Re: Teaser 2507

[Cactus]

Sunday Times Teaser 2507 by Graham Smithers
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Six friends (Bubba, Chris, Derek, Emiren, Finsan, Gilson), with
birthdays in different months, have different favourite fruits (apple,
carrot, pear, pinto bean, raspberry, watermelon). For each of them any
two of (name, fruit, birth month) share only one common letter. In
name order, what are their favourite fruits?

Cactus

PS I have tried and failed to enter this text several times - it seems
to me that Google are now trying to push users off Google Groups.

[Garry]

Hello Brian

This is just to test your reported difficulty in posting. Has any
thought been given to going to Yahhoo groups?

Garry

[Garry]

I meant Yahoo groups, of course.

Unless I've missed the point, not unknown, this teaser seemed
straightforwars. A bit of work with a grid of name against fruit gave
only one solution that I could see:

Bubba Watermelon July
Chris Pear August
Derek Pinto bean March
Emiren Carrot May
Finsan Apple November
Gilson Raspberry June

Garry

[Cactus]

Hi Garry,

I agree with your solution.

With yet one more, for me, completely boring teaser, I think I am
losing the will to live!

Brian

[Cactus]

On Oct 10, 8:45 am, Garry <dly3...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Hi Garry

Thanks for the suggestion.

Until now I have had a preference for Google Groups but this may well
change given what is happening.

But on a more fundamental level, I think it won't be long before I ask
if anyone else is willing to take over the running of this group as I
can't see my interest in the Sunday Times Teasers lasting a great deal
longer. It may be me but I really think the average standard of these
teasers has dropped significantly over the last few years.

Brian

[Teasemaster]

Watermelon is Chris or Bubba, and July, so (Bubba, July, watermelon)
Chris is pear or pinto bean and thus (Chris, August, pear)
February and December are now out
Raspberry is Gilson, so (Gilson, June, rasp)
Pinto bean is Derek and March
Emiren is May and apple/carrot
Thus(Finsan, Nov, apple)
and (Emiren, May, carrot)

July, August, March, May, November, June

TM

[Garry]

Hello again Brian

There certainly seems to have been fewer posts than before about most
of the recent ones, with exceptions like the debatable multiple-
reflection problem. However, I for one find it worthwhile and am glad
that I found the group however many months ago it was, and would be
sorry to lose the chance to compare approaches and/or get a hint to
start me off.

Garry

[Cactus]

Hi All,

Those who actually read the Sunday Times might notice that Jeremy
Clarkson's maths is not up to much :-)

Brian

[Ben Alligin]

Brian et al,

I'm disappointed like you when I feel that there are too many easy
teasers, although like most people I have a busy life and occasionally
welcome a teaser that doesn't take me too long to solve. Ever since I
started doing them I've been aware that "occasionally some latitude is
allowed for readers of modest mathematical ability, since interest in
this little feature is world-wide", so we're bound to get some easy
ones. I've been doing the Teasers for around 35 years, so a few easy
ones won't stop me carrying on with them.

What we really need is some of you to compose your own teasers and
submit them to the Sunday Times. I'm sure you could come up with some
cracking ideas.

John