← Curifold Puzzle School · 7 minutes ·
Inez and Jules each have one different folder: gold or silver. No clue tells you which person has which. This is deliberately incomplete. Your goal is to diagnose the missing information, not to guess.
- Candidate A: test the rules
- Candidate B: test the same rules
- Two survivors: no unique answer
The idea
An answer can fit all clues without being the only answer that fits. Try to construct another complete assignment obeying every rule. A valid counterexample shows that the conclusion is not forced. Do not fill the gap with name order, imagined preferences, or a belief about which answer looks too easy. A careful “not determined” is a successful result when you explain the alternatives.
Try it yourself
The clues
- Each person has one folder.
- The folders differ: one gold and one silver.
- There is no other clue.
| Candidate | Inez | Jules |
|---|---|---|
| A | Gold | Silver |
| B | Silver | Gold |
Hint 1
Complete the assignment with Inez taking gold.
Hint 2
Reverse the colours and look for a broken rule.
What follows about Inez’s folder?
The order of names has no stated significance; candidate B still fits.
Both complete assignments satisfy all rules, so neither colour is forced.
A guess about the puzzle setter’s intentions is not evidence; candidate A still fits.
Read all responses and explanations
Gold, because Inez is named first.
The order of names has no stated significance; candidate B still fits.
Either colour remains possible.
Both complete assignments satisfy all rules, so neither colour is forced.
Silver, because gold is too obvious.
A guess about the puzzle setter’s intentions is not evidence; candidate A still fits.
Which extra clue would make it unique?
This repeats an existing rule and removes neither candidate.
Jules must then have silver, leaving gold for Inez: only candidate A survives.
Arrival time does not connect either person to a folder colour.
Read all responses and explanations
Someone has gold.
This repeats an existing rule and removes neither candidate.
Jules does not have gold.
Jules must then have silver, leaving gold for Inez: only candidate A survives.
They arrived together.
Arrival time does not connect either person to a folder colour.
Reveal the complete solution
Two assignments survive. Adding “Jules does not have gold” removes candidate B and leaves Inez gold/Jules silver.
Make it your own
Write a new clue that selects candidate B. Then write a sentence that sounds informative but eliminates neither candidate. Explain the difference by counting surviving assignments.
Your takeaway
- List all surviving assignments
- State the proposed conclusion
- Find a counterexample
- Add a distinguishing clue
- Check whether a clue merely repeats a rule
No account required. Completion is saved only on this device. Answers and notes disappear when you leave or reload this page. The printable sheet is blank for your own notes.
Original fictional educational practice, separate from the puzzles sold in the books. Use the stated rules; there is no speed target or score.
Read the related journal guide · Continue exploring the lessons
Original educational content by Andrew Stinson Books, developed with AI assistance. Our editorial approach.