When completed, the cross-number below will have one digit (from 0-9) in each cell, and no zeros in row (a) and in column (a).

         (a) (b) (c) 
            +---+---+
    (a)     |   |   |
        +---+---+---+
    (b) |   |   |   |
        +---+---+---+
    (c) |   |   |    
        +---+---+

ACROSS : (a) Abigail´s age.
         (b) Sum of Abigail´s age,
                    Blanche´s age,
                    Cynthia´s age, and
                    Darlene´s age.
         (c) Blanche´s age.

DOWN   : (a) Darlene´s age
         (b) Sum of three of the ages in (b) across.
         (c) Cynthia´s age.

Whose age was omitted from (b) down, and what are the ages of the 4 women ?

Note: this can be solved by hand. Those who will use the computer, give the others some time before posting the solution obtained this way. Tk you.

(In reply to re(6): Re: Solution by hand by Mike)

Mike, you are in the right way.

Call the cells A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and test the 4 possible hypotheses, that are: (1) if Abigail´s age omited; (2) if .... 

The sum of the 4 ages are : CDE

Hyp (1) - Abigail´s age omitted: CDE = ADG + AB

etc...

Only one hypothesis will remain.

Edited on October 21, 2005, 4:21 pm

Posted by pcbouhid on 2005-10-21 15:59:12