Comments on: Brain Game: New Jerseys

By: flintstone

flintstone — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:21:00 +0000

uhhh, I’m going by the definition of what a logic puzzle is.
-=Merriam-Webster def. Logic: something that forces a decision apart from or in opposition to reason. =-
A logic puzzle answer has to be FORCED.
So in the ORIGINAL version of the puzzle there was ONE correct answer.
IN THE NEW VERSION there might be 2 answers, but as long as they are FORCED they are correct.

Take it easy people! I’m just giving some hints.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:40:00 +0000

Thanks, folks… I appreciate your continued patience as I learn how to properly compose the more complicated logic puzzles. I’ll get there, I promise!

By: Zach

Zach — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:23:00 +0000

flintstone is talking nonsense. Consider this:

First read his explanation as it applies to the original puzzle (Eli is not 9). He says if he chooses Ike as 2 he reaches a point where Hal, Gus, and Eli must wear some combination of 5,6,7. Therefore that cannot be the solution, so the only solution is for Ike to be 1, etc.

Now look at the new puzzle (Eli is even). If he chooses Ike as 2, the Hal-Gus-Eli conflict is resolved and Eli must be 6. So this then becomes a valid answer (according to flintstone’s explanation). However the other solution (with Ike as 1) is still valid. That means that despite making the solutions more restrictive, we create additional solutions.

Just change the text from “Here’s the solution” to “Here’s A solution” and be done with it.

By: Vikter

Vikter — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:11:00 +0000

Sandy I believe your logic on this response is flawed:

“Hal has to have either #5 or #7. If he has #5, Gus must be #6 or #7. If he has #7, Gus must be #5 an d Eli #6 bec ause thereâ€™s no other choice. Either way, #6 will be either Gus or Eli, so all other choices for #6 are eliminated.”

I agree with M, in that the only forced choices at Fox and Bob. The others are limited to 2 choices. Either one you pick follows the rules of the puzzle. Leaving two possible answers as listed below:

(Sandy’s Conclusion)
1. Cal
2. Ike
3. Fox
4. Abe
5. Gus
6. Eli
7. Hal
8. Don
9. Bob

(Alternate Conclusion)
1. Ike
2. Abe
3. Fox
4. Don
5. Hal
6. Cal
7. Gus
8. Eli
9. Bob

Am I missing something, I have run through this several times, and always come down to these two possibilities. Its a slow day at work, so thank you for giving me something to do.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:03:00 +0000

I *still* have 2 answers… the one given by Sandy and the one given by Mark in comment #2…. both fit all the clues just fine.

I agree with M though, keep these coming. I loved the 3x3x3 the most!

By: M

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:31:00 +0000

flintstone, I don’t see why the answer must be forced. If two options fit all the clues, both options are correct. After all, if you tested this in the real world, Ike might be confused to find that he couldn’t be #2. Good clues should force one answer, but forcing means that only one answer fits all the clues. After all, in your example you only eliminate the one because in your logical process you chose to do certain steps first; otherwise another answer would force.

The only ones that are forced are Fox at #3 and Bob at #9. With the others you have to pick one or the other; there are still multiple solutions that fit all the clues.

I still had fun with it, Sandy, so keep ‘em coming.

By: flintstone

flintstone — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:44:00 +0000

Danno,
The point where you are is KIND of like guessing. It is like guessing in a Sudoku puzzle. You have one clue (clue 4) that choosing either one gives you a 50% chance of being correct. So let’s choose the INCORRECT one (option 2,4 and 8)giving us D8,A4,I2 from clue4 and B9,F3.
So that leaves us with C,E,G,H
and #’s 1,5,6,7.
Cal can only be O-N-E or S-I-X
but we can eiminate 6 because then we wouldn’t have 2 consecutive #’s for clue 5.(Gus and Eli are consecutive)
So now we have D8,A4,I2,B9,F3,C1
leaving Hal to be either 5 or 7(only primes left) and then Gus and Eli can be either E6-G5 or E7-G6, both of these options work but you have to choose either 5 or 7. So since this option doesn’t FORCE and answer THEN YOU HAVE TO ELIMINATE D8,A4,I2 AS A POSSIBILITY LEAVING ONLY D4,A2,I1. This will give you the correct answer.

By: KLB

KLB — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:36:00 +0000

To give:

1 – Ike
2 – Abe
3 – Fox
4 – Don
5 – Hal
6 – Cal
7 – Gus
8 – Eli
9 – Bob

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:34:00 +0000

The sad thing is that I googled odd numbers to make sure I wasn’t having a blond moment =)

By: KLB

KLB — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:32:00 +0000

Agree with Kim, after changing the last clue to say that Eli is not odd, you still made Eli an odd number in your answer.