Hand-in-homework.

Starting from:       R A W []
                     D E B T
                     H U M S
                     Y O G I

1.  Is this possible or impossible?         1 H A Y []
                                            5 M O W S
                                            9 D I E T
                                           13 G R U B

( 1,14, 6,11, 5, 9)( 2)( 3, 7,16,10,15,13)( 4)( 8,12)
        odd                 odd                 odd  

Pi is odd and blank is even.  Therefore arrangement is impossible.
                                                       ===========

2.  Is this possible or impossible?        1  H I M []
                                           5  D U T Y
                                           9  R O B E
                                          13  W A G S
( 1, 9)( 2,14,10, 6,12,16)( 3,13, 8, 7,11)( 4)( 5)(15)
 odd           odd                 even                 

Pi is even and blank is even.  Therefore arrangement is possible.
                                                        =========


3.  Is this possible or impossible?        1  M O W S
                                           5  H A Y []
                                           9  D I E T
                                          13  G R U B

( 1,14, 2, 6,11)( 3)( 4, 8,12)( 5, 9)( 7,16,10,15,13)
     even               even    odd          even 
Pi is odd and the blank is odd.  Therefore arrangement is possible.
                                                          ========

4.  R A T E            R A T E
    Y O U R            Y O U R
    M I N D  --------> M I N D
    P A L []           P L A []
                         ^ ^
    Explain how this could occur.

    The permutation cannon be a simple transposition since then
    one would have an odd permutation and an even blank.  So
    The permutation must actually interchange something else.
    Either the two R's or the two A's.


5.  What is the secret to the Rate Your Mind Pal puzzle?

Show then the puzzle RATE/YOUR/MIND/PAL and then mix it

up being careful to switch either the R's, or the A's, but

not both.  Leave the top row RATE.  The solver will never

mess with the first row because that is already correct

and the best he can hope to do is RATE/YOUR/MIND/PLA.