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If you're new to grid-based logic puzzles, this tutorial will teach you the basics. Start with the "Introduction" first, then move on to the tutorials discussing specific clues or solving methods. Each tutorial contains a number of different slides - you can advance to the next slide by clicking "Next slide" at the bottom of each page, or by using the circled numerical links below each slide. Choose your specific tutorial from the list below to get started.
Slide #1
When you have multiple greater/lesser than clues in the same puzzle, you can sometimes find "comparative relationships" between two or more clues that can reveal new true or false squares.
In this example, compare clues #3 and #8. A new false relationship, not yet shown on the grid, can be uncovered by comparing these two clues. Can you find it?
Slide #2
Notice how both clues refer to "Sagittarius." Clue #3 says blue is less than Sagittarius, and clue #8 says Bonita is more than Sagittarius. If blue and Bonita are both on opposite sides of Sagittarius in relation to price (one is less expensive, the other is more expensive), then blue cannot equal Bonita.
Always be on the lookout for 2 or more greater/lesser than clues that place two different items on opposite sides of the same item. Those two items will always have a false relationship with each other.
Slide #3
Here's a different type of comparative relationship. Using just clues #2 and #7 we can mark another false relationship on the grid which isn't currently showing.
Can you find it?
Hint: Just as with the previous example, look for the same item being referenced in two different greater/lesser than clues.
Slide #4
In this example, the "red tattoo" is referenced in both clues. Clue #2 says the red tattoo is $10 more than Wilma's tattoo. Clue #7 says that the red tattoo is $5 more than the Gemini tattoo.
If Wilma's tattoo is $10 less than the red one, and the Gemini tattoo is $5 less than the red one, then Wilma's tattoo can't be equal to the Gemini tattoo. They are both different "distances" away from the same item ("red tattoo") in relation to price - therefore they are different entities.
Slide #5
Here's yet another type of comparative relationship. Compare clues #1 and #2 and see if you can find a new true relationship somewhere on the grid.
Slide #6
Again, notice how "Wilma" is referenced in both clues. Only this time, the "distance" between Kendra and Wilma and pink and Wilma are exactly the same. Kendra is $15 less than Wilma, and pink is $15 less than Wilma.
If Kendra and pink are both the exact same "distance" from Wilma in terms of price, then Kendra must be equal to pink. You can mark that relationship as true.
Slide #7
There is one last type of comparative relationship, and its a bit harder to spot than the others we've covered so far. See if you can find it by comparing clues #4 and #6 above.
Slide #8
Unlike the previous examples, no items are repeated across these clues - but they reveal a new false relationship all the same. Bonita and Kendra are both in the same category (names), and they are both the same distance away from blue and Aquarius ($10 greater than each). Therefore, Aquarius cannot equal blue.
Why? Think of it this way, if Aquarius == blue, then Bonita would be $10 more than Aquarius/blue and Kendra would be $10 more than Aquarius/blue. That would make Bonita equal to Kendra, which can't ever be the case (they are different items in the same category). Therefore Aquarius cannot equal blue.
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