An afternoon of music

One deduction at a time

Follow the numbered clues, one-to-one eliminations and cross-grid deductions. When a counterfactual is needed, its assumptions and clue-by-clue contradiction are shown.

Measured complexity: rule tier 1/4 · 27 verified grid deductions · 0 counterfactuals. Difficulty measures the rules used by this solver, not a promised completion time.

1. Step 1: Clue 1: Violin is not paired with First. Violin cannot be paired with First.
2. Step 2: Clue 2: Ruby is not paired with First. Ruby cannot be paired with First.
3. Step 3: Clue 3: Violin is not paired with Second. Violin cannot be paired with Second.
4. Step 4: Clue 4: Flute is not paired with Second. Flute cannot be paired with Second.
5. Step 5: Clue 5: Freya is paired with Second. Freya must be paired with Second.
6. Step 6: Second is already matched to Freya; each item is used once. Ruby cannot be paired with Second.
7. Step 7: All other Arrival choices for Ruby have been eliminated. Ruby must be paired with Third.
8. Step 8: Second is already matched to Freya; each item is used once. Daniel cannot be paired with Second.
9. Step 9: Third is already matched to Ruby; each item is used once. Daniel cannot be paired with Third.
10. Step 10: All other Arrival choices for Daniel have been eliminated. Daniel must be paired with First.
11. Step 11: Freya is already matched to Second; each item is used once. Freya cannot be paired with First.
12. Step 12: Freya is already matched to Second; each item is used once. Freya cannot be paired with Third.
13. Step 13: All other Arrival choices for Violin have been eliminated. Violin must be paired with Third.
14. Step 14: Third is already matched to Violin; each item is used once. Flute cannot be paired with Third.
15. Step 15: All other Arrival choices for Flute have been eliminated. Flute must be paired with First.
16. Step 16: First is already matched to Flute; each item is used once. Cello cannot be paired with First.
17. Step 17: All other Instruments choices for Second have been eliminated. Cello must be paired with Second.
18. Step 18: Cello is already matched to Second; each item is used once. Cello cannot be paired with Third.
19. Step 19: Both Ruby and Violin are matched to Third; they must belong together. Ruby must be paired with Violin.
20. Step 20: Ruby is already matched to Violin; each item is used once. Ruby cannot be paired with Flute.
21. Step 21: Ruby is already matched to Violin; each item is used once. Ruby cannot be paired with Cello.
22. Step 22: Violin is already matched to Ruby; each item is used once. Daniel cannot be paired with Violin.
23. Step 23: Violin is already matched to Ruby; each item is used once. Freya cannot be paired with Violin.
24. Step 24: Both Daniel and Flute are matched to First; they must belong together. Daniel must be paired with Flute.
25. Step 25: Daniel is already matched to Flute; each item is used once. Daniel cannot be paired with Cello.
26. Step 26: Flute is already matched to Daniel; each item is used once. Freya cannot be paired with Flute.
27. Step 27: All other Instruments choices for Freya have been eliminated. Freya must be paired with Cello.

Answer key

Ruby · Violin · Third

Daniel · Flute · First

Freya · Cello · Second