(related to Problem: A Tennis Tournament)
Call the men $A, B, D, E,$ and their wives $a, b, d, e.$ Then they may play as follows without any person ever playing twice with or against any other person:—
Day | First Court | Second Court |
---|---|---|
1st Day | $A d$ against $B e$ | $D a$ against $E b$ |
2nd Day | $A e$ against $D b$ | $E a$ against $B d$ |
3rd Day | $A b$ against $E d$ | $B a$ against $D e$ |
It will be seen that no man ever plays with or against his own wife — an ideal arrangement. If the reader wants a hard puzzle, let him try to arrange eight married couples (in four courts on seven days) under exactly similar conditions. It can be done, but I leave the reader, in this case, the pleasure of seeking the answer and the general solution.
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