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A grid of people (Posted on 2002-07-09) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Imagine a "grid" of people: some number of people arranged in a number of rows and columns in a rectangular formation.

We designate person A as the shortest person in the group of the tallest people of each row. We then designate person B as the tallest person in the group of shortest people in each column.

Who is taller, A or B?

See The Solution Submitted by levik    
Rating: 3.5833 (12 votes)

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Solution Explanation to Puzzle Answer Comment 16 of 16 |
(In reply to Answer by K Sengupta)

If there is a 1x1 grid then it trivially follows that A and B are the same person -and, accordingly, they have the same height.

      If A and B are situated in the same column, then we observe that B is the shortest in his column. Hence, if A is situated in the same column - then A must be taller than B
      If A and B are situated in the same row, then A is the tallest in his row. So, if B is located in that row- then it trivially follows that  A is taller than B.
      If A and B are in different rows and columns, then let us consider an individual C who is located in the same row as B and the same column as B.
     A and C are in the same row. So, A is taller than C,  as A is the tallest in this row. B and C are in the same column, so that B is shorter than C, as B is the shortest in his column. Therefore, A is taller than C, and C is taller than B. Accordingly,  A must be taller than B.
     Consequently,  without considering the trivial 1x1 grid, it follows that:
If A and B are two different individuals,  then A is always taller than B.

Edited on August 30, 2022, 8:00 am
  Posted by K Sengupta on 2022-08-29 22:27:05

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