Five persons bought five different items. Each person bought precisely one item and the cost of each of the items is different.

First Names: Elsa, Diana, David, Doug, Francis
Last Names: Greenfield, Watson, Becker, Bloom, Jackson
Items: Cake, Pie, Fruit, Cheese, Coffee
Item Costs : $3.50, $4.00, $5.00, $6.00, $7.00

1. Francis’ last name is not Jackson.
2. The man who bought the coffee paid the highest price which is precisely twice that of the fruit.
3. The cheese sold for $2.00 less than the coffee and was purchased by Becker.
4. Ms. Greenfield bought the pie for precisely two-third of what the cake cost.
5. The items bought by Watson and David were coffee and cake (not necessarily in this order).
6. The pie cost 50 cents more than the fruit.
7. Doug paid $6.00 for his item.
8. None of Francis, Denise and Becker paid more than $5.00 for their items

From the clues given above, determine the first and the last names of each person, the items purchased by each person and the cost of each of the items.

(In reply to Uh, Oh! (solution/spoiler present) by Charlie)

It should also be noted that clue #6 isn't necessary to solve the puzzle.

Clue #2 establishes that the coffee cost $7.00 (the highest price) and the fruit cost $3.50 (half the price of the coffee). Clue #3 then establishes that the cheese cost $5.00, or two dollars less than the coffee.

The remaining prices are $4.00 and $6.00; the remaining items are cake and pie. Clue #4 then establishes that the pie cost two-thirds of what the cake cost. So the pie cost $4.00 and the cake $6.00.

All items and prices are accounted for, so clue #6, stating that the pie cost 50 cents more than the fruit, is unnecessary.

Posted by Jyqm on 2007-01-21 15:48:14