A Batch of Puzzles.
See Answers Following.
1. The following letters are inscribed on a stonetablet placed immediately above the Ten Commandments in a country church in the northwest of England, and are deciphered with only one letter:
P R S V R Y P R F C T M N!V R K P T H S P R C P T S T N.
P R S V R Y P R F C T M N!V R K P T H S P R C P T S T N.
P R S V R Y P R F C T M N!V R K P T H S P R C P T S T N.
P R S V R Y P R F C T M N!
V R K P T H S P R C P T S T N.
2. If theBm t put some: but if theB.
3. What difference is there between twice eight and fifty, and twice fifty-eight—and what is their product?
4. In an army consisting of 187 squadrons of horse, each 157 men, and 207 battalions, each 560 men—how many effective soldiers, supposing that in 7 hospitals there are 473 sick?
5. The Spectator mentions a club of fat people, whose number was only 15, and yet weighed no less than 3tons—what was the weight of each person?
6. Three boys met a servant maid carrying apples to the market. The first took half what she had, but returned to her ten; the second took one-third, but returned two; and the third took away half those she had left, but returned her one. She had then twelve apples left—how many had she at first?
7. A schoolmaster being asked how many scholars he had, said: “If I had as many, half as many, and one-quarter as many more, I should have 88”—how many had he?
8. A person having about him a certain number of Portugal pieces, said: “If the third, fourth and sixth of them were added together, they would make 54.” I desire to know how many he had?
9. A man overtaking a maid driving a flock of geese, said to her: “How do you do, sweetheart; where are you going with these 30 geese?” “No,sir,” said she, “I have not 30; but if I had as many more, half as many more, and 5 geese besides, I should have 30.” How many had she?
10. Three persons discoursing concerning their ages: says H, “I am 30 years of age;” says K, “I am as old as H, and one-fourth of L;” and says L, “I am as old as you both.” What was the age of each person?
11. What is the difference between twice 8 and 20, and twice 28; as also between twice 5 and 50, and twice 55?
12. A schoolmaster being asked how many scholars he had, said if he had as many more, one-half as many, and one-fourth as many, he should have 99. How many had he?
13. An ancient lady, being asked how old she was, to avoid a direct answer, said: “I have 9 children, and there are 3 years between the birth of each of them; the eldest was born when I was 19 years old, which is now exactly the age of the youngest.” How old was the lady?
14. A gentleman went to sea at 17 years of age; 8 years after that he had a son born, who lived 40 years, and died before his father; after whom the father lived twice twenty years, and then died also. What was the age of the father when he died?
15. A person said he had 20 children, that it happened there was a year and a half between each of their ages; his eldest son was born when he was 24 years old, and the age of the youngest is 21. What was the father’s age?
16. A sheepfold was robbed three nights successively; the first night one-half of the sheep were stolen and half a sheep more; the second night half the remainder were lost, and half a sheep more; the last night they took half that were leftand half a sheep more, by which time they were reduced to 20. How many were there at first?
17. There are two numbers, the one 48, the other twice as much. What is the difference between their sum and difference?
18. Two men depart both from one place, the one goes north the other south; the one goes 7 miles and the other 11 miles a day. How far are they distant at the twelfth day of their departure?
19.
When first the marriage knot was tied between my wife and me,Her age did mine as far exceed, as three times three does three;But when seven years, and half seven years, we man and wife had been,My age came then as near to her’s as eight is to sixteen.What was each of our ages when married?
When first the marriage knot was tied between my wife and me,Her age did mine as far exceed, as three times three does three;But when seven years, and half seven years, we man and wife had been,My age came then as near to her’s as eight is to sixteen.What was each of our ages when married?
When first the marriage knot was tied between my wife and me,Her age did mine as far exceed, as three times three does three;But when seven years, and half seven years, we man and wife had been,My age came then as near to her’s as eight is to sixteen.What was each of our ages when married?
When first the marriage knot was tied between my wife and me,
Her age did mine as far exceed, as three times three does three;
But when seven years, and half seven years, we man and wife had been,
My age came then as near to her’s as eight is to sixteen.
What was each of our ages when married?
20. If 12 oxen will eat 3 acres and one-third of grass in four weeks and 21 oxen will eat 10 acres in 9 weeks—how many oxen will eat 24 acres in 18 weeks, the grass being allowed to grow uniformly?
21. A lady was asked her age, who replied thus:
My age, if multiplied by three,Two-sevenths of that product tripled be,The square root of two-ninths of that is four—Now tell my age, or never see me more.
My age, if multiplied by three,Two-sevenths of that product tripled be,The square root of two-ninths of that is four—Now tell my age, or never see me more.
My age, if multiplied by three,Two-sevenths of that product tripled be,The square root of two-ninths of that is four—Now tell my age, or never see me more.
My age, if multiplied by three,
Two-sevenths of that product tripled be,
The square root of two-ninths of that is four—
Now tell my age, or never see me more.