There is a tug-o-war competition consisting of rounds upon round that all end in a draw meaning both sides end in equal strength. There are several people of exactly equal strength and are represented by the same symbol. (i.e. all * pull the same, but a * and a @ must be different) Each team is representeed by a series of symbols followed by a dashed line being the rope. On the other side of the rope is the team that was equally matched in strength. Here are some of those rounds:
*%-----$
$$$-------@%*%@
@-------!*
Again remembering that ll of the above are ties, and assume that position on the rope doesn't matter, who will win the following match?
!@!!@!-------%$*$

It might help to rewrite this as a set of equations, such as:
* + % = $
3$ = 2@ + 2% + *
@ = ! + *
Then, you just have to determine which of (4! + 2@) and (2$ + % + *) is larger.

Posted by DJ on 2003-06-21 08:05:20