I have the start of an idea that the puzzle can be looked at as linear system simlutaneous equations where the hint words are each an equation and the length of the word is another.

For the 'house' example, we'd get the system:

   e k ops = 3
a  e  m  s = 2
  de  mo s = 3
a  ehk   s = 3
  de k   su= 3
 b    m psu= 2
abdehkmopsu <= 5

Where each of the variables (a,b,d,e,...,u) can be 0 or 1. IF there is/are solution(s) to this system, we're done. The word(s) must contain only those letters--a very simple anagram search.

If there isn't an exact solution, the system can be reduced, reducing the rules set for the dictionary search.

Update: Given the OP's additional rule:

There will be no letters in the mystery word that are not covered by the hint words. Added 2005-01-12 16:10:00 EST

I'm more convinced this approach is sound, but I won't get to coding anything until the weekend.

--Solo

--
You said you wanted to be around when I made a mistake; well, this could be it, sweetheart.

In reply to Re: Challenge: Mystery Word Puzzle by Solo
in thread Challenge: Mystery Word Puzzle by Limbic~Region

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