Puzzle 5
Customer services at BrainBashers headquarters received the following letter recently.
Luckily, our top puzzle solvers were able to determine the meaning and help Sam South.
Can you work out what the problem was?
D-a- K-v-n,
- ---ld l-k- -- c-m-la-n ab--- -h- --- --- -f m- ----------.
-h-s- l-----s d- n-- a---a- -- b- ---k-ng c----c-l-.
As --- can s--, -h-- a-- m-ss-ng f--m -h-s d-c-m-n-.
- ---ld b- v--- g-a--f-l -f --- c--ld c----c- -h-s ---bl-m -mm-d-a--l-.
K-nd --ga-ds.
Sam S---h.
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
What letters are missing?
Answer
The letter was written on a typewriter that has a problem with the top row of letters – they did not print correctly. The letter should have read:
Dear Kevin,
I would like to complain about the top row of my typewriter.
These letters do not appear to be working correctly.
As you can see, they are missing from this document.
I would be very grateful if you could correct this problem immediately.
Kind regards.
Sam South.
Puzzle 6
In this puzzle, all of the numbers from 1 to 8 are used.
The differences between any two connected numbers are all different (larger - smaller).
Can you complete the grid?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
What are the possible differences?
Answer
Reasoning
The first observation is that all of the possible gaps must exist: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and let's call these Gap1, …, Gap7.
Looking at Gap7, this can only happen when:
[Gap7a: 1 is next to 8]
Looking at Gap6, this can happen when:
[Gap6a: 1 is next to 7]
this is not allowed because 1 and 7 are given squares that are not next to each other.
[Gap6b: 2 is next to 8]
Looking at Gap5, this can happen when:
[Gap5a: 1 is next to 6]
[Gap5b: 2 is next to 7]
this is not allowed because [Gap6b: 2 is next to 8], which would mean that we can't also have [Gap7a: 1 is next to 8].
[Gap5c: 3 is next to 8]
this is not allowed because we couldn't then also have: [Gap7a: 1 is next to 8] and [Gap6b: 2 is next to 8].
We can't have the 8 above the 1, as there is then no place for [Gap6b: 2 is next to 8].
So, we have two possible places for the 8, to the left of the 1, or to the right of the 1.
8 to the left of 1
What can we place to the right of 1?
3 – no, because the gap between the 1 and 3, and the gap between 3 and 5, are both 2.
4 – no, because the gap between 4 and 5 is 1, which we already have.
6 – no, because the gap between 5 and 6 is 1, which we already have.
So the 8 can't go to the left of 1.
8 to the right of 1
We know [Gap5a: 1 is next to 6].
Let's try 6 to the left of 1. No matter where we place the 3 and 4 we end up with duplicate gaps. So this doesn't work.
So, the 6 must go above 1, but the 4 can't go to the left of 1 because of duplicate gaps. Therefore, this doesn't work either.
Which means that the final answer is:
Puzzle 7
Below you will find well-known eight-letter words, with only their endings remaining-
Can you find the words?
----rue
----jar
----dil
----any
----pox
----gth
----elf
----oia
----ige
----hog
----too
----dix
----fin
----upt
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
The first letters of the words are: C, N, D, M, S, S, Y, P, P, H, C, A, P, B.
Answers
----rue = construe
----jar = nightjar
----dil = daffodil
----any = mahogany or epiphany
----pox = smallpox
----gth = strength
----elf = yourself
----oia = paranoia
----ige = prestige
----hog = hedgehog
----too = cockatoo
----dix = appendix
----fin = paraffin
----upt = bankrupt
Puzzle 8
The Miller next took the company aside and showed them nine sacks of flour that were standing as depicted in the sketch.
"Now, hearken, all and some," said he, "while that I do set ye the riddle of the nine sacks of flour.
And mark ye, my lords, that there be single sacks on the outside, pairs next unto them, and three together in the middle thereof.
By Saint Benedict, it doth so happen that if we do but multiply the pair, 28, by the single one, 7, the answer is 196, which is of a truth the number shown by the sacks in the middle.
Yet it be not true that the other pair, 34, when so multiplied by its neighbour, 5, will also make 196.
Wherefore I do beg you, gentle sirs, so to place anew the nine sacks with as little trouble as possible that each pair when thus multiplied by its single neighbour shall make the number in the middle."
As the Miller has stipulated in effect that as few bags as possible shall be moved, there is only one answer to this puzzle, which everybody should be able to solve.
The Miller's Puzzle – The Canterbury Puzzles, Henry Ernest Dudeney.
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Hint
The two left numbers multiplied, or the right two numbers, should create the central number.
Answer
The way to arrange the sacks of flour is as follows: 2, 78, 156, 39, 4. Here each pair when multiplied by its single neighbour makes the number in the middle, and only five of the sacks need to be moved.
There are just three other ways in which they might have been arranged (4, 39, 156, 78, 2; or 3, 58, 174, 29, 6; or 6, 29, 174, 58, 3), but they all require the moving of seven sacks.
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