OT: Word search - 12 months

QuikSand · 03-06-2003, 11:11 AM

Okay, a few days ago I was fiddling around with the whole "build-your-own-word-search" idea. We already did the nice little puzzle trying to put in the word names of various numbers into a given-sized box. That went pretty well.

I couldn't get too far with this one, but maybe you can. My idea was: take the names of the twelve months, and fit them into the smallest word search possible, measured by rectangular area.

I pretty quickly got them all to fit into an 8x9 grid, with a total area of 72. Getting that far took just a little bit of cleverness, but it was fairly simple - and wouldn't pose much trouble for the minds here, I don't expect.

But, can you do better?

As an aside, I hadn't really thought much about a "rectangular" word search that was only 1 or 2 rows by 30 or 60 or something columns. I suppose that's technically still a rectangle, but it's not entirely within the spirit of the puzzle. So, I'll set an arbitrary rule - the two dimensions of the rectangular shape each have to be at least 4.

Anyway... have at it. Again, I think an 8x9 grid is pretty easy... but if anyone can squeeze it into a 7x9, I'll be impressed. And perhaps there's some other dimension that gets the job done... 7x10, 5x14, who knows?

SplitPersonality1 · 03-06-2003, 01:28 PM

This one is much tougher than the puzzle from yesterday. I am currently working on 7x10 and I'm almost there.

How close are you?

Maple Leafs · 03-06-2003, 01:49 PM

Much tougher. I tried for 7x9, but didn't come close. Here's a 7x10:

Code:

# M A Y J # #
D A U G U S T
E R R O L E F
C C E C Y P E
E H B T # T B
M J M O L E R
B U E B I M U
E N V E R B A
R E O R P E R
J A N U A R Y

SplitPersonality1 · 03-06-2003, 01:50 PM

FINALLY! - Here's a 7x10

Code:

Y	*	R	E	B	M	E	V	O	N
L	*	N	Y	A	M	A	R	C	H
U	U	*	A	U	G	U	S	T	A
J	A	N	U	A	R	Y	*	O	P
F	E	B	R	U	A	R	Y	B	R
R	E	B	M	E	C	E	D	E	I
S	E	P	T	E	M	B	E	R	L

EDIT - nice one Maple Leafs. You got me by one minute.

Brillig · 03-06-2003, 06:47 PM

4 X 17, which is marginally better than 7 x 10:

Code:


F	E	B	R	U	A	R	Y	L	U	J	A	N	U	A	R	Y
	 	L	I	R	P	A	U	G	U	S	T	H	C	R	A	M
D	E	C	E	M	B	E	R	N	R	E	B	O	T	C	O	A
S	E	P	T	E	M	B	E	R	E	B	M	E	V	O	N	Y

03-06-2003, 01:49 PM	#3
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	Much tougher. I tried for 7x9, but didn't come close. Here's a 7x10: Code: # M A Y J # # D A U G U S T E R R O L E F C C E C Y P E E H B T # T B M J M O L E R B U E B I M U E N V E R B A R E O R P E R J A N U A R Y

03-06-2003, 01:50 PM	#4
SplitPersonality1 College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Grafton, WI	FINALLY! - Here's a 7x10 Code: Y * R E B M E V O N L * N Y A M A R C H U U * A U G U S T A J A N U A R Y * O P F E B R U A R Y B R R E B M E C E D E I S E P T E M B E R L EDIT - nice one Maple Leafs. You got me by one minute. Last edited by SplitPersonality1 : 03-06-2003 at 02:06 PM.

03-06-2003, 06:47 PM	#5
Brillig College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Mountain View, California	4 X 17, which is marginally better than 7 x 10: Code: F E B R U A R Y L U J A N U A R Y L I R P A U G U S T H C R A M D E C E M B E R N R E B O T C O A S E P T E M B E R E B M E V O N Y

03-06-2003, 01:28 PM	#2
SplitPersonality1 College Benchwarmer Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Grafton, WI	This one is much tougher than the puzzle from yesterday. I am currently working on 7x10 and I'm almost there. How close are you?

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