Sandy Wood
Brain Game: This Class Stinks
by Sandy Wood - March 31, 2009 - 7:30 AM

bloghead_braingames.jpg

It’s a new semester at Wossamatta U. Only five people signed up for Dr. Johnson’s remedial personal hygiene class, but as it turned out, they became the most attentive students in the school. Why? Because the Doc advised them on the first day of class that he had five grades to give – an A, a B, a C, a D, and an E – and that each would be awarded to only one student. The A was the best, and the E was failing, and each letter between was one grade level difference. So someone would score an A, no matter how poorly they all did in class. But someone would also fail, no matter how well they did.

The college quintet consisted of three young men – Cam, Ham, and Sam – and two sorority sisters, Pam and Tam.

Based on the following clues, and with the knowledge that each grade level is exactly one step better than the next, can you determine which student scored which grade? Good luck!

1. None of the boys’ grades was exactly two levels better than either of the girls’ grades.

2. Pam’s grade was better than Sam’s, whose grade was better than Cam’s.

3. Between them, the girls had a C average.

Here is the SOLUTION.

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Comments (6)

  1. That was a fun easy one.

    I think clue #3 should say Tam = D, not C

    posted by craig on 3-31-2009 at 8:19 am

  2. Got it! I love those.

    posted by ErinInHouston on 3-31-2009 at 8:32 am

  3. Got it. But shouldn’t the answer be that Cam got an E, or change the grade in the question to an F?

    posted by David on 3-31-2009 at 9:07 am

  4. Yes, it should… I originally had the grades as A, B, C, D and F (like they were in most schools) but then realized that the letter-skip might confuse some. I forgot to change F to E in the answer, though. All fixed! Thanks!

    posted by Sandy Wood on 3-31-2009 at 9:31 am

  5. You don’t need to skip the first clue.

    Based on clue 1, you can say that Pam A, C or E. Same for Tam. That leaves the girls getting the B or the D. Clue 2 says that Pam should get the B since her grade is better than 2 of the boys.

    posted by Steve on 3-31-2009 at 10:39 am

  6. I absolutely LOVE puzzles of this type. Bring ‘em on!

    posted by frodopal on 3-31-2009 at 2:58 pm

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