Answer to March 10, 2003 Problem

The Snow Problem

The five storms with the highest snowfall in Winchester, Virginia occurred on Jan. 7-9, 1996, Feb. 11, 1983, Feb. 15-16, 2003, March 5-6, 1962, and March 13-14, 1993.
Use the clues below to list the storms and their amounts in descending order:

1. Two of the storms measured 24 inches.
2. The second most snowfall and the fifth most snowfall occured in the same month.

3. The first and fifth place storms occurred over 40 years apart.
4. One of the February storms measured 20 inches.

5. The average snowfall for the five storms was 25.3 inches.
6. The snowfall from the 1983 storm was more than either of the 1990 storms.

7. The heaviest snowfall measured was 30 inches.

 

Solution to Problem:

Storm Date Snowfall
1 March 5-6, 1962 30 inches
2 Feb. 11, 1983 28.5 inches
3 March 13-14, 1993 24 inches
(3) Jan. 7-9, 1996 24 inches
5 Feb. 15-16, 2003 20 inches

You can determine the five snowfall amounts from clues 1, 4, 5, and 7. Since the average is 28.5 inches, multiply by 5 to get the total amount of snow for the 5 storms. Then subtract the 4 given amounts to get the fifth storm, which is 28.5 inches.

Clue 3 tells you that the 1st and 5th storms must be 1962 and 2003.
Clue #2 tells you that the 2nd and 5th storms must both be March or both be February.
But Clue #4 tells you that the 5th storm must be February, so that tells you that the 2nd storm is February.
Clue #6 then tells you that the 2nd storm was Feb 1983 (since it was bigger than 2 other storms).
Then Clue #3 tells you the highest snowfall was March 1962.
That leaves only two storms which are the 24 inch storms.


Correctly solved by:

1. Evelyne Stalzer Montville, New Jersey
2. Walt Arrison Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3. Richard Johnson La Jolla, California
4. Rick Jones Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
5. Bill Funk San Antonio, Texas
6. Kelsey Tomblin Columbus, Georgia
7. Tina Zahel Winchester, Virginia
8. John Funk Ventura, California
9. John Lybarger Calhoun Community College,
Decatur, Alabama
10. Bobby Martin Columbus, Georgia
11. Pam Hedrick Winchester, Virginia
12. Jeff Gaither Winchester, Virginia
13. David & Judy Dixon Bennettsville, South Carolina