Rural Exceptional Student Talent Opportunities, Resources, & Experiences

MATH PUZZLERS

(grades 5-8)

Challenging Logic Games for Advanced Thinkers

If you have a student or a group of students who always seem to be done with their math early or have pre-tested out of the current content – then math puzzles are for you! These problems will challenge even this best math whiz with creative and critical thinking all while using the clues to decipher math problems!

Let's Practice

Try the following sample puzzle.

For each clue, cross out items that do not belong or are not possibilities. In the provided solutions, when something is in brackets, it means that whatever the brackets enclose was learned in an earlier clue. For example, [3] means that something relevant was learned in Clue 3. If something is in parentheses—or is followed by “(only one)”—it means that this is the only choice remaining in a column or row, and you should circle it. For example, “Miss Fay matches up with Wednesday (only one)” means that Wednesday is the only item not crossed out in either the row or column for Miss Fay, and you should circle it.

Three siblings are all both musically and physically talented. Each sibling has a private music lesson and a private sports lesson on a different day and time each week. Read the clues to discover the time that each sibling has his or her music lesson and sports lesson.

Strategies for Success

• Always read introductory paragraphs. This paragraph describes the situation, and it may contain essential information that is not available in a clue. For example, the introductory paragraph might say, “Three students (a girl named Avery, a girl named Chris, and a boy named Pat) live in Napa.” Then, a clue might tell you that a girl lives on Ash Street. After reading the introductory paragraph, you know that because Pat is a boy, he cannot live on Ash Street.

• Be alert for clues about gender. Avery, Chris, and Pat are not gender-specific names. Recall introductory information when marking for a clue, such as “The girls do not like grapes.” From the introduction, you know that Pat is a boy, so he likes grapes. Notice details such as gender pronouns in clues. For example, “His wallet contained $6.45.” This means that a boy has $6.45, so no girl has $6.45.

• Read, organize, and consider information from every clue. Each clue is essential for solving the puzzle. “Henry does not own a dog” may seem pointless. However, a later clue may tell you, “The one who owns the dog made $8 babysitting.” Because Henry does not own a dog, he is not the one who made $8 babysitting.

There is sufficient information in the clues to solve every puzzle, but sometimes the logic is complex. Do not guess or assume. All of your conclusions should be backed up by proof from the clues and introductions.

Some of the Math Puzzles require you to perform mathematical calculations or fill in numbers. If you like, you should check the Solutions section at the end to make sure you have the correct numbers before you go on to solve the puzzle.

Some puzzles can be solved from reading through all of the clues and doing the corresponding math operations just once. However, some of the Math Puzzles require you to go back and read through the clues again so that you can apply information from the later clues to the earlier clues. If necessary, reread clues and use further reasoning.

• Use syllogistic thinking when you are marking items. Syllogisms have two premises and a conclusion. For example, one clue might say, “Susan drank half a cup of water.” Another clue might say, “The one who drank half a cup of water ate ¼ of an apple.” From these two premises, you can conclude that Susan ate ¼ of an apple.

• Use sequential thinking to mark items with clues involving the order in which something happened. For instance, “Mary arrived after Jennifer, but before Connie.” Write the different parts of the clue down in order: Jennifer, then Mary, and then Connie. A clue like “Roy is 2 years older than Fred, who is 3 years older than Susan” gives specific age differences. Write them in order. Then, once you know one age, you can get the others.

Notice items mentioned in multiple clues. Connect these pieces of information to draw conclusions.

A clue like “Neither Rob nor the nurse is 5 ft 9 in. tall” gives you information about three different people: Rob isn’t the nurse, the nurse isn’t 5 ft 9 in., and Rob isn’t 5 ft 9 in.

In a clue like “There are four people: one who spent $3, the girl with blue eyes, the one who bought a soda, and Tania,” you know that you are talking about four different people and that none of these pieces of information overlap with others. The person who spent $3 is different than the girl with blue eyes, who is different than the one who bought a soda, who is not Tania (and Tania did not spend $3, does not have blue eyes, and so forth).

How to Solve These Problems!

• Read the introductory paragraph. It outlines the situation and contains necessary information.

• Read each clue and use the information to make corresponding changes to the chart. Each column represents a specific person or part of the situation in the problem. When a clue mentions a certain person or thing shown in a column, circle the appropriate item(s) listed in that column. For example, if a clue says that Ben is 11 years old, then under “Ben,” you should circle “11 years.” Items in the same section that are above, below, or next to the circled item must be crossed out, because they are no longer possibilities (e.g., Ben cannot also be 10 years old or 12 years old). It is very important that you always remember to do this!

Also use the clues to cross out items in a column that do not belong or are not possibilities. For example, if a clue tells you that Alicia is not 12 years old, then under “Alicia,” cross out “12 years.”

• When there is only one item remaining in a certain column or row, then circle it. There will not be any more clues about it. Once you have only one item circled in each row of each section, and only one in each column within a section, then you have solved the puzzle. Check the solutions listed in the back of the book to make sure that you solved the puzzle correctly. If you have trouble solving a puzzle, or if you get incorrect answers, then read the description in the back of the book about how the puzzle could be solved. (It is possible, however, to solve the puzzle using slightly different reasoning.)

Puzzle 1: Science Fair Success

Five friends entered a school science fair. Each created a project in a different category, scored different points, and finished in a different rank. Use the clues to determine which friend had which project, their score, and their placement.

Friends: Alex, Brooke, Carlos, Diana, Ethan
Categories: Chemistry, Physics, Robotics, Botany, Astronomy
Scores: 78, 82, 86, 90, 94

Clues:

The robotics project scored 4 points more than Alex’s project.
Ethan scored 86 points, but he didn’t do astronomy.
Brooke scored 8 points fewer than the botany project.
The physics project scored the highest.
Diana did not do botany or chemistry.
The astronomy project scored 90 points.
Carlos scored lower than Brooke.

Puzzle 2: School Track Meet

Four students ran in a track meet, each in a different event. Determine their event, time, and ribbon color.

Students: Lila, Max, Noah, Priya
Events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m
Times (seconds): 12, 26, 54, 118
Ribbons: Blue, Red, Green, Yellow

Clues:

Lila ran twice as long as the 100m runner.
Max did not win the blue ribbon.
The 200m runner’s time was half of the 400m runner’s.
Noah ran the shortest distance but not in 12 seconds.
Priya’s ribbon was yellow.
The 800m runner got the green ribbon.
The 400m runner was 28 seconds faster than Lila.

Puzzle 3: Birthday Cupcake Challenge

Four friends baked cupcakes for a bake sale. Each used a different flavor, sold a different number, and earned a different amount of money.

Friends: Ava, Ben, Chloe, Daniel
Flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Lemon, Strawberry
Cupcakes Sold: 12, 18, 24, 30
Earnings ($): 24, 36, 48, 60

Clues:

The chocolate cupcakes sold 6 more than Ava’s cupcakes.
Chloe earned exactly twice as much as Daniel.
The vanilla cupcakes sold the fewest.
Ben’s cupcakes were not strawberry.
The lemon cupcakes earned $36.
The 30 cupcakes earned $60.
Daniel’s cupcakes sold fewer than Ben’s.

Puzzle 4: Music Festival Seats

Five students attended a music festival. They sat in a row of 5 seats (numbered 1–5), each wore a different shirt color, and each watched a different band.

Students: Henry, Iris, Jack, Kira, Liam
Shirt Colors: Blue, Red, Green, Black, White
Bands: Rockers, Jazzers, Poppers, Rappers, Strummers

Clues:

The student in seat 3 wore green.
Jack sat immediately to the left of Kira.
Henry watched the Jazzers, but he didn’t sit on an end.
The student in seat 1 wore blue and watched the Rappers.
Iris was not in seat 2 and didn’t wear red.
Liam wore black and sat next to the white shirt.
The Strummers were watched by the student in seat 5.

