At the recent BrainBashers Mixed National Hurdle trials, ten contestants competed for the coveted BB Shield.
There were numerous judges who made sure that the results were accurate, from their notes can you determine who finished where?
Crystal Ball finished before May Eye and Mike Stup, while Leigh Vamessage was victorious over May Eye and Laura DeLand. Jack Pott was beaten by Holly Day, Mike Stup, and Justin Time. Laura DeLand was beaten by Mike Stup, May Eye, and Crystal Ball, whereas Joe King beat Holly Day and Jack Pott, but lost to Laura DeLand and Inga Hootz. Leigh Vamessage was beaten by Crystal Ball and Inga Hootz. Inga Hootz was beaten by Justin Time, who, in turn, lost to Crystal Ball, but beat Holly Day and Jack Pott. May Eye finished ahead of Mike Stup and Holly Day (who lost to Leigh Vamessage and Inga Hootz).
Hint
Rewrite the clues so that those who finished ahead are written first.
Answer
Crystal Ball (CB)
Justin Time (JT)
Inga Hootz (IH)
Leigh Vamessage (LV)
May Eye (ME)
Mike Stup (MS)
Laura DeLand (LD)
Joe King (JK)
Holly Day (HD)
Jack Pott (JP)
Reasoning
If we number the clues, write each name using two letters, and rewrite the clues so that those who finished ahead are written first:
CB beat ME and MSLV beat ME and LDHD, MS, and JT, all beat JPMS, ME, and CB, all beat LDJK beat HD and JPLD and IH both beat JKCB and IH both beat LVJT beat IHCB beat JTJT beat HD and JPME beat MS and HDLV and IH both beat HD
By (9): CB JT
By (8): CB JT IH
By (7): CB JT IH LV
By (2): CB JT IH LV ME
By (11): CB JT IH LV ME MS
By (4): CB JT IH LV ME MS LD
By (6): CB JT IH LV ME MS LD JK
By (5): CB JT IH LV ME MS LD JK HD
By (3): CB JT IH LV ME MS LD JK HD JP
??
Puzzle 198
Can you fill the thermometers with mercury, such that the numbers outside the grid indicate how many cells in each row and column contain mercury?
Mercury always starts filling from the bottom of a thermometer and not every thermometer has to contain mercury.
