Puzzle 293
If I buy a melon and a coconut, the cost will be £1.19.
If I buy a melon and a pineapple, the cost will be £1.45.
If I buy a coconut and a pineapple, the cost will be £1.40.
What are the individual prices?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
A little algebra might help.
Answer
Pineapple = 83p, coconut = 57p, melon = 62p.
Reasoning
If we assign the letters P, C and M to the fruits, and work in pence we have:
(1) M + C = 119
(2) M + P = 145
(3) C + P = 140
Using (2) − (1) we have:
(4) P − C = 26
And (3) + (4) gives:
2P = 166
P = 83
This can then be substituted back into (2) and (3).
Puzzle 294
If Malcolm, Laura, John, Alan, Brenda and Kevin like chocolate …
… and Norman, Steve, Thomas, Zebedee do not …
… does Peter like chocolate?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
Think about the alphabet.
Answer
No.
Only people with initials A-M do like chocolate, others do not.
Puzzle 295
What is made from nothing …
… yet you can see it?
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Hint
Think about it carefully.
Answer
A hole, or a shadow.
Puzzle 296
What comes next in this sequence:
eno · owt · ehret · rouf · eivf · xis · ?
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Hint
The sequence started as a very common one.
Answer
Neves.
Reasoning
These are the first few numbers with their first and last letters swapped.
