dar@telesoft.UUCP (David Reisner @shine) (05/30/85)
**** Don't read this if you don't want the puzzle (possibly) spoiled **** > ...original statement of puzzle goes here... > Jerome Ball > TRW Electronics & Defense Sector > Redondo Beach, Ca. I believe that this problem does not contain enough information to specify a unique solution. By examination, I've constructed four solutions. Below, I have included a problem statement stripped to the bare essentials. After that comes my summary of the 'first order' (i.e. not derived or deduced) information from the problem statement. After that, I present two solutions which make no assumptions about the size of room being shared (see Note below) and then two solutions which assume that the roommate relation is "one-to-one" (i.e. all rooms are either double or single). These latter two solutions also satisfy the less restrictive case. Classically, this type of problem should have only one solution. I request that, in future, greater care be taken or better taste be exercised when posting puzzles. (Of course, if my solutions are wrong, then these comments apply to me as well.) -David sdcsvax!telesoft!dar PROBLEM: Figure out each woman's first and last name. Also, find out what is each woman's home town. BACKGROUND: Their names are ANN, SUSAN, CINDY, PAT, and JACKIE. Ann and Ms. Davis were roommates; as were Cindy and Ms. Jones. Ms. Walters lived in a single apartment. Ms. Thomas was from Des Moines, Iowa; and Susan was from Miami, Florida. Ms. Kerr was from Gary, Indiana; and Pat was from Cleveland, Ohio. The other woman was from San Francisco, California. Note: Definition of 'roommate' unclear - rooms could be double, triple, or quadruple. Implications of 'roommate' statements change with different definitions of 'roommate'. Double is most restrictive. [] indicate a double room fact. ~ means 'not' and applies to a whole list First Names (F:) Ann ~L:Davis,[Jones,]Walters Cindy ~L:[Davis,]Jones,Walters Jackie Pat ~L:Thomas,Kerr C:Cleveland Susan ~L:Thomas,Kerr C:Miami Last Names (L:) Davis ~F:Ann[,Cindy] Jones ~F:[Ann,]Cindy Kerr ~F:Susan,Pat C:Gary Thomas ~F:Susan,Pat C:Des Moines Walters ~F:Ann,Cindy City of Origin (C:) Cleveland F:Pat Des Moines L:Thomas Gary F:Kerr Miami L:Susan San Francisco Unrestricted 'roommate' solutions: Ann Kerr, Gary Cindy Davis, San Francisco Jackie Thomas, Des Moines Pat Jones, Cleveland Susan Walters, Miami Ann Kerr, Gary Cindy Davis, San Francisco Jackie Thomas, Des Moines Pat Walters, Cleveland Susan Jones, Miami 2 x double rooms, 1 single room solutions: Ann Kerr, Gary & Pat Davis, Cleveland are roommates. Cindy Thomas, Des Moines & Jackie Jones, San Francisco are roommates. Susan Walters, Miami has her own room. Ann Kerr, Gary & Susan Davis, Miami are roommates. Cindy Thomas, Des Moines & Jackie Jones, San Francisco are roommates. Pat Walters, Cleveland has her own room.