Puzzle 5: Math Contest Scores

Five students took part in a regional math contest. Each scored a different number of points, ranked differently, and used a different strategy.

Students: Nora, Oliver, Paige, Quentin, Ruby
Scores: 88, 92, 95, 97, 100
Ranks: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Strategies: Calculator, Mental Math, Graphing, Paper Notes, Abacus

Clues:

The mental math student scored 97 points.
Quentin scored fewer than Ruby but higher than Paige.
Nora scored either 88 or 100 points.
The abacus user finished 2 places ahead of Oliver.
Ruby did not use a calculator or graphing.
The student with 100 points finished first.
Paige did not finish last.

Puzzle 6: Pet Parade Winners

Four students brought different animals to the Pet Parade. Each animal wore a different costume and won a different prize.

Students: Emma, Finn, Grace, Hugo
Animals: Dog, Cat, Rabbit, Parrot
Costumes: Superhero, Pirate, Clown, Knight
Prizes: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Honorable Mention

Clues:

The rabbit did not win bronze or wear a clown costume.
Grace's pet wore the knight costume.
Hugo’s pet did not win a prize.
Emma did not bring a bird or dress it as a superhero.
The cat won silver, but it wasn’t Finn’s.
The dog wore the clown costume.
The parrot’s owner was not Grace or Hugo.

Puzzle 7: Book Club Bonanza

Five book club members each read a different genre book and gave it a different star rating on a scale from 1 to 5.

Members: Alice, Brian, Clara, Diego, Ellie
Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Biography, Romance
Stars: ★, ★★, ★★★, ★★★★, ★★★★★

Clues:

The mystery book got one fewer star than Diego’s book.
Clara didn’t read fantasy or sci-fi.
Ellie rated her book ★★★.
Brian’s book was not fantasy or romance.
The biography was rated higher than the sci-fi book.
Alice’s book got the lowest rating.
The romance book was rated ★★★★.

Puzzle 8: Art Show Display

Four artists displayed their work at a gallery. Each piece used a different medium and had a unique theme and price.

Artists: Julia, Kyle, Leah, Marcus
Mediums: Oil Paint, Watercolor, Clay, Digital
Themes: Nature, Abstract, Portrait, City
Prices ($): 100, 150, 200, 250

Clues:

Leah’s piece was not abstract or digital.
Kyle’s piece cost $150.
The watercolor piece had a city theme.
The oil painting cost $250.
Julia created a portrait.
The clay piece was not the cheapest.
Marcus didn’t use digital or paint nature.

Puzzle 9: School Lunch Mix-Up

Four students each brought a different lunch and drink. Each sat at a different table.

Students: Sam, Tara, Uma, Victor
Lunches: Sandwich, Salad, Burrito, Pasta
Drinks: Juice, Water, Milk, Soda
Tables: A, B, C, D

Clues:

Sam sat at table C and drank juice.
Tara had a sandwich but didn’t sit at table A.
The student with water sat at the same table as the salad eater the day before.
Uma drank milk and sat at a table alphabetically before Victor.
The burrito eater did not drink soda.
The student at table A had pasta.
Victor drank soda but didn’t eat salad.

Puzzle 10: Computer Coding Club

Five students worked on different types of coding projects using different programming languages. Each took a different number of weeks to complete.

Students: Alan, Bella, Connor, Daisy, Ethan
Projects: Game, Website, App, Robot, Animation
Languages: Python, Java, Scratch, HTML, C++
Weeks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Clues:

Daisy’s project took longer than the robot project.
The game was written in Java and took 4 weeks.
Connor did not use Scratch or Python.
The animation took 2 weeks.
Bella used HTML but didn’t make an app.
Alan’s project took 1 week more than Ethan’s.
The website took longer than the app.

