December 2023
Problem of the Month

Who is leading Santa's Sleigh?
Submitted by K. Sengupta
of Calcutta, India

You are given the following 12 clues, from which you must determine the order of the nine reindeer. You may be surprised to learn that Rudolph is not the leader!

(1) Comet is behind Rudolph, Prancer, and Cupid.

(2) Blitzen is behind Cupid.

(3) Blitzen is in front of Donder, Vixen, and Dancer.

(4) Donder is behind Vixen, Dasher, and Prancer.

(5) Rudolph is behind Prancer and in front of Donder and Dasher.

(6) Vixen is in front of Dancer and Comet.

(7) Dancer is behind Donder and Rudolph.

(8) Prancer is in front of Cupid and Blitzen.

(9) Dasher is behind Prancer and in front of Dancer and Blitzen.

(10) Donder is behind Comet and Cupid.

(11) Cupid is in front of Rudolph and Dancer.

(12) Vixen is behind Rudolph Prancer, and Dasher.

You may use the chart below to help Determine the order of the nine reindeer.


Click here for a printer version

Solution to the Problem:

The order of the reindeer is as follows:
1st     Prancer
2nd     Cupid
3rd     Rudolph
4th     Dasher
5th     Blitzen
6th     Vixen
7th     Comet
8th     Donder
9th     Dancer

In the chart below, I entered the number of the clue that eliminated that possibility.
In several places, it is the second time that I read through the clue.

For example, Clue 1 tells us that Comet can not be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, and Rudolph, Prancer, and Cupid cannot be 9th.   So I placed a 1 in those squares.

Correctly solved by:

1. Dr. Hari Kishan	D.N. College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
2. Ivy Joseph	Pune, Maharashtra, India
3. Bodey Fraughton	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming, USA
4. Landon Solaas	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming, USA
5. Ellie Barker	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming, USA
6. Tally Hamilton	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming, USA
7. Rob Miles	Northbrook, Illinois, USA
8. Brailen Potter	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming, USA
9. Colin (Yowie) Bowey	Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
10. Heather Widener	McLean, Virginia, USA
11. Kate Cotter	University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
12. Kamal Lohia	Hisar, Haryana, India
13. Davit Banana	Istanbul, Turkey
14. K M Thomas	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
15. Sapna Dominic	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
16. Benny Varghese	Cochin, Kerala, India
17. Kelly Stubblefield	Mobile, Alabama, USA
18. Nayeli	Muckleshoot Tribal School, Auburn, Washington, USA
19. Jack Crowell	Muckleshoot Tribal School, Auburn, Washington, USA
20. Anthony A.	Muckleshoot Tribal School, Auburn, Washington, USA
21. Ronald P.	Muckleshoot Tribal School, Auburn, Washington, USA
22. Leilani	Muckleshoot Tribal School, Auburn, Washington, USA

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher