Puzzle 285
James, Simon, Ian, and William all like walking.
But Dave, Steven, Alan, and Alastair do not.
Does Adrian?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
Look at the number of letters in each of the names.
Answer
No.
Those that like walking have an odd number of letters in their name.
Puzzle 286
On which side of a cup …
… is it best to have the handle?
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Hint
It's neither LEFT not RIGHT.
Puzzle 287
Which is larger:
ounces in gross pounds
seconds in an hour
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
There are 16 ounces in a pound, and 144 in a gross.
Answer
Seconds in an hour.
Reasoning
There are 16 x 144 = 2,304 ounces in gross pounds.
There are 60 x 60 = 3,600 seconds in an hour.
Puzzle 288
If I give you seven apples, you will then have five times as many as I would then have.
However, if you give me seven apples, we will then both have the same number of apples.
How many apples do I currently have?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
A little bit of algebra might help.
Answer
I have 14 apples and you have 28 apples.
Reasoning
We can work this out with a little algebra. I have A apples and you have B apples, then
[1] 5 x (A − 7) = B + 7
[2] A + 7 = B − 7
From [1] we have:
5A − 35 = B + 7
[3] 5A = B + 42
From [2] we have:
[4] A + 14 = B
We can then use [4] in [3] to give:
5A = (A + 14) + 42
5A = A + 56
4A = 56
A = 14
Which gives B = 28 (by [4]).
