[net.puzzle] Solution to New Puzzle

rcj@burl.UUCP (10/28/83)

Sbe gubfr bs lbh jub pnaabg jnvg sbe gur nhgube bs guvf tbbqvr gb
cbfg gur nafjre, urer vg vf:

N fvzcyr P cebtenz lvryqrq nyy cbffvoyr pbzovangvbaf bs guerr ahzoref
jubfr cebqhpg jnf friragl-gjb.  Sebz gur chmmyr, jr yrnea gung gur snpg
gung gur fhz bs gur guerr qnhtugref' ntrf jnf rdhny gb gur zna'f ubhfr
ahzore jnf vafhssvpvrag gb fbyir gur chmmyr.  Gurersber, gurer zhfg
or ng yrnfg bar cnve bs ahzoref jubfr cebqhpgf ner obgu friragl-gjb naq
jubfr fhzf ner vqragvpny.  Guvf vf gur pnfr:

gjb * fvk * fvk = friragl-gjb		gjb + fvk + fvk = sbhegrra
guerr * guerr * rvtug = friragl-gjb	guerr + guerr + rvtug = sbhegrra

Abj, gur zna gryyf gur prafhf gnxre gung uvf ryqrfg qnhtugre yvxrf
(rkphfr zr, *ybirf*) pubpbyngr zvyx.  Orpnhfr ur vf noyr gb fnl
'zl ryqrfg qnhtugre', bar znl vasre gung gur ntrf gjb,fvk,fvk qb abg znxr
nal frafr orpnhfr vg jbhyq unir gb or 'ryqrfg qnhtugreF' -- gur byqrfg
gjb orvat gjvaf.  Gurersber, gur ntrf bs gur guerr qnhtugref ner
guerr, guerr, naq rvtug.

Tbbq chmmyr -- V fjber ng svefg gung ur unq yrsg bhg gur ubhfr ahzore
naq fperjrq hc gur chmmyr va gur gryyvat!!

C.F.:  Fbeel vs gur ahzoref jevggra bhg ner uneq gb ernq, ohg ebg13 qbrf
abg ebgngr ahzoref, fb vs V unq hfrq qvtvgf vafgrnq V jbhyq unir tvira
nyy ohg gur ynfg nfcrpg njnl vzzrqvngryl vs fbzrbar unq nppvqragnyyl ernq
guvf !
-- 

The MAD Programmer -- 919-228-3814 (Cornet 291)
alias: Curtis Jackson	...![ floyd clyde ihnp4 mhuxv ]!burl!rcj

stekas@houxy.UUCP (J.STEKAS) (10/31/83)

The New Puzzle has been getting much too much critisism.
The text states all that is needed to determine the unique
solution - what more can one require from a puzzle?

I'm sorry, but I can't believe that anyone capable of solving
the puzzle would get bogged down on whether the oldest children
in the family were twins.  Besides, since the census taker
solved the puzzle one must assume that he could unambiguously
identify the oldest child.