Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the logic used to solve the puzzle:

  Blog    |     February 09, 2026

Analyze the Composition and Clues for Tour 4

  • Tour 4 is described as visiting "factories Y, Z, and a mystery location."
  • The guide on Tour 4 states: "We are at a factory that makes gadgets, a factory that makes widgets, and a factory that makes widgets."
  • From the initial list, we know that subcontractor Y makes gadgets and subcontractor Z makes widgets.
  • To match the guide's statement of one gadget-maker and two widget-makers, the mystery location must also be a widget-maker.

Apply the Clue About the Mystery Location's Identity

  • Clue 7 states: "The mystery location on Tour 4 is not a factory already listed on the tours."
  • The factories listed on Tours 1, 2, and 3 are A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H.
  • Therefore, the mystery location cannot be any of these eight factories.

Identify the Pool of Candidates

  • Since the mystery location cannot be one of the eight main factories (A-H), the only remaining possibilities are the three subcontractors: X, Y, and Z.
  • However, the tour is explicitly "Y, Z, and a mystery location," which implies three distinct locations. This means the mystery location cannot be Y or Z.

Conclusion

  • By eliminating the factories (A-H) and the subcontractors already named on the tour (Y and Z), the only possible candidate for the mystery location is subcontractor X.
  • Let's verify this: X is a subcontractor (not a factory A-H) and makes widgets, which perfectly fits all the conditions derived from the clues.

Therefore, the hidden subcontractor revealed on the tour is X.


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