Match-making Puzzles
These types of puzzles are in the nature of “match-the-following”. So, to solve such puzzles we make use of a table to fill our data in.
In such puzzles we are either supposed to schedule things as per a time-table. For example, when various lectures will be taught in a school, who will take what class and at what time etc.
Or sometimes, the time element is missing. The process remains the same - we just need to match the given things. For example, six people wear hats of six different colours, and speak six different languages. We just need to match them using a table.
Let’s see a few examples.
Type 1: Scheduling Puzzles
In such match-making puzzles the time-element is present.
Q. Read the information given below and answer the item that follows.
Six professors – A, B, C, D, E and F are given a task for taking classes from Monday to Saturday, not necessarily in the same order. Each professor would take exactly one class in a week. It’s also given that:
- D would not take a class until A has already taken his.
- C must take a class a day before B does.
- F can’t take a class on Saturday and should take his class a day after D has taken his.
- C takes his class on Monday.
Q. Who is going to take lecture on Saturday?
(a) A
(b) D
(c) E
(d) F
Explanation:
There is only 1 dimension in this question: Days. So, it’s a 1-D question. It means, it should be easy to solve. These kinds of questions should be attempted first in the exam.
Using statements 2, 3 and 4, we get two cases.
Case I:
Case II:
Now, as per statement 1, D would not take a class until A has already taken his. Thus, we may reject Case I. The final scenario may be depicted in the form of a table as follows:
Answer: (c)
Q. Read the information given below and answer the 3 (three) items that follow.
Lectures on 6 subjects viz. Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Biology, Computer Science and Physical Education have to be arranged in a week, starting from Monday to Saturday and have to be taken exactly by one professor each, out of A, B, C, D, E and F. Only one lecture can be arranged on each day.
- Biology is to be scheduled on Wednesday.
- Professor B takes classes on the very first day of the week, but doesn’t teach Physics and Chemistry.
- Professor E teaches Physical Education, which is scheduled on Saturday.
- Class of Maths is to be scheduled immediately after Biology.
- On Wednesday, neither Professor C nor Professor A is available for teaching.
- F takes class just on the next day of B and do not teach Chemistry.
Q1. Which of the following combination of Day-Professor-Subject is definitely true?
(a) Tuesday-F-Physics
(b) Thursday-A-Maths
(c) Friday-C-Chemistry
(d) None of the above
Q2. Who is scheduled to take the class on Thursday?
(a) Professor A
(b) Professor B
(c) Professor C
(d) Data is not sufficient
Q3. Which of the following statements are definitely correct?
- On Tuesday F takes class of Physics
- A or C take a class immediately after D
- D teaches on Wednesday
(a) Only 1 & 2 are correct
(b) Only 2 is correct
(c) Only 3 is correct
(d) All 1, 2 and 3 are correct
Explanation:
There are 2 dimensions in this question: Subjects and Days. So, it’s a 2-D question. It should be of mild difficulty level.
Answer 1: (a)
Using statements, 1, 2, 3, 4, we get the following picture:
Professor B must be taking Computer Science, as we already know that Biology, Maths and Physical Education are scheduled on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday respectively and as per statement 2, B doesn’t teach Physics and Chemistry.
Using statement 5 and 6, we get the following table:
As either of A or C may be teaching on Thursday and Friday, option (b) & (c) can be ruled out. However, option (a) is definitely true.
Answer 2: (d)
Either of the two professors, A or C can take the class on Thursday. Hence, the data is not sufficient.
Answer 3: (d)
As its evident from the table drawn based on the information provided in the question, all the three given statements are true.
Type 2: Without Time element
In such match-making puzzles the time-element is absent.
Q. Read the information given below and answer the item that follows.
A, B, C, D and E are skilled sportsman who live on different floors of a five-floor building. The first floor is the lowest floor. They play Volleyball, Football, Basketball, Tennis and Cricket, not necessarily in that order. Each one of them play exactly one sport. It’s also given that:
- The Tennis player lives above the Football player.
- A lives on the first floor and does not play Football.
- C is a Basketball player and lives above B.
- Cricketer lives on the fifth floor.
- Out of B and D, one is a Tennis player and the other is a Cricketer.
Which floor is occupied by the basketball player?
(a) Third (b) Fourth (c) Second (d) None of these
Explanation:
Using the information given in 2nd and 4th statements, we get:
According to the 3rd statement, C lives above B and according to the 5th statement, B is either a Tennis player or a Cricketer. However, B can’t be a Cricketer because if he is then it is not possible for C to live above him.
Hence, B must be a Tennis player and D a Cricketer. Hence, we get the following picture:
According to the 1st statement, the Tennis player lives above the Football player. Thus, B can’t live on the second floor. Moreover C lives above B; thus B can’t occupy the fourth floor. Hence, B must be living on the third floor and C on the fourth floor above B.
The final picture that emerges may be depicted as below:
Answer: (b)