Hint
What must the middle temperature be? Remember that the temperature are in degrees Celsius.
Answer
The temperatures were -6, -2, 2, 6, 10 °C.
Each day increased by a steady 4 degrees.
Reasoning
As the temperature rose steadily each day, we know that the middle temperature (Day 3) was 2 degrees (because the average was 2 degrees).
Since Day 3 was 2 degrees, and there were two negative temperatures, we know that the daily increase must have been at least 3 degrees (otherwise Day 2 would not have been negative).
If we check a daily increase of 3 degrees, the sequence would be -4, -1, 2, 5, 8, but this doesn't work as the product is less than 500.
If we check a daily increase of 4 degrees, the sequence would be -6, -2, 2, 6, 10, which does matches all of the requirements.
If we check a daily increase of 5 degrees, the sequence would be -8, -3, 2, 7, 12, but this doesn't work as the product is more than 2000.
Any larger increase makes the product even larger, so we can stop checking.
So the only possible answer is -6, -2, 2, 6, 10.
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Puzzle 98
Last week I spent half of my money on a new jacket, and then I spent half of that amount on some new trousers.
Reasoning
At the end I was left with £32.94, which was half of my remaining money, so before buying the trousers I must have had £65.88.
Again, this was half of my money, so before buying the jacket I must have had £131.76 at the start.
As I now had £32.94 remaining, I must have spent £98.82.
Double-Checking
I started with £131.76, and I spent £65.88 on a new jacket, and then £32.94 on the trousers, a total spend of £98.82.
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Puzzle 99
The BrainBashers football world tour is well underway and Alex is planning the journey to each country.
Unfortunately, the BrainBashers atlas software is playing up again and has worked out the mileage incorrectly, as shown below.
China 3,500
Finland 6,000
Chile 3,700
Jamaica 3,800
Wales 6,000
According to the software, how many miles is it to Germany?
