Frances Farrell loves children. Having chosen to stay at home during her child's early years, she enthusiastically opened a small nursery school to care for her own child and five other preschoolers. In the entry-way stand a bookcase with six numbered compartments (numbered top to bottom, then left to right), each assigned to a different child for his or her possesions, including a favorite toy.

From the information given, determine each child's full name (one girl's first name is Janet), shelf assignment, and favorite toy (one is a puzzle).

1. Kevin and the Baker child, who are the two tallest children, are assigned the two top shelves, while the Lorenz child, who is the third tallest, has a shelf with a higher number than Mark's.
   
   
2. Holly has a higher shelf than the Collins child, who has a shelf located immediately to the right of the one containing a picture book.
   
   
3. The shelf belonging to the Forbes child and the one which holds a box of crayons are both even-numbered shelves.
   
   
4. Darren's toy and the set of blocks sit side-by-side on shelves that are above the fire engine.
   
   
5. The teddy bear is on the shelf directly below Monica's and directly above the McKenna child's.

Clue 5 gives us one column: Monica, Teddy bear & McKenna. Clue 1 gives us the top row: Kevin & Baker. Since Monica can't be Kevin, she must be Baker.

Clue 2 gives us another row. Above this row is Holly, so it can't be the top row. We already have both first names in the top row, so Holly must be in the middle row and Collins and the picture book must be in the bottom row. Since we already have McKenna in the bottom row, he must have the picture book and is in #3 (Collins is to the right).

Clue 4 gives us another row: not the bottom one (the fire engine is below) and not the top one (we already have both first names in the top row). Darren is not Holly, so Holly has the set of blocks and Collins the Fire Engine.

Clue 3 specifies even numbered boxes for a surname and a toy. Since box 6 already has both, it must be #2 and #4. #2 already has a toy so it is Forbes and #4 is the box of crayons.

Clue 1 specifies Lorenz in the middle row, only #5 has no surname. Mark has a smaller number, only #3 has no first name.

From the text above the clues we get the missing first name (Janet), toy (puzzle), and surname (Farell: Francis Farell ... to care for her own child).
So our result is (hopefully):

#1 Monica Baker, puzzle
#2 Darren Forbes, teddy bear
#3 Mark McKenna, picture book
#4 Kevin Farell, box of crayons
#5 Holly Lorenz, set of blocks
#6 Janet Collins, fire engine

Posted by Markus on 2003-10-09 15:56:54