[Prof. Templeton]

I've put together a list of 26 common five letter words, one for each letter of the alphabet. The letters in each word are not repeated and there are no plural words (no "books" for example). The list below shows you which letters every word shares with the other 25 words. The five letter word that starts with A shares 1 letter in common with the five letter word that starts with B, two letters with the word that starts with C, and four with the D word. Your job is to find out what the words are.

. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A . 1 2 4 2 3 2 2 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 2 0

B 1 . 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 0 1 2 0 3 2 0 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 3

C 2 1 . 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 2 1

D 4 1 1 . 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

E 2 2 2 1 . 2 2 5 2 2 1 2 0 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 1 3 1

F 3 0 2 2 2 . 2 2 0 3 3 3 1 1 0 2 3 1 2 1 2 0 2 0 2 1

G 2 1 1 1 2 2 . 2 1 3 1 2 3 1 0 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 0 2 1

H 2 2 2 1 5 2 2 . 2 2 0 1 1 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 1 3 1

I 0 2 1 1 2 0 1 2 . 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 3 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 1

J 2 0 2 2 2 3 3 2 0 . 2 2 2 1 0 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 0 2 0

K 2 0 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 2 . 2 0 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 1 2

L 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 1 0 2 2 . 1 1 1 2 3 0 2 0 2 0 2 1 2 2

M 1 2 2 0 0 1 3 1 1 2 0 1 . 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0 2 2

N 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 2 0 1 1 1 1 3 4 0 2 0 1

O 1 3 2 1 3 0 0 3 2 0 0 1 1 2 . 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 2 2

P 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 3 0 2 1 2 2 0 2 . 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 4 2

Q 2 0 2 1 1 3.1 1 0 2 2 3 2 1 0 1 . 0 2 1 2 0 2 2 1 1

R 1 2 1 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 1 . 1 5 1 2 1 2 1 1

S 2 1 5 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 . 1 3 1 1 1 2 1

T 1 2 1 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 1 5 1 . 1 2 1 2 1 1

U 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 2 1 3 1 . 2 1 2 1 2

V 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 2 1 2 2 . 0 2 0 0

W 1 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 0 2 3 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 . 1 2 2

X 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 . 1 1

Y 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 3 0 2 1 2 2 0 2 4 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 1 . 2

Z 0 3 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 1 2 .

[/codebox]

Please, when submitting guesses for words, tell me why you think it is the five letter word you have chosen.

[spoiler=Here's a hint]Start with the higher numbers.[/spoiler]

Edited December 2, 2008 by bonanova
OP requests change in the code box numbers

[Jiminy Cricket]

I've put together a list of 26 common five letter words, one for each letter of the alphabet. The letters in each word are not repeated and there are no plural words (no "books" for example). The list below shows you which letters every word shares with the other 25 words. The five letter word that starts with A shares 1 letter in common with the five letter word that starts with B, two letters with the word that starts with C, and four with the D word. Your job is to find out what the words are.

. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A . 1 2 4 2 3 2 2 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 0

B 1 . 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 0 1 2 0 3 2 0 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 3

C 2 1 . 0 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 5 0 3 1 2 0 2 1

D 4 1 0 . 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

E 2 2 2 1 . 2 2 5 2 2 1 2 0 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 1 3 1

F 3 0 2 2 2 . 2 2 0 3 3 3 1 1 0 2 3 1 2 1 2 0 2 0 2 1

G 2 1 1 1 2 2 . 2 1 3 1 2 3 1 0 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 0 2 1

H 2 2 2 1 5 2 2 . 2 2 0 1 1 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 1 3 1

I 0 2 1 1 2 0 1 2 . 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 3 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 1

J 2 0 2 2 2 3 3 2 0 . 2 2 2 1 0 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 0 2 0

K 2 0 2 2 1 3 1 0 1 2 . 2 0 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 1 2

L 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 1 0 2 2 . 1 1 1 2 3 0 2 0 2 0 2 1 2 2

M 1 2 2 0 0 1 3 1 1 2 0 1 . 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0 2 2

N 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 2 0 1 1 1 1 3 4 0 2 0 1

O 1 3 2 1 3 0 0 3 2 0 0 1 1 2 . 2 0 2 2 1 2 2 0 1 2 2

P 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 3 0 2 1 2 2 0 2 . 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 4 2

Q 2 0 2 1 1 3.1 1 0 2 2 3 2 1 0 1 . 0 2 1 2 0 2 2 1 1

R 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 0 . 1 5 1 2 1 1 1 1

S 2 1 5 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 . 1 3 0 1 1 2 1

T 1 2 0 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 1 5 1 . 1 2 1 2 1 1

U 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 2 1 3 1 . 2 1 2 1 2

V 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 2 0 2 2 . 0 2 0 0 

W 1 0 2 1 2 2 2 2 0 2 3 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 . 1 2 2

X 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 . 1 1 

Y 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 3 0 2 1 2 2 0 2 4 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 1 . 2

Z 0 3 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 1 2 .

