December 2016
Problem of the Month

Christmas Tree Puzzle

Can you take the six ornaments that have fallen off the trees and place them in the circles so that the total of each side is equal to the number in the base of the tree?



Click here for a Printer version of the puzzle

Solution to the Problem:

James Alarie sent in the following:

I found six solutions for each 
tree and listed them in order 
A through F for this pattern:

    A
   B C
  D E F

Tree 10:
 A B C D E F
 1 4 6 5 2 3
 1 6 4 3 2 5
 3 2 6 5 4 1
 3 6 2 1 4 5
 5 2 4 3 6 1
 5 4 2 1 6 3

Tree 13:
 2 5 7 6 3 4
 2 7 5 4 3 6
 4 3 7 6 5 2
 4 7 3 2 5 6
 6 3 5 4 7 2
 6 5 3 2 7 4

Tree 16:
 3 6 8 7 4 5
 3 8 6 5 4 7
 5 4 8 7 6 3
 5 8 4 3 6 7
 7 4 6 5 8 3
 7 6 4 3 8 5

Tree 21:
 7 5 6 9 4 8
 7 6 5 8 4 9
 8 4 6 9 5 7
 8 6 4 7 5 9
 9 4 5 8 6 7
 9 5 4 7 6 8

Correctly solved by:

1. Kimberly Howe	Vienna, Virginia
2. James Alarie	Flint, Michigan
3. Eliza Sheffield	Tuscaloosa, Alabama
4. Harlan Benedict	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
5. Madison Bindl	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
6. Ben Todd	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
7. Behlee Aimone	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
8. Hope Pfeifer	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
9. Trevon Peterson	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
10. Baylee Tims	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
11. Raegan Martin	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
12. Cailee Hamilton	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
13. Slade Mair	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
14. Jason Stoddard	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
15. Jonathan Andersen	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
16. Sreeroopa Sankararaman	Singapore, Singapore
17. Makell Kaiser	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
18. Brianna Tims	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
19. Valerie Walker	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
20. Nate Moretti	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
21. Wyatt Walk	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming
22. Aubrey Jorgensen	Mountain View High School, Mountain View, Wyoming

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher