For this logic puzzle you have to determine the surnames of four people, their position in a cake-bake competition and what cake they baked.

The first names are: James, Ben, Vicky and Nigel
The surnames are: Jones, Stevens, Andrews and Best
Positions are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th
Cakes baked are: Chocolate cake, Cheese cake, Fruit cake and Sponge cake.

Clues:
1. James Best beat Vicky by two places.
2. Bens' fruit cake beat Mrs. Stevens' son, who came in 3rd.
3. The sponge cake, despite being a bit bland, got in the top three.
4. The judges obviously had a sweet tooth, as the Chocolate cake came in 2nd place.
5. Jones's mother cried as she watched her son take 1st prize.

What are the full names of the top four, what position did they come and what cake did they bake?

(__________ means we don't know the name or surname yet)

If James Best beat Vicky ______ by two places, then he has to come in either first or second. If Ben's fruit cake beat _______ Stevens, who came in third, then he would have to be in the top two too.

If _________ Stevens was third, then Vicky would have to be fourth, therefore James Best would be second to beat Vicky by two places. Thus the one who won third prize would be Nigel Stevens.

Therefore Ben would be first, which shows he is Ben Jones, with a fruit cake. Since there is no space left in either first or second place, the sponge cake would have to be in third place with Nigel Stevens. The cheese cake would thus be with Vicky Andrews in fourth place.

Posted by Dave on 2004-06-28 08:03:23