Answer to the Problem of the Week

for the week of March 13, 2000

The Face Card Problem
    Place two Aces, 2 Kings, 2 Queens, and 2 Jacks in the spaces below so that:

  • Every Ace borders a King.
  • Every King borders a Queen.
  • Every Queen borders a Jack.
  • No two of the same cards border each other.
  • No Ace borders a Queen.

    • Border means horizontal or vertical. 

 
          +----+
          |    |
          |    |
+----+----+----+
|    |    |    |
|    |    |    |
+----+----+----+----+
     |    |    |    |
     |    |    |    |
     +----+----+----+
          |    |
          |    |
          +----+


Solution:

 
          +----+
          | K  |
          |    |
+----+----+----+
| Q  | J  | Q  |
|    |    |    |
+----+----+----+----+
     | A  | K  | J  |
     |    |    |    |
     +----+----+----+
          | A  |
          |    |
          +----+

Correctly solved by:

1. Richard Mocarski Winchester, VA
2. Tom Marino Winchester, VA
3. Jia Ran Rome, Italy
4. Eric Harding McLean, VA
5. Liz Cotter Oak Hill, VA
6. Sam Stiebel Winchester, VA