Puzzle 213
In Farmer Stone's hay loft, there were several animals, in particular birds, mice, and cockroaches.
One day, feeling bored, I decided to count the animals. I found there were exactly 150 feet and 50 heads in total, and there were twice as many cockroaches as mice.
How many of each animal were there?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
Cockroaches have 6 feet, mice have 4, and birds have 2. They each have one head.
Answer
35 birds, 5 mice, and 10 cockroaches.
Reasoning
Cockroaches have 6 feet, mice have 4, and birds have 2. They each have one head.
We can write down expressions for the heads and the feet, calling birds B, mice M, and cockroaches C.
Counting the heads:
(1) B + M + C = 50
Counting the feet:
(2) 2B + 4M + 6C = 150
We are told that for every mouse there are two cockroaches so, C = 2M. Update (1) and (2) to give:
(3) B + 3M = 50
(4) 2B + 16M = 150
If we double (3) we get:
(5) 2B + 6M = 100
We can now do (4) – (5) to give:
10M = 50
M = 5
So, we have 5 mice (and 10 cockroaches).
We can use M = 5 in (3) to give:
B + 3 x 5 = 50
B + 15 = 50
B = 35
So, C = 10, M = 5 and B = 35.
Double-Checking
10 cockroaches have 10 heads and 60 feet.
5 mice have 5 heads and 20 feet.
35 birds have 35 heads and 70 feet.
The total number of heads = 10 + 5 + 35 = 50.
The total number of feet = 60 + 20 + 70 = 150.
Puzzle 214
What three letter word best completes the below words?
LO...E
EDU...E
VA...E
S...TER
S...HE
...ER
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
The word begins with the letter C.
Answer
CAT.
LO...E = LOCAT E
EDU...E = EDUCAT E
VA...E = VACAT E
S...TER = SCAT TER
S...HE = SCAT HE
...ER = CAT ER
Puzzle 215
The following words have had their vowels removed, can you find some animals?
ln
ntlp
gzll
strch
wl
rbn
rdvrk
dr
clt
bs
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
One of the words is Antelope.
Answer
ln = lion
ntlp = antelope
gzll = gazelle
strch = ostrich
wl = owl
rbn = robin
rdvrk = aardvark
dr = deer
clt = ocelot or colt
bs = ibis
Puzzle 216
In the following line, cross out nine letters such that the remaining letters spell a well-known animal.
enilneeplethtaenrst
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
Simply cross out nine letters!
Answer
Elephant.
Cross out the letters 'nine letters' to leave the letters 'elephant'.
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