[/codebox]

Please, when submitting guesses for words, tell me why you think it is the five letter word you have chosen.

[spoiler=Here's a hint]Start with the higher numbers.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=early guess]E = earth

H = heart

[/spoiler]

[Jiminy Cricket]

T = tires

R = rites

Keeps in step with common letters for E - ERT

Edited November 29, 2008 by Jiminy Cricket

[Jiminy Cricket]

I should keep in mind there are no plurals for answers.

So much for Tires and Rites. But I was so close!

Edited November 29, 2008 by Jiminy Cricket

[Jiminy Cricket]

S = Scare

C = Cares, as in "nobody cares"

They have 3 letters in common with words for E and H

(E and H, by the way, both words have all five letters in common, like cares and scare.)

[Prof. Templeton]

E = earth

H = heart

These two are correct!

[Prof. Templeton]

S = Scare

C = Cares, as in "nobody cares"

They have 3 letters in common with words for E and H

(E and H, by the way, both words have all five letters in common, like cares and scare.)

I'll tell you this

None of the words ends in 'S'

[t8t8t8]

O- opera or other?

[t8t8t8]

Y- yacht?

[Jiminy Cricket]

I'll tell you this

None of the words ends in 'S'

Bummer...so not even in a different sense of the word...thanks for the clarification.

By the way, great puzzle! I'm giving it 5 stars!

[Prof. Templeton]

I'll tell you this

None of the words ends in 'S'

O- opera or other?

One of these guesses is correct. I would rather you gave some reasoning instead of random stabs.

[Jiminy Cricket]

Ok, another pair

C and S - Cause and Sauce!

Share all five letters and have two letters in common with E and H.

[Jiminy Cricket]

Another pair

R = Remit

T = Timer

3 letters in common with E/H

1 letter in common with C/S

I and M share letters with R/T

[Jiminy Cricket]

One of these guesses is correct. I would rather you gave some reasoning instead of random stabs.

The correct one is..

Opera.

It shares 3 letters with E/H, and 2 letters with C/S.

[Jiminy Cricket]

Yet another pair?

P = Patch

Y = Yatch

P and Y share 4 letters with each other, 3 with E/H, 2 with C/S, 1 with R/T

Edited December 1, 2008 by Jiminy Cricket

[bonanova]

Nice puzzle Professor.

It may be a typo in your number grid and it may [more likely] be that I don't understand how it works.

C and S intersect with a 5.

To me that means the C and S words are anagrams.

But shouldn't the C and S columns then be identical with the exception of where the blank diagonal crosses them?

For example, if the C word shares no letters with the D word, shouldn't the S word also share no letters with the D word?

But I see C-D = 0 and S-D = 1

Similarly for R and T with say C O Q and X. Or maybe this is part of the solution process.

Thanks.

[Guest]

is it xenon?

[Guest]

never mind bout the one above, jsut reread the riddle and letters are not repeated.

therefore

xylem

[Guest]

Yet another pair?

P = Patch

Y = Yatch

P and Y share 4 letters with each other, 3 with E/H, 2 with C/S, 1 with R/T

Sorry Cricket, but I think you mispelled one:

YACHT

[Guest]

Is NOVEL, one of them?

It has no B, P, W or Y.

It has 1 letter in common with CAUSE, EARTH, HEART, REMIT.

It has no letters in common with YACHT.

[Prof. Templeton]

Nice puzzle Professor.

It may be a typo in your number grid and it may [more likely] be that I don't understand how it works.

C and S intersect with a 5.

To me that means the C and S words are anagrams.

But shouldn't the C and S columns then be identical with the exception of where the blank diagonal crosses them?

For example, if the C word shares no letters with the D word, shouldn't the S word also share no letters with the D word?

But I see C-D = 0 and S-D = 1

Similarly for R and T with say C O Q and X. Or maybe this is part of the solution process.

Thanks.

I apologize. I thought I had done my due diligence, but there were some typos in the orinigal grid. I'll try to get the OP changed. In the mean time here is the correct version (I hope).

. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A . 1 2 4 2 3 2 2 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 0

B 1 . 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 0 1 2 0 3 2 0 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 3

C 2 1 . 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 2 1

D 4 1 1 . 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

E 2 2 2 1 . 2 2 5 2 2 1 2 0 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 1 3 1

F 3 0 2 2 2 . 2 2 0 3 3 3 1 1 0 2 3 1 2 1 2 0 2 0 2 1

G 2 1 1 1 2 2 . 2 1 3 1 2 3 1 0 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 0 2 1

H 2 2 2 1 5 2 2 . 2 2 0 1 1 1.3 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 1 3 1

I 0 2 1 1 2 0 1 2 . 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 3 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 1

J 2 0 2 2 2 3 3 2 0 . 2 2 2 1 0 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 0 2 0

K 2 0 2 2 1 3 1 0 1 2 . 2 0 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 1 2

