Alphabetical logic (Posted on 2006-07-28)

	Submitted by Tristan
Rating: 4.1250 (8 votes)
Solution:	(Hide)
To solve this puzzle, you would most likely start with a standard grid matching up first and last names. The following grid contains the "obvious" clues (e.g. since Greg comes before Dirk, Greg cannot be be Sumner). Columns are last names, rows are first names. A D I L N S D x x x x El x x Er x x G x x N x T x x x Perhaps the best way to go from here is to take a guess and check its logical consistency. For example, lets assume Austin is Nelson, and fill in the "obvious" clues that follow. A D I L N S D x x o x x x El x x x o x x Er x x x x x o G x o x x x x N o x x x x x T x x x x o x This leads to a contradiction because Sumner is supposed to come before Lister, among other things. Therefore, Austin is not Nelson, and we can fill out the "obvious" clues that follow. To get the solution, it may be necessary to make more guesses in the same manner. Dirk Ives Ellen Sumner Erik Lister Greg Austin Nelson Newton Tony Dunn Erik, Mr. Lister guesses, must be his first name, but he's really not that sure. The compulsive cryptographers among you may have noticed that the first letter of each last name when read down spells "island." What does it mean? Mr. Lister thinks it is a coincidence.

	Subject	Author	Date
	Answer	K Sengupta	2009-03-06 06:19:50
	Alpha logic	Chuck Hurst	2006-08-21 16:05:12
	Another logical table solution (without the table)	gregg tsujimoto	2006-08-10 06:21:09
	names...	briana	2006-08-09 12:28:22
	re: Analytical Solution	Magda	2006-07-30 18:48:33
	Analytical Solution	Sir Percivale	2006-07-29 11:33:52
	re(2): Solution	Penny	2006-07-29 10:33:22
	re: Solution	Richard	2006-07-29 01:36:51
	Solution	Penny	2006-07-28 09:46:45