November 13, 2000
Problem of the Week

Who Teaches What?


 
Use the following clues to find out (A) what Mr. Haston teaches (B) where Ms. Pleacher went to school (C) who the four married teachers are, and (D) who attended Carnegie Mellon University? 1. The history teacher, the geometry teacher, and Ms. Lowe all go swimming on Monday. 2. The Spanish teacher graduated from West Virginia University. 3. Ms. Pleacher and the algebra teacher do needlepoint together (You may assume none of the male teachers needlepoint). 4. The three single teachers teach algebra, geometry, and Spanish. 5. Mr. Gowdy, Ms. Cain, and the history teacher all went to different Virginia schools (either Virginia Tech, J.M.U., or the University of Virginia). 6. Mr. Gowdy plays racquetball with Ms. Cain's husband. 7. Ms. Cain, the wife of Mr. Glossner, the chemistry teacher, and the P.E. teacher all play tennis together (You may assume Mr. Glossner is not the chemistry or P.E. teacher). 8. Ms. Pleacher and her husband often play bridge with Mr. Frantz and his wife. 9. When they were in college, Mr. Glossner and the English teacher were good friends because their schools were close together (in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg, respectively). 10. The P.E. teacher dislikes Wake Forest University because it always beats his alma mater in basketball. 11. Mr. Frantz, Ms. Pleacher, Ms. Cain, and the Clemson University graduate always participate in faculty volleyball. 12. There are seven teachers - Ms. Cain, Ms. Lowe, Ms. Pleacher, Mr. Haston, Mr. Gowdy, Mr. Glossner, and Mr. Frantz. 13. They each teach one of the following subjects - Algebra, English, Chemistry, History, Spanish, P.E., and Geometry. 14. They each attended one of the following schools - Carnegie-Mellon, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, J.M.U., U.VA, and Clemson. 15. Ms. Pleacher's husband and the P.E. teacher were great friends.
Many thanks to Trevor DeBono of Allen Park, Michigan who convinced me that I needed clue #15.


Solution to the Problem:

(A) Mr. Haston teaches Spanish.
(B) Ms. Pleacher went to Wake Forest University.
(C) The four married teachers are Pleacher, Cain, Glossner, and Frantz.
(D) Frantz attended Carnegie-Mellon University.

Here is the complete solution:
Cain - English - J.M.U.
Lowe - Algebra - Clemson
Haston - Spanish - W.V.U.
Gowdy - Geometry - Virginia Tech
Glossner - History - U.VA
Frantz - P.E. - Carnegie-Mellon
Pleacher - Chemistry - Wake Forest



Correctly solved by:

1. Amy Costello Winchester, VA
2. Kirstine Wynn Winchester, VA
3. Erin McGinnis Winchester, VA
4. Clark Nesselrodt Winchester, VA
5. Kimberly Till Winchester, VA


Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher