All-Star Puzzles
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Turkey Time
Ben Butterball surprises his neighbors with gift gobblers for Thanksgiving.
November 25, 2002
From the introduction, the turkeys weigh even numbers of lbs., with no two turkeys weighing the same amount; while from clue 1, the five birds total 100 lbs. with the smallest weighing 15 lbs. By clue 2, the turkey the Mathers got weighs 5 lbs. more than Bob the turkey, who tips the scales 5 lbs. higher than the Standishes' bird. If the Standishes' turkey weighed 19 lbs., then Bob would weigh 24 and the Mathers' turkey 29, a total with the 15 lb. bird included of 87 lbs., leaving the fifth turkey at 13, a conflict with clue 1; any weight higher than 19 would make the fifth bird even smaller. So, if the Standishes' turkey doesn't weigh the least, then it would weigh 16, 17, or 18 lbs. If the Standishes' turkey weighed 16 lbs., Bob would weigh 21 and the Mathers' turkey would weigh 26 (2). The smallest turkey weighs 15; so the total of 78 would give the fifth bird a weight of 22 lbs (clue 1). However, there is no way for clue 3 to work, since the Bradfords turkey weighs 2 lbs. more than Zeke. If the Standishes' turkey weighed 18 lbs. and Bob then 23 and the Mathers' turkey 28, adding the 15-lb. bird would give 84 lbs. and leave the fifth turkey at 16 (1). However, there is no way for clue 4, where Earl weighs 4 lbs. more than the Aldens' turkey, to work given these numbers. If the Standishes' turkey weighed 17 lbs., Bob 22, and the Mathers' 27, adding the 15-lb.'er would total 81 lbs., making the fifth turkey a 19 lb. one. By clue 3, the 19 lb. turkey would be the Bradfords, and Zeke would be a 17 lb. bird. By clue 4, the Bradfords' gift turkey would be Earl, with the Aldens then getting the smallest turkey. However, Tom then would have to go to the Mathers or Aldens, which he doesn't (5). Therefore, none of the alternatives to the Standishes' turkey weighing the least can work; the Standishes' birds weighs 15 lbs., with Bob then a 20-lb. turkey and the Mathers' gift weighing 25 lbs. (2). Since these three turkeys total 60 of the 100 lbs. (1), the other two birds must weigh 40 lbs. between them. Given the weights of the three recovered so far--15, 20, 25--the fourth bird must weigh 21-24 lbs. and the fifth then 19-16 respectively to the fourth's weight. By clue 3, the Bradfords' turkey weighs 2 lbs. more than Zeke. If the Bradfords' turkey were the fourth bird weighing 21-24 lbs., Zeke would have to be the fifth bird weighing 19-16 lbs. The only weights that can work are that the Bradfords' bird weighs 21 lbs. and Zeke 19. However, there is no way for clue 4, where Earl is 4 lbs. heavier than the Aldens' turkey, to fit. If the Bradfords' turkey were the fifth one, weighing 19-16 lbs., Zeke would have to be the turkey given to the Standish family, with the Bradfords' turkey then a 17-lb. bird. The fourth turkey would then weigh 23 lbs. to make up the 100-lb. total. However, there is now no 4-lb. difference as required by clue 4. So, the Bradfords got 20-lb. Bob, with Zeke weighing in at 18 lbs. (3). The last turkey must weigh 22 lbs. to bring the total to 100. By clue 4, the bird weighing 22 lbs. is Earl, and the Aldens received 18-lb. Zeke. By elimination, Earl will be the Williamses Thanksgiving guest. Finally, Tom went to the Standishes and Max to the Mathers (5). In sum, Ben Butterball gave away turkeys for Thanksgiving as follows:

  • Max, 25 lbs., to the Mather family
  • Earl, 22 lbs., to the Williams family
  • Bob, 20 lbs., to the Bradford family
  • Zeke, 18 lbs., to the Alden family
  • Tom, 15 lbs., to the Standish family

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