L 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 1 0 2 2 . 1 1 1 2 3 0 2 0 2 0 2 1 2 2

M 1 2 2 0 0 1 3 1 1 2 0 1 . 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0 2 2

N 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 2 0 1 1 1 1 3 4 0 2 0 1

O 1 3 2 1 3 0 0 3 2 0 0 1 1 2 . 2 0 2 2 1 2 2 0 1 2 2

P 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 3 0 2 1 2 2 0 2 . 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 4 2

Q 2 0 2 1 1 3.1 1 0 2 2 3 2 1 0 1 . 0 2 1 2 0 2 2 1 1

R 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 1 . 1 5 1 2 1 2 1 1

S 2 1 5 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 . 1 3 1 1 1 2 1

T 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 1 5 1 . 1 2 1 2 1 1

U 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 2 1 3 1 . 2 1 2 1 2

V 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 2 1 2 2 . 0 2 0 0

W 1 0 2 1 2 2 2 2 0 2 3 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 . 1 2 2

X 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 . 1 1

Y 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 3 0 2 1 2 2 0 2 4 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 1 . 2

Z 0 3 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 1 2 .

[/codebox]

[Prof. Templeton]

Ok, another pair

C and S - Cause and Sauce!

Share all five letters and have two letters in common with E and H.

Right!

Another pair

R = Remit

T = Timer

3 letters in common with E/H

1 letter in common with C/S

I and M share letters with R/T

Correct!

The correct one is..

Opera.

It shares 3 letters with E/H, and 2 letters with C/S.

This one is not right

Yet another pair?

P = Patch

Y = Yatch

P and Y share 4 letters with each other, 3 with E/H, 2 with C/S, 1 with R/T

One's right. See reply to Skywalker below

Sorry Cricket, but I think you mispelled one:

YACHT

Correct

Is NOVEL, one of them?

It has no B, P, W or Y.

It has 1 letter in common with CAUSE, EARTH, HEART, REMIT.

It has no letters in common with YACHT.

Yes, now what could the V word be?

[Guest]

Yes, now what could the V word be?

VOWEL

I just found this puzzle. I think it is going to keep me occupied all day!

[Guest]

UNCLE

shares UCE with sauce/cause

shares only E with earth/hearth

shares NLE with novel and only LE with vowel

shares C with yacht/patch

[Prof. Templeton]

Sorry everyone. I forgot to change one when I was redoing it.

Updated version

. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A . 1 2 4 2 3 2 2 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 0

B 1 . 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 0 1 2 0 3 2 0 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 3

C 2 1 . 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 2 1

D 4 1 1 . 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0

E 2 2 2 1 . 2 2 5 2 2 1 2 0 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 1 3 1

F 3 0 2 2 2 . 2 2 0 3 3 3 1 1 0 2 3 1 2 1 2 0 2 0 2 1

G 2 1 1 1 2 2 . 2 1 3 1 2 3 1 0 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 0 2 1

H 2 2 2 1 5 2 2 . 2 2 0 1 1 1 3 3 1 3 2 3 1 1 2 1 3 1

I 0 2 1 1 2 0 1 2 . 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 3 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 1

J 2 0 2 2 2 3 3 2 0 . 2 2 2 1 0 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 0 2 0

K 2 0 2 2 1 3 1 0 1 2 . 2 0 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 3 1 1 2

L 2 1 2 1 2 3 2 1 0 2 2 . 1 1 1 2 3 0 2 0 2 0 2 1 2 2

M 1 2 2 0 0 1 3 1 1 2 0 1 . 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0 2 2

N 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 2 0 1 1 1 1 3 4 0 2 0 1

O 1 3 2 1 3 0 0 3 2 0 0 1 1 2 . 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 2 2

P 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 3 0 2 1 2 2 0 2 . 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 4 2

Q 2 0 2 1 1 3.1 1 0 2 2 3 2 1 0 1 . 0 2 1 2 0 2 2 1 1

R 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 1 . 1 5 1 2 1 2 1 1

S 2 1 5 1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 . 1 3 1 1 1 2 1

T 1 2 2 1 3 1 2 3 3 1 1 0 2 1 2 1 1 5 1 . 1 2 1 2 1 1

U 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 2 1 3 1 . 2 1 2 1 2

V 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 2 1 2 2 . 0 2 0 0

W 1 0 2 1 2 2 2 2 0 2 3 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 . 1 2 2

X 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 . 1 1

Y 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 3 0 2 1 2 2 0 2 4 1 1 2 1 1 0 2 1 . 2

Z 0 3 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 1 2 .

[/codebox]

[Prof. Templeton]

I just found this puzzle. I think it is going to keep me occupied all day!

VOWEL

Very close, can you think of another word that it might be?

Spiderman

UNCLE

shares UCE with sauce/cause

shares only E with earth/hearth

shares NLE with novel and only LE with vowel

shares C with yacht/patch

Correct!