can actually see the fountain as you play with the switches.

Just like the real challenges, the fountain demo will randomize the active switch each time you return, so it's not always the same switch.

Origin story: One Light and Three Switches riddle

This game was designed and created as a way to help my kids solve the One Light and Three Switches riddle. Rather than simply telling them the answer to the riddle, I made this game.

The original riddle goes like this:

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There is a light bulb inside a closet and behind a closed door. You cannot see if the light is on or off, but you know the light is off to start. Outside the closet, there are three light switches. You know one of the switches controls the light and you are allowed to flip the switches, but once you open the door to check the light, you can no longer move the switches.

How do you figure out with certainty which switch controls the light?

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Although there are no light bulbs in closets controlled by switches in this game, my theory is that if a person can complete all nine challenges in a row, they should be pretty close to solving the original riddle too.

In any case, hope you enjoy this little game!