[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

[Guest]

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]

which one did you change? Or are you going to make me look for it? I'm going cross-eyed looking at this grid anyway...

[Prof. Templeton]

which one did you change? Or are you going to make me look for it? I'm going cross-eyed looking at this grid anyway...

It was O in relation to T. It was correct going down but not across.

[Guest]

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

Spiderman

of course it isn't VOWEL, since V doesn't share any letters with W...

...or N...

It was O in relation to T. It was correct going down but not across.

thanks!

Edited December 1, 2008 by Cherry Lane

[Jiminy Cricket]

Opera.

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

This one is not right

I made a typo myself. Yacht is spelled this way

Pardon me?

A previous post suggested Other and Opera for O.

You said one of them is correct.

Opera shares AER with E/H and AE with C/S

Other shares EHRT with E/H and only E with C/S

Given the two, I have to argue for Opera...

[Jiminy Cricket]

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

Spiderman

Correct!

Hmmm...

Could V possibly be VENOM?

Thanks for the clue, Prof.

[Prof. Templeton]

Hmmm...

Could V possibly be VENOM?

Thanks for the clue, Prof.

Correct!

What we have so far

A=

B=

C=CAUSE

D=

E=EARTH

F=

G=

H=HEART

I=

J=

K=

L=

M=

N=NOVEL

0=

P=PATCH

Q=

R=REMIT

S=SAUSE

T=TIMER

U=

V=VENOM

W=

X=XYLEM

Y=YACHT

Z=

Edited December 1, 2008 by Prof. Templeton

[bonanova]

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]

Check out the S and C columns which differ for K R T W and X

And the R and T columns which differ for Q.


I've printed the grid and will work on it offline over the next few days.

Great idea.....


I can edit the OP if you like.


- bn

[Guest]

this took me some time, since i thought it was slang

zilch

shares 2 with YACHT, PATCH, and none with VENOM.

also I have a question. I know that plurals are not allowed, but what about dervied words. Or is ti only roots? for example, is zanier allowed (I know it is 6 letters, but z is on my mind).

[Guest]

jaunt?

[Guest]

WALTZ

Common letters/Word:

2/YACHT

2/ZILCH

1/XYLEM

2/HEART

1/CAUSE

[Guest]

ABOUT

works with cause/sauce (AU), earth/heart (AT), novel (O), patch (AT), remit/timer (T), uncle (U), venom (O), yacht (AT)

While typing my justification, I see it doesn't work with XYLEM. Oh well, I'll post this anyway, to save others the trouble.

[Guest]

Prof. I think there is another problem with the table...

Letter K has no common letters with HEART, but 1 letter in EARTH. How can it be?

[Guest]

birch

3/ZILCH, 0/NOVEL, VENOM, XYLEM

[Guest]

Prof. I think there is another problem with the table...

Letter K has no common letters with HEART, but 1 letter in EARTH. How can it be?

Same with M

[Guest]

Same with M

Also the R-Q /Q-R is off

[Guest]

DOUBT appears to fit the requirements

and since D shares 4 letters with A, I still want to use ABOUT (so are you sure A/X is 1?)

[Guest]

irked

since YACHT has 0, then EARTH must be E and R. then by elimination it is one of D, G, K. it was the only word could think of, thou it is derived.

[Guest]

OCHRE

[Jiminy Cricket]

OCHRE

The thought never ochred to me before now.

[Prof. Templeton]

I'm embarassed by the mistakes in my original. When I made some changes to the words, I forgot to change some of the numbers.

this took me some time, since i thought it was slang

zilch

shares 2 with YACHT, PATCH, and none with VENOM.

also I have a question. I know that plurals are not allowed, but what about dervied words. Or is ti only roots? for example, is zanier allowed (I know it is 6 letters, but z is on my mind).

Correct!

jaunt?

Correct!

WALTZ

Common letters/Word:

2/YACHT

2/ZILCH

1/XYLEM

2/HEART

1/CAUSE

Correct!

While typing my justification, I see it doesn't work with XYLEM. Oh well, I'll post this anyway, to save others the trouble.

ABOUT

works with cause/sauce (AU), earth/heart (AT), novel (O), patch (AT), remit/timer (T), uncle (U), venom (O), yacht (AT)

Yes, sorry about the X.

Prof. I think there is another problem with the table...

Letter K has no common letters with HEART, but 1 letter in EARTH. How can it be?

You're right, I'm fixing it.

birch

3/ZILCH, 0/NOVEL, VENOM, XYLEM

Correct!

Same with M

K shares no letters with M, if that's what you mean.

DOUBT appears to fit the requirements

and since D shares 4 letters with A, I still want to use ABOUT (so are you sure A/X is 1?)

Correct

irked

since YACHT has 0, then EARTH must be E and R. then by elimination it is one of D, G, K. it was the only word could think of, thou it is derived.

Correct

OCHRE

Correct!

A=ABOUT

B=BIRCH

C=CAUSE

D=DOUBT

E=EARTH

F=

G=

H=HEART

I=IRKED

J=JAUNT

K=

L=

M=

N=NOVEL

0=OCHRE

P=PATCH

Q=

R=REMIT

S=SAUSE

T=TIMER

U=UNCLE

V=VENOM

W=WALTZ

X=XYLEM

Y=YACHT

Z=ZILCH

[Guest]

thanks, Prof. T.

Prof. I think there is another problem with the table...

Letter K has no common letters with HEART, but 1 letter in EARTH. How can it be?

I know the answer to the K-E/H question now

1

becasue K is KLUTZ

Edited December 1, 2008 by Cherry Lane

[Guest]

I think there are some more corrections to be made:

F/W should be 3

and F/X should be 1

if these are true, then

FAULT

GIANT

Edited December 1, 2008 by Cherry Lane

[Prof. Templeton]

thanks, Prof. T.

I know the answer to the K-E/H question now

1

becasue K is KLUTZ

Correct!

I think there are some more corrections to be made:

F/W should be 3

and F/X should be 1

if these are true, then

FAULT

Giant

Correct on both!

[Guest]

LAUGH

QUALM

which just leaves M, but there are some problems with that line

M has nothing in common with XYLEM!

M shares 1 with ABOUT and 0 with DOUBT, so there must be an A, but M shares nothing with EARTH, so there is no A....

Edited December 1, 2008 by Cherry Lane

[andromeda]

I was thinking for Q

Quail

Brilliant riddle!

edit: I made a mistake cause I didn't check B! <_<

Edited December 1, 2008 by andromeda