Puzzle 11: Science Fair Stars

Four students entered different projects in the school science fair. Each project used a different material and received a unique ribbon.

Students: Nadia, Owen, Priya, Ryan
Projects: Volcano, Solar Oven, Battery, Tornado in a Bottle
Materials: Vinegar, Aluminum, Wires, Soda
Ribbons: Blue, Red, Yellow, White

Clues:

The vinegar project didn’t win white or yellow.
Owen made the solar oven but didn’t use aluminum.
Ryan’s project won red but didn’t involve soda.
Nadia didn’t build the volcano or use wires.
The battery project didn’t win blue.
Priya used soda but didn’t make the tornado.
The aluminum project got the white ribbon.

Puzzle 12: Movie Night Mix-Up

Five friends watched different movies in different genres and brought different snacks.

Friends: Leo, Mia, Noah, Olivia, Piper
Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror, Documentary, Animated
Snacks: Popcorn, Candy, Nachos, Pretzels, Ice Cream

Clues:

The comedy wasn’t watched by Mia or Noah.
Olivia didn’t bring candy or watch horror.
Piper watched the documentary and ate popcorn.
The horror fan ate nachos.
Leo did not bring ice cream.
Mia watched an animated film but didn’t have pretzels.
Noah brought pretzels and watched an action movie.

Puzzle 13: Spelling Bee Showdown

Four finalists spelled different words, missed different letters, and placed differently.

Finalists: Quentin, Rosa, Sasha, Theo
Words: Chrysanthemum, Encyclopedia, Rendezvous, Kaleidoscope
Missed Letters: A, E, O, U
Placements: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th

Clues:

Theo didn’t place 1st or miss “E.”
Quentin misspelled “Kaleidoscope.”
The person who missed “O” placed right after Sasha.
Rosa didn’t spell “Rendezvous” or “Encyclopedia.”
The 3rd place finisher missed “U.”
Sasha placed higher than the one who spelled “Chrysanthemum.”
The person who spelled “Encyclopedia” did not miss “A.”

Puzzle 14: The Great Bake-Off

Five friends watched different movies in different genres and brought different snacks.

Friends: Leo, Mia, Noah, Olivia, Piper
Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror, Documentary, Animated
Snacks: Popcorn, Candy, Nachos, Pretzels, Ice Cream

Clues:

The comedy wasn’t watched by Mia or Noah.
Olivia didn’t bring candy or watch horror.
Piper watched the documentary and ate popcorn.
The horror fan ate nachos.
Leo did not bring ice cream.
Mia watched an animated film but didn’t have pretzels.
Noah brought pretzels and watched an action movie.

Puzzle 15: Mathletes Meet

Five students competed in a math challenge. Each solved a different number of problems, came from a different school, and used a different calculator brand.

Students: Wyatt, Xena, Yasmin, Zack, Ava
Problems Solved: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40
Schools: East, North, South, West, Central
Calculators: Casio, TI, Sharp, HP, Canon

Clues:

The student from West solved fewer problems than the one from Central.
Yasmin used a Sharp and solved 35 problems.
Ava didn’t come from East or use an HP.
Zack used a TI but didn’t solve 30 problems.
Xena didn’t solve 40 problems or use Casio.
Wyatt came from South but didn’t use a Canon.
The East student solved 25 problems.

Puzzle 16: City Festival Booths

Four groups ran booths at a city festival. Each booth offered a different activity, used a different color tent, and raised a different amount of money.

Groups: Art Club, Science League, Robotics Team, Drama Guild
Booths: Face Painting, Rocket Launch, Robot Races, Improv Show
Tent Colors: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow
Money Raised: $100, $200, $300, $400

Clues:

The group under the red tent raised more than the Art Club.
The Rocket Launch wasn’t in the blue or yellow tent.
The Robotics Team raised $300.
The Drama Guild ran the Improv Show.
The Face Painting booth raised less than the one in the green tent.
The Science League did not use the green tent or run the Rocket Launch.
The booth in the blue tent raised $100.

