Eric is going on vacation to Florida, and he's taking some of his friends with him. However, he has obsessive compulsive disorder, and he has some very strange requirements on what his guests must bring.

For instance, his friend Jon can only come if he brings something like orange juice. Stacy can only come if she takes bags of peanut M&M's and such. Billy could go if he takes denim jeans, but he must also bring bananas. However, Eric's friend Janet couldn't go on vacation with him no matter what she brings.

Eric's friend Russel could go with him if he brings ketchup. If Elvis were alive, though, he couldn't go with Eric.

Eric's friend Ashley has the same requirements Stacy has, and so does his other friend, Yao. However, Yao has an additional requirement: He must also bring ripe pumpkins, which Stacy and Ashley need not bring.

Eric's friend Paul could go if he brings plums, and Garry could go if he brings some $20 bills, but he must also bring tomatoes and a yellow smiley face. Eric himself is only able to go on vacation because he is bringing his wife, who had just returned from Florida.

So the question is: Can Robby go on vacation? If he can't, why not? If he can, what must he bring?

i'm new here. just found this site.

i think your solution is great, but still doesn't cover all the points, unless dustin is careless.

why is it that they all have to bring a food (except eric)?
why does everybody that brings 2 things have the first one not a food and the second a food (except Yao - 2 foods but not written like the others)
why does stacy bring M&M - 2 m's?
does it matter that elvis is not alive, that eric's wife returned from florida, etc. or are these red herrings?

lastly, you have 2 different approaches for the y's and th non-y's which dont have much in common.

i know i haven't aded much, but just getting my feet wet.

Posted by joseph on 2005-02-21 05:44:46