Puzzle - Orthogonoal grid??

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Linda

Boxer Insane
Okay, maybe someone here can help us.

My daughter brought home something from school and we haven't been able to figure it out.

Hopefully I can explain this :o ... here goes
It's a grid of 16 squares (4 across-4 down). There are 16 "items" to place in each square. There are 4 of the same item and 4 of the same color. In this case, it's a Thanksgiving theme--turkey, moccasins, hat, cornacopia. 1 blue turkey, 1 yellow turkey, 1 red turkey, 1 green turkey; 4 hats, 1 blue, 1 yellow... well, you see how this goes.

The object is to place the items on the squares so that no horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row has 2 of the same color OR item.

Anyone solve one of these before?

Oh, and my daughter is in 4th grade!! Pathetic we can't figure it out. LOL

[This message has been edited by Linda (edited 11-22-2000).]
 
Linda -- Please check with your daughter
or have her ask her teacher for the exact
instructions for this puzzle again ...
because it is not possible to do given
these conditions.
Without delving too deeply into the
mathematics involved here, it isn't
possible to create such a structure in a 4X4
space. That is, it isn't possible to create
a 4X4 array where EVERY diagonal, vertical
or horizontal line will yield unique values.
It's only possible where the lines are drawn
through "whole" rows (rows with 4 elements).

--This information courtesy of JRH, BA in Mathematics-- (My SO)

------------------
Jennifer
much Loved companion of
Greta the Boxer, 2/6/89
Adopted 9/12/99 at age 11
Flashy Brindle, docked with natural ears

Greta's story www.angelfire.com/games2/leedsdevil/

or Family Pics http://community.webshots.com/album/4482780oYztpZCqFo
 

Linda

Boxer Insane
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by LeedsDevil:
Linda -- Please check with your daughter
or have her ask her teacher for the exact
instructions for this puzzle again ...
because it is not possible to do given
these conditions.

--This information courtesy of JRH, BA in Mathematics-- (My SO)
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is exactly what a I thought, but my daughter said the teacher told them they can't have duplicating colors or items "touching" diagonally.

The instructions say no row or column or "corner-to-corner" diagnoal. I honestly am not sure exactly what that means. I would think it refers to the 2 diagonal lines (4 elements from each corner of the grid. :confused:
 
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