Puzzle 17: Inventor's Expo

Four young inventors displayed their inventions using different materials and presenting at different times.

Inventors: Eli, Fiona, Gavin, Harper
Inventions: Water Filter, Solar Charger, Windmill, Recycled Lamp
Materials: Plastic, Metal, Wood, Glass
Time Slots: 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM

Clues:

Harper used glass but didn’t invent the solar charger.
The 10 AM slot was not for the water filter or windmill.
Gavin presented at 9 AM using wood.
The recycled lamp was made of plastic.
Eli didn’t use metal or glass.
Fiona invented the solar charger but didn’t go last.
The windmill was not presented at 12 PM.

Puzzle 18: Space Station Missions

Five astronauts completed different space tasks, used different tools, and logged different durations.

Astronauts: Isla, Jackson, Kira, Liam, Maya
Tasks: Solar Panel Repair, Sample Collection, Navigation Test, Medical Check, Satellite Launch
Tools: Wrench, Microscope, Computer, Scanner, Drill
Durations: 1 hr, 2 hrs, 3 hrs, 4 hrs, 5 hrs

Clues:

Kira used the computer but worked less than 4 hours.
The sample collector used the microscope.
Isla didn’t launch the satellite or use a drill.
The navigation test took 2 hours.
Jackson did not use the wrench or scanner.
Liam worked the longest but didn’t do the medical check.
Maya did the solar panel repair.

Puzzle 19: Art Competition

Four artists submitted different art pieces, used different mediums, and came from different cities.

Artists: Nina, Omar, Priya, Quinn
Pieces: Landscape, Portrait, Abstract, Still Life
Mediums: Oil, Watercolor, Charcoal, Acrylic
Cities: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle

Clues:

Omar didn’t use oil or charcoal.
The landscape piece came from Dallas.
Nina used watercolor but not for a portrait.
The artist from Boston used acrylic.
Priya painted the still life.
Quinn didn’t come from Seattle or use charcoal.
The abstract was not made with oil or acrylic.

Puzzle 20: Wildlife Tracker

Four researchers tagged different animals, used different tracking devices, and worked in different climates.

Researchers: Ray, Samira, Talia, Umar
Animals: Bear, Eagle, Wolf, Moose
Devices: GPS Collar, Leg Band, Microchip, Radio Tag
Climates: Forest, Tundra, Mountains, Wetlands

Clues:

Talia worked in the forest with the bear.
Samira didn’t tag the eagle or use a leg band.
Ray didn’t use a microchip or work in the wetlands.
The moose was in the tundra.
The wolf wasn’t tracked with a radio tag.
Umar used a GPS collar.
The eagle was found in the mountains.

Ok, let's spice it up to FIVE variables!

Puzzle 21: Museum Mystery Tour

Five student groups visited a large museum. Each group visited a different exhibit at a different time, guided by a different docent, and took a different mode of transport to get there. No group shares any characteristic with another.

Groups: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E
Exhibits: Dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt, Space, Inventions, Art
Times: 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00
Docents: Mr. Hill, Ms. Lane, Mr. Brooks, Ms. Wu, Ms. Chen
Transport: Bus, Van, Subway, Carpool, Walking

Clues:

The group that visited the Inventions exhibit arrived 30 minutes before the group guided by Mr. Brooks.
Ms. Lane did not guide Group A or Group D, and her group did not take the Subway.
Group C visited the Ancient Egypt exhibit at 10:30.
The group that walked had the earliest time slot and was guided by Ms. Chen.
The Dinosaurs exhibit was visited immediately after the group that traveled by Van.
The Bus group was either Group B or the one at 9:30, but not both.
The Art exhibit was not led by Mr. Hill and was not visited at 11:00.
Group E took the Subway and was not guided by Ms. Wu.
The Space exhibit came one hour after the group led by Ms. Lane.

