Puzzle help for my daughter

[Brent]

Of course at the bottom of the html file you will see my answers, but I have no clue as to how I am supposed to use the table.  I am sure that this is supposed to help solve the puzzle but only God knows how.

 

Thanks,

Brent

"Brent" <brentde...@tnerbremovethis.com> wrote in message news:3ecdb596$0$13767$811e...@news.mylinuxisp.com...

Might need the file as an htlm file for better viewing.....


"Brent" <brentde...@tnerbremovethis.com> wrote in message
news:3ecdae54$0$13763$811e...@news.mylinuxisp.com...
> I am trying to help my daughter on for her school work due
> tomorrow.  Attached is a MS Word doc that has the puzzle.  I believe that
I
> have it figured out from a time related standpoint.  What I have no clue
> about is how to fill out the table.
>
>
>
> Any help is appreciated.
> Brent
> Brent_remove!this@tnerb_remove!this.com
>
>
>
>
>

[Ed Murphy]

Brent wrote:

> I am trying to help my daughter on for her school work due
> tomorrow. Attached is a MS Word doc that has the puzzle.

Please don't do this! Please read the following:
http://www.uwasa.fi/~ts/http/nobin.html

> Might need the file as an htlm file for better viewing.....

From the standpoint of bandwidth, the HTML file is even worse
than the DOC file. On the other hand, OpenOffice was able to
make better sense of the HTML file.

But what you REALLY want is plaintext (TXT) format. Very small
bandwidth, very easy for any program to read. (Unless you read
news using a proportional font - but you shouldn't do that, esp.
in rec.puzzles where a fair number of messages include tables or
diagrams or other things that require a fixed-width font to look
correct.)

A plaintext version of the puzzle is included at the bottom of
this message.

> I believe that I have it figured out from a time related
> standpoint. What I have no clue about is how to fill out the
> table.

These tables are very common in logic puzzles published by Dell
Magazines. Each square represents a combination of exactly two
elements from the puzzle (name / duration, name / arrival time,
or arrival time / duration). Put an X in every combination that
is false, and put an O in every combination that is true. (The
choice of symbols is pretty much arbitrary; once the table is
completely filled in, it's obvious which is which. My father
reversed the roles of X and O, presumably to save pen-strokes.)

Sometimes this sort of table is helpful. Other times it is
nearly useless, and a simple fill-in table (such as you used in
stating your answer) is better. It varies by (a) the puzzle
and (b) your style of solving.

As promised, here is the puzzle in plaintext format, including the
table and your (correct) solution.

At the Diner

After the cook at Lucky Luke's Diner called and reported his mistake about
the date of the fire in the kitchen, detectives questioned some of the
regular customers. Mr. Smith, Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Frank, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Beanne
and Mrs. Samuels were at the diner on the night of the crime. The customers
arrived at the diner at 4:00pm, 4:30pm, 5:00pm, 5:30pm, 6:00pm, and 7:00pm.
The stayed at the diner 1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 2.5 hours, 3 hours, and
3.5 hours. Only Mr. Beanne remembered seeing Salty and this gang at the
diner. Use the clues to find out when the customers came to the diner, how
long they stayed and whether Mr. Beanne could verify Salty's presence at the
diner at the time of the crime.

1. The only customer in the diner longer than Mr. Hobbs was the gentleman who
arrived at 4:00pm

2. The customer who stayed the shortest amount of time in the diner arrived
at 4:30pm.

3. Mr. Beanne stayed at the diner longer than Mrs. Jones but did not stay as
long as Mrs. Samuels who arrived after Mr. Hobbs.

4. The two women arrived within thirty minutes of each other; the woman who
stayed the shorter time arrived at 6:00pm.
 
5. Mr. Smith was in a hurry and stayed at the diner the shortest amount of
time.
 
6. Mrs. Samuels arrived before Mrs. Jones and stayed an hour longer.

1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 6:00 7:00
_____________________________ _____________________________
Mr. Smith |____|____|____|____|____|____| |____|____|____|____|____|____|
Mr. Frank |____|____|____|____|____|____| |____|____|____|____|____|____|
Mr. Beanne |____|____|____|____|____|____| |____|____|____|____|____|____|
Mr. Hobbs |____|____|____|____|____|____| |____|____|____|____|____|____|
Mrs. Samuels |____|____|____|____|____|____| |____|____|____|____|____|____|
Mrs. Jones |____|____|____|____|____|____| |____|____|____|____|____|____|
_____________________________
4:00 PM |____|____|____|____|____|____|
4:30 PM |____|____|____|____|____|____|
5:00 PM |____|____|____|____|____|____|
5:30 PM |____|____|____|____|____|____|
6:00 PM |____|____|____|____|____|____|
7:00 PM |____|____|____|____|____|____|
 
Beanne was present from 7pm to 9pm.  He was the last guest to leave the diner
which was one hour after the next to last guest departed.  He was also there
when most all other patrons was at the diner.  Therefore he has the greatest
probability of noticing Salty.

Name Arrival - Departure Stay Duration

Frank 4:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 3 1/2 hours
Smith 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 1 hour
Hobbs 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 3 hours
Samuels 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 2 1/2 hours
Jones 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 1 1/2 hours
Beanne 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 2 hours