Mr. and Mrs. Astor, Mr. and Mrs. Blake, Mr. and Mrs. Crane, and Mr. and Mrs. Davis were seated around a table as shown:

                      +---+
                      | 1 |
                +---+ +---+ +---+
                | 8 |       | 2 |
                +---+       +---+
            +---+               +---+
            | 7 |       o       | 3 |
            +---+               +---+
                +---+       +---+
                | 6 |       | 4 |
                +---+ +---+ +---+   
                      | 5 |
                      +---+

1) Mrs. Astor was insulted by Mr. Blake who sat next to her on her left.

2) Mr. Blake was insulted by Mrs. Crane who sat opposite him across the center of the table.

3) Mrs. Crane was insulted by the hostess who was the only person who sat between a married couple.

4) The hostess was insulted by the only person who sat between two men.

Who insulted the hostess?

(In reply to re(2): Solution - by hand by Jacki)

Jacki, donīt misunderstand me.

In this kind of problem (at least those submitted by me), when someone posts an answer, even when itīs right, I find myself asking if he/she used a computer, or trial and error, or a systematic trial, or achieve it by a direct reasoning.

All the problems of this kind that I submit can be solved by a direct reasoning, obviously testing some hypotheses, until one unique remains. And this is what I expect from the users.

I didnīt say that your answer was wrong, I was just expecting the reasoning that lead you to find it. 

Posted by pcbouhid on 2005-10-26 15:48:50