Puzzle 22: Pet Adoption Day

During a weekend pet adoption event, five different families adopted pets of different species, each naming them something unique. Every family arrived at a different time and bought a different accessory (collar, toy, bed, etc.) for their new companion. Use the clues to figure out which family adopted which pet, the pet’s name, their arrival time, and the accessory they purchased.

Families: Rivera, Singh, Taylor, Upton, Vasquez
Pets: Dog, Cat, Parrot, Rabbit, Turtle
Pet Names: Max, Bella, Kiwi, Shadow, Coco
Arrival Times: 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, 1 PM
Accessories: Collar, Cage, Toy, Bed, Leash

Clues:

The family who adopted Coco arrived two hours after the Taylors.
Kiwi is a parrot, but wasn't adopted by the Uptons or the Singhs.
The Vasquez family arrived at 11 AM and bought a toy.
The dog's name isn't Max or Shadow, and the family that adopted it came at 1 PM.
The rabbit was adopted before the cat, and its new owner bought a bed.
Bella’s family arrived right after the Riveras.
The Singhs adopted Shadow, but didn’t buy a collar.
The pet named Max was adopted by the family that bought the cage.
Upton’s pet was not named Bella or Kiwi, and they didn’t come at 10 AM.

Puzzle 23: Neighborhood Book Club

Each Friday, five neighbors take turns hosting their book club, where they read from different genres, bring unique snacks, and discuss a featured book. Each person hosted on a different weekday, brought a different snack, and read a unique book title. Can you determine who read what, when they met, what snack they brought, and which genre they discussed?

Members: Fiona, Gavin, Hazel, Isaac, Jada
Genres: Mystery, Science Fiction, Biography, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Books: Whispers in the Dark, Galactic Edge, Born to Lead, Dragon’s Pact, Timekeeper’s Journal
Meeting Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Snacks Brought: Cookies, Fruit, Chips, Brownies, Popcorn

Clues:

The member who brought fruit hosted the club on Wednesday and did not read Dragon’s Pact.
Isaac read a non-fiction book, but didn’t bring cookies.
Timekeeper’s Journal was read on Monday, but not by Fiona or Hazel.
The biography was read on Thursday, and the person who read it brought brownies.
Gavin read Galactic Edge, which is a science fiction book.
The mystery book was read on a day after the fantasy book.
Jada brought popcorn, but her book was not historical fiction.
Born to Lead was read by someone who hosted on a day before Hazel.
The person who brought chips met on Friday.

Puzzle 24: Farmer's Market Frenzy

Five vendors set up booths at the weekend Farmer’s Market. Each sold a different product, came from a different nearby town, accepted a unique form of payment, set up at a different booth number, and made a distinct total in sales. Use the clues to determine who sold what, where they came from, how customers paid them, where their booth was located, and how much money they made.

Vendors: Teresa, Miguel, Fiona, Jamal, Lacey
Products: Honey, Fresh Bread, Tomatoes, Goat Cheese, Strawberries
Hometowns: Ashville, Brighton, Cedar Hill, Dunston, Elm Grove
Payment Types: Cash, Credit Card, Mobile App, Venmo, Tokens
Booth Numbers: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
Sales Amounts ($): $120, $150, $180, $210, $240

Clues:

The vendor from Elm Grove accepted Venmo but wasn’t located in Booth 2 or Booth 10.
Lacey earned $60 more than the vendor who sold Tomatoes.
Fiona did not sell Goat Cheese or accept Mobile App payments.
The vendor in Booth 6 made $180, but it wasn't Teresa.
The Fresh Bread seller came from Dunston, but didn’t accept Cash.
The vendor who accepted Tokens made less than the vendor who sold Strawberries.
Miguel’s booth was an even number but not Booth 4, and he did not come from Brighton.
The Honey seller made the highest sales but didn’t accept Credit Card or come from Ashville.
The Goat Cheese seller was in a booth exactly two numbers higher than Jamal’s.
The vendor from Cedar Hill was in Booth 4, but didn’t earn $150 or sell Strawberries.

The Ultimate Challenge: SEVEN variables!

Puzzle 25: Masters of Math Invitational

Five elite students competed at the Masters of Math Invitational. Each student represented a different country, specialized in a different event, used a different allowed tool, sat in a different row, started at a different time, and earned a unique score. Use the clues to determine every student’s full set of details.

Students: Aria, Ben, Cyrus, Li, Maya
Countries: Canada, India, Japan, Spain, USA
Events: Algebra, Geometry, Number Theory, Combinatorics, Probability
Tools: Graphing Calculator, Scientific Calculator, Abacus, Slide Rule, Mental Only
Rows: A, B, C, D, E
Start Times: 8:30, 8:45, 9:00, 9:15, 9:30
Scores: 86, 89, 92, 95, 98

Clues:

The Geometry specialist started 15 minutes before the student from Spain.
Li did not represent Japan; Li sat one row in front of the Combinatorics competitor.
The Abacus user started at 8:30 and did not sit in Row C.
The student from the USA scored exactly 3 points more than Ben, who did not sit in Row A.
Maya used Mental Only; she did not do Algebra or Probability.
The Number Theory competitor scored higher than the Algebra competitor and started earlier than the Scientific Calculator user.
Row E belonged to the student who started at 9:30.
The Graphing Calculator user represented Canada.
Cyrus did not sit in Row D and didn’t represent Spain or the USA.
The Probability competitor sat two rows behind the student from Japan.
The student from India began after 9:00, scored less than 95, and did not use a slide rule.
Aria started earlier than the USA student and scored 92.
The Slide Rule user sat adjacent (one row apart) to Row A.
The 9:15 starter scored 89 and did not represent Canada.
The student in Row C represented Spain or Japan (but not both 😉).

Puzzle 26: Grand Central Gauntlet

Five commuters raced across Grand Central on a hectic morning. Each left from a different neighborhood, boarded a different line, stood on a different platform, arrived at a different minute, bought a different drink, and used a different ticket type—and of course each has a different destination. Untangle who did what.

Names: Harper, Jonah, Kira, Omar, Priya
Neighborhoods: Brookside, Hillcrest, Lakeside, Old Town, Riverbend
Train Lines: A-Line, B-Line, C-Line, D-Line, E-Line
Platforms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Arrival Minutes: :07, :12, :18, :24, :31
Drinks: Coffee, Tea, Smoothie, Hot Chocolate, Lemonade
Ticket Types: Single, Day Pass, Weekly, Monthly, Tourist
Destinations: Airport, City Park, Harborfront, Museum, Tech Hub

Clues:

The B-Line arrived six minutes after the commuter from Hillcrest.
Priya did not depart from Old Town or Riverbend and did not buy Coffee.
The E-Line rider stood at Platform 5 and headed to the Airport.
The Weekly pass holder came from Lakeside, arrived at :24, and did not ride A-Line.
Kira bought a Smoothie, arrived earlier than Omar, and did not use a Tourist ticket.
The Monthly pass holder took the C-Line and went to the Museum.
The A-Line rider arrived at :18 and stood two platforms away from the Tea drinker.
Harper did not go to Tech Hub or Airport and did not stand on Platform 1.
The Tourist ticket holder bought Lemonade and arrived at :31.
Omar departed Old Town and stood one platform higher than the commuter to City Park.
The commuter with Hot Chocolate rode the D-Line, came from Riverbend, and arrived earliest of all.
The Single ticket holder stood on Platform 2 and did not ride B-Line.
Jonah did not drink Tea; his destination was not the Museum or Airport.
The commuter to the Harborfront arrived twelve minutes after the A-Line.
The Day Pass user rode either B-Line or E-Line (but not both), and did not depart from Brookside.

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