Re: Pairing Riddle (OT)

Given the down votes it attracted, it might have been better to motivate it with breeding dogs to avoid touching on taboos.° =)

But I enjoyed it from a mathematical perspective, since it's a a problem which can be perfectly described in graph theoretic terms: a directed graph with a "child of" relation with certain restrictions:

Here the solution in short, but hidden behind a spoiler tag to protect those interested.

Cheers Rolf
_{(addicted to the Perl Programming Language :)

see Wikisyntax for the Monastery}

°) apparently do most so called "purebred" dogs have an inbreeding factor of 25%. That's like the outcome of incest. One more reason why I'd always opt for a mongrel.

ą) in some western countries this is technically legal, because the laws don't cover that case.

Comment on Re: Pairing Riddle (OT)

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Re^2: Pairing Riddle (OT) by Ratazong (Monsignor) on Apr 27, 2026 at 07:49 UTC
Hi LanX, there is another possibility not mentioned in your spoiler: <Reveal this spoiler or all in this thread> seems to be much easier than originally thought ... but does not involve any graph-theory ... So long, Rata	[reply]
Re^3: Pairing Riddle (OT) by LanX (Saint) on Apr 27, 2026 at 10:08 UTC
Thanks, Rata. But I think you missed the requirement in the OP that uncle/aunt by marriage doesn't count. > > > "Direct" means blood related, i.e sibling of one parent, not "uncle by marriage". In hindsight it becomes clearer why breeding dogs would be a better setting for this puzzle. Dogs don't know marriage, divorce and soap operas° ... ;) And many breeders rely on incest, restricting them to uncle/aunt relationships would be a "moral" advantage. Update The trivial solution (of many) if "by marriage" was allowed ... <Reveal this spoiler or all spoilers in this node or all in this thread> Cheers Rolf _{(addicted to the Perl Programming Language :) see Wikisyntax for the Monastery} °) <Reveal this spoiler>	[reply]

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