For this logic puzzle you have to determine the surnames of four people, their position in a cake-bake competition and what cake they baked.

The first names are: James, Ben, Vicky and Nigel
The surnames are: Jones, Stevens, Andrews and Best
Positions are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th
Cakes baked are: Chocolate cake, Cheese cake, Fruit cake and Sponge cake.

Clues:
1. James Best beat Vicky by two places.
2. Bens' fruit cake beat Mrs. Stevens' son, who came in 3rd.
3. The sponge cake, despite being a bit bland, got in the top three.
4. The judges obviously had a sweet tooth, as the Chocolate cake came in 2nd place.
5. Jones's mother cried as she watched her son take 1st prize.

What are the full names of the top four, what position did they come and what cake did they bake?

Ben Jones(fruitcake), James Best(chocolate cake), Nigel Stevens(sponge cake), Vicky Andrews (cheesecake)

HOW!??!?!?! Simple!

James Best beat Vicky by two places. Cool. But Ben's fruitcake beat Stevens, who was in third. This makes Ben(fruitcake) either first or second. He cannot be second because James Best has to be two places ahead of Vicky, and if James Best is first, he will be two places ahead of Stevens in third place. Ben(fruitcake) is first place, and James Best is in second. The chocolate cake came in second place, so James Best made the chocolate cake. Also, Stevens' first name must be Nigel, as it's the last male name unaccounted for and it was stated that Mrs. Stevens had a son. This makes Vicky Andrews the unlucky last place finisher.

Jones' mother's son took first. Established is that Ben(fruitcake) is in first, therefore his name is Ben Jones.

So, we have Ben Jones(fruitcake), James Best(chocolate cake), Nigel Stevens, and Vicky Andrews. The Sponge cake was said to come in the top three, so Nigel must have made it. That means Vicky made the cheesecake. Thus,

Ben Jones(fruitcake), James Best(chocolate cake), Nigel Stevens(sponge cake), Vicky Andrews (cheesecake).

Ta da.

Posted by Zuninga! on 2003-11-27 01:22:24