A Fun Little Word Puzzle
Check out the fun puzzle here:
http://www.futilitycloset.com/2009/06/03/a-curious-conversation/
I think I have it figured out, but wanted to let you guys look at it first before I posted it. I'll post in comments what I think the answer is and why.
I agree
How do you do the show/hide?
Until then, font color = white, text is below.
My logic is a bit more long-winded, I like to make this more complicated
First, Agreed Val knows the value and doesn't know the card, so it can't be the K♣ J♠ 8♠ 7♠ 6♣ 3♠ 2♠
This leaves 4 pairs
Ace Hearts/Diamonds
Queen Hearts/Clubs
Fives Diamonds/Clubs
Fours Heart/Spade/Club
Second, Aces go away - there is no logical way to discern color and value when both options are the same color and value.
Third, Queens and 5s go away - there is no logical way for Colin to know if it's a Q or a 5 even if he knows the card color. Those two cancel each other out.
Fourth, this leaves 4s. And the 4 of Spades and 4 of Clubs cancels each other out for the same reason as the Aces. Although if you wanted to, you could eliminate the 4 of clubs and 4 of spades in the second step as well and reach the conclusion in 3 steps instead of 4. Even though there are 3 4s, 2 of the fours cannot be the card because they cancel each other out.
Conclusion - the card must be the 4 of Hearts. It is the only card that meets the necessary criteria:
1) Has a non-unique value
2) Does not have a value that repeats within a color
3) Does not have a 1:1 match with a card of the opposite color and value.
Or even more simply put, the 4 of hearts is the only card that does not have a unique value and has no match in the same color or opposite color (because the black 4s cancel each other out).
Hmm.
I came up with the same answer you guys did, but there is a "solution" link at the bottom of the puzzle, and it gave a different answer.
The solution isn't really a solution...
Given that he doesn't have a clue...
How can you put up a puzzle and not already know the answer? lol
bah!
Ben, Skyler and I have decided that this puzzle has no solution. It only works if you know the the suit :)
Freaking puzzle! Even the
Freaking puzzle! Even the solution on the site is confused. Apparently, "color" in this case MIGHT be "suit". Which of course changes things. I think it's unsolvable the way it is written.
I'm not convinced it's unsolveable if it's just color...
Can we start discussing it in the open?
Answer
Click on the button below to see the answer!