AboutSurajit Basu Expertise I can answer questions which are mathematical, logical, or wordplay related.
I am not good at highly creative problems, or riddles.
Experience I regularly do puzzles, and help out friends, teenagers. I read books written by Martin Gardener. I love the puzzles and Easter eggs in Douglas Hofstadter's Godel, Escher, Bach: an enternal golden braid.
Publications A few examples of my writing:
http://surajitbasu.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/04/the-journey-down-the-number-line.htm
Education/Credentials B. Tech. ( Computer Science), IIT Kanpur, India
MBA ( Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Management), (Finance, Systems), IIM Calcutta, India
Question FIVE PEOPLE ARE QUEUING AT THE CHECKOUT.EACH SHOPPING CART HAS ONLY ONE TYPE OF PRODUCT.FOR EXAMPLE, ONE SHOPPER PURCHASED ONLY DRINKS.$3,$4,$5,$8 AND $10 ARE THE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS SPENT.
THE ONE WHO SPENT MOST IS LAST IN THE QUEUE BUT DID NOT BUY FISH.
THE LADY WHO BOUGHT VEGETABLES STANDS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PERSON WHO SPENT $5 ON MEAT.
MS. BUYIT HAS $3 OF ITEMS.SHE IS NOT FOURTH IN THE QUEUE.
SECOND IS MRS. SAVER WHO SPENT TWICE AS MUCH AS THE MAN WHO BOUGHT DOMESTIC ITEMS.
MR. SPENDER , IN THE MIDDLE OF THE QUEUE, HAS NOTICED THAT BEHIND HIM MRS. DEALS AND MR.PRICE ARE GETTING VERY IMPATIENT.
WHO BOUGHT WHAT , HOW MUCH THEY SPENT AND WHERE THEY WERE IN THE QUEUE?
Answer Number the statements
1) $3,$4,$5,$8 AND $10 ARE THE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS SPENT.
2) THE ONE WHO SPENT MOST IS LAST IN THE QUEUE BUT DID NOT BUY FISH.
3) THE LADY WHO BOUGHT VEGETABLES STANDS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PERSON WHO SPENT $5 ON MEAT.
4) MS. BUYIT HAS $3 OF ITEMS.SHE IS NOT FOURTH IN THE QUEUE.
5) SECOND IS MRS. SAVER WHO SPENT TWICE AS MUCH AS THE MAN WHO BOUGHT DOMESTIC ITEMS.
6) MR. SPENDER , IN THE MIDDLE OF THE QUEUE, HAS NOTICED THAT BEHIND HIM MRS. DEALS AND MR.PRICE ARE GETTING VERY IMPATIENT.
Draw a table.
Order in Queue Bought For
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Last
Try filling it up. And when you use a statement fully, cut it out)
Sentence used in brackets
Order in Queue Bought For Name
First
Second $8(5)* Mrs. Saver(5)
Third MR. SPENDER(6)
Fourth
Last xFish(2) $10(2)
I filled up 2 first, then 5
*: can't be $10, as it is for Last person, and it is double so..$8
what do we have now? Now see
3) THE LADY WHO BOUGHT VEGETABLES STANDS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PERSON WHO SPENT $5 ON MEAT.
where are the lady and the person who spent $5?
must be second and third...
so we get
Order in Queue Bought For Name
First
Second Veg(3) $8(5)* Mrs. Saver(5)
Third Meat(3) $5 (3) MR. SPENDER(6)
Fourth
Last xFish(2) $10(2)
now see 4) MS. BUYIT HAS $3 OF ITEMS.SHE IS NOT FOURTH IN THE QUEUE.
clearly, she is first.
so we have
Order in Queue Bought For Name
First $3(4) MS. BUYIT(4)
Second Veg(3) $8(5)* Mrs. Saver(5)
Third Meat(3) $5 (3) MR. SPENDER(6)
Fourth
Last xFish(2) $10(2)
and then, we get from (1) and 5)
1) $4 ARE THE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS SPENT.
5) THE MAN WHO BOUGHT DOMESTIC ITEMS spent $4
Order in Queue Bought For Name
First $3(4) MS. BUYIT(4)
Second Veg(3) $8(5)* Mrs. Saver(5)
Third Meat(3) $5 (3) MR. SPENDER(6)
Fourth Domestic(1) $4 (1) man...
Last xFish(2) $10(2)
and then, using 6...
Order in Queue Bought For Name
First ......... $3(4) MS. BUYIT(4)
Second Veg(3) $8(5)* Mrs. Saver(5)
Third Meat(3) $5 (3) MR. SPENDER(6)
Fourth Domestic(1) $4 (1) MR.PRICE(6)
Last xFish(2) $10(2) MRS. DEALS(6)
Assuming someone bought fish ( as it says that
2) THE ONE WHO SPENT MOST IS LAST IN THE QUEUE BUT DID NOT BUY FISH.)
it was Ms.Buyit... so what did the last person buy?
