After the first formal dance the five friends had attended, the one with the black suspenders had to move, and this meant the four remaining friends still wore different colored suspenders, shirts and ties. This time, they only had red, green, blue and white among them.

Also, each of them went with a girl to the dance, one of them taking Dartam. One of them, Azdam, one of the people going with the one of the four friends, is talking about what she should wear so that she doesn't clash with the person that is taking her to the dance. The only thing she knows about him is he will be wearing white suspenders. She gets on the phone with someone else (Zablon) to ask some questions about what everyone will be wearing.

Azdam: So what will everybody be wearing?
Zablon: I know that nobody will wear two or more of the same color. For example, the person who is bringing you wouldn't wear a white shirt or tie because it might clash with his white suspenders.
Azdam: I still don't understand this clashing rule.
Zablon: Well... One of my friends is being taken by the guy wearing red suspenders. He's wearing a green tie instead of a red one so that it won't clash with his red suspenders.
Azdam: Ok, I see...
Zablon: Some people have developed preferences this year. For example Bastam decided she isn't going with anyone wearing anything green, and Cagram decided she isn't going with anyone wearing anything blue.
Azdam: What about the men?
Zablon: Well, Forgam and Golkam don't like to wear red or blue shirts. Golkram also doesn't like to wear blue ties either.
Azdam: Do you know anything else? I feel silly only knowing that the person who is taking me to the dance will be wearing white suspenders.
Zablon: Don't worry! A friend of mine who is being taken to the dance by Epotram only knows that he will be wearing red suspenders. I found that out when I was talking to her about Cagram breaking up with Holdram. I learned that Holdram isn't going to take Cagram to the dance because of this.
Azdam: Ok, well I have to get off the phone... Bye!
Zablon: Bye!

After Azdam only knew this info, she wondered who was taking her to the dance, and what color shirt and tie he would wear with his white suspenders. She also wondered what girl was going with what boy, and what color shirt, tie, and suspenders each boy would wear. What are the answers to these two questions?

First, let’s refer to Zablon’s statements as 1-6.

Epotram is wearing red suspenders (5), and so he must be wearing a green tie (2). Since neither Forgam or Golkam will wear the red or blue shirt (4), that means that Epotram and Holdram have to wear them. But Epotram can’t wear the red shirt since he is wearing red suspenders (1). This means Epotram must be wearing the blue shirt and Holdram is wearing the red shirt.

Since Epotram is wearing red, not white, suspenders he can’t be taking Azdam. Since he is wearing a green tie he can’t be taking Bastam (3). And since he is wearing a blue shirt, he can’t be taking Cagram (3). This means Epotram must be taking Dartam.

So we have successfully matched Dartam with Epotram and his red suspenders, green tie, and blue shirt. Here is what we are left with:

White, green, blue suspenders
White, red, blue tie
White, red, green shirt

Since Azdam’s date is wearing white suspenders, Bastam and Cagram must be going with the boys wearing green and blue suspenders. Due to their preferences, this must mean that Bastam’s date is wearing blue suspenders and Cagram’s date is wearing green suspenders (3).

Cagram’s date can’t be wearing a green shirt (1), and Cagram isn’t going out with Holdram (5) who is wearing a red shirt. This means that Cagram’s date must be wearing the white shirt along with his green suspenders.

Azdam’s date can’t wear the white tie, nor can Cagram’s (1), so Bastam’s date must be wearing the white tie along with his blue suspenders. Bastam’s date can’t wear the white shirt now (1) and Bastam wouldn’t go with him if he were wearing green(3), so he must be wearing the red shirt. And Holdram happens to be wearing the red shirt.

Now we have successfully matched Bastam with Holdram and his blue suspenders, white tie, and red shirt. Here is what we are left with:

White, green suspenders
Red, blue tie
White, green shirt

Since Cagram wouldn’t go with someone wearing blue(3), her date must be wearing the red tie. Golkam must be wearing the red tie since he won’t wear blue ties (4), so he is Cagram’s date.

So we have matched Cagram with Golkam and his green suspenders, red tie, and white shirt. This leaves the last match of Azdam with Forgram and his white suspenders, blue tie, and green shirt.

Later!

Posted by nikki on 2003-10-03 12:29:05