December 17, 2001
Problem of the Week

The Christmas Tree / Hanukkah Bush Problem

The Christmas Tree / Hanukkah Bush Problem

Place each of the numbers from 1 to 10 on the ornaments below so that every line adds up to the same number. There are five lines (there are three lines contining four ornaments, one line with three ornaments, and one line with just two ornaments).

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Here is the tree without the trimmings:

Merry Christmas! / Happy Hanukkah!

Solution to the Problem:

The sum of the ornaments along each line is 18.

Other configurations:

			1										1
		10		8								10		8
	5		7		6						5		7		6
2		4		9		3				2		9		4		3

Correctly solved by:

1. Richard K. Johnson	La Jolla, California
2. Marshal Diehr	Winchester, Virginia
3. John Beasley	Winchester, Virginia
4. Rick Jones	Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
5. Joe Heintz	Manchester, Tennessee
6. Amanda Robertson	Winchester, Virginia
7. Tony Wu	Preston Junior High, Fort Collins, Colorado
8. Matt McMurtry	Arlington, Virginia

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher