| Problem 159 - Word Crosses, Explanations |
This is a simulation problem, there is no complicated algorithm.
The correct cross is on the smallest letter of the first word that is inside the second word. (and the same for the third and the fourth)
If you are in trouble with the multi-entry input, read my how to read input.
A word cross is formed by printing a pair of words, the first horizontally and the second vertically, so that they share a common letter. A leading word cross is one where the common letter is as near as possible to the beginning of the horizontal word, and, for this letter, as close as possible to the beginning of the vertical word. Thus DEFER and PREFECT would cross on the first 'E' in each word, PREFECT and DEFER would cross on the 'R'. Double leading word crosses use two pairs of words arranged so that the two horizontal words are on the same line and each pair forms a leading word cross.
Write a program that will read in sets of four words and form them (if possible) into double leading word crosses.
Input will consist of a series of lines, each line containing four words (two pairs). A word consists of 1 to 10 upper case letters, and will be separated from its neighbours by at least one space. The file will be terminated by a line consisting of a single #.
Output will consist of a series of double leading word crosses as defined above. Leave exactly three spaces between the horizontal words. If it is not possible to form both crosses, write the message `Unable to make two crosses'. Leave 1 blank line between output sets.
MATCHES CHEESECAKE PICNIC EXCUSES PEANUT BANANA VACUUM GREEDY #
C
H
E
E
S
E E
C X
MATCHES PICNIC
K U
E S
E
S
Unable to make two crosses