Expert: Surajit Basu - 3/17/2008

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?

Read the problem again, and find out.

Enjoy!