Mathematical Puzzles 

Workings

Answer
726: (n! + n).

Workings

Hint
The number starts with 9.

Answer
95,238.

Workings

Hint
There are two different methods, one involves a cube root, and the other doesn't require a calculator.

Answer
9 x 11 x 13.

Reasoning #1
We're after three numbers that multiply together, so a good place to start is the cube root of 1,287, which is roughly 10.88.

Let's try dividing by the closest odd number to 10.88:

   1287 ÷ 11 = 117

We're now after whole divisors of 117. Trying the odd numbers either side of 11 might work.

Trying either 9 or 13 gives the answer:

   9 x 11 x 13 = 1,287

Trying the closest odd number to the cube root always works, and the other two numbers are the odd numbers either side.

Reasoning #2
We after three numbers that multiply together, but none of these can end in 5 (otherwise our answer would end in 0 or 5).

So, they can only end in 7, 9, 1 (e.g. 87, 89, 91), or 9, 1, 3 (e.g. 89, 91, 93).

However, if they ended in 7, 9, 1, the answer would end in 3 (because 7 x 9 x 1 = 63).

Therefore, they end in 9, 1, and 3 (because 9 x 1 x 3 = 27).

The first numbers we can try are 9, 11, 13:

   = 9 x 11 x 13
   = 99 x 13
   = 100 x 13 − 13
   = 1300 − 13
   = 1,287

A calculator is not required!

Workings

Hint
There are 3 P's, so there are 3 different ways to start the word.

Answer
960.

Reasoning
Given: P P P U U Z Z Z Z Z L L L L E S S.

The order of the Z's is important. For example, we could chose a red one and a green one, so the order they appear in the sign has to be taken into consideration.

There are:
   3 different P's that could be chosen.
   2 different U's that could be chosen.
   5 different Z's that could be chosen.
   4 different Z's that could be chosen, as one has already been chosen.
   4 different L's that could be chosen.
   1 E that could be chosen.
   2 different S's that could be chosen.

So there are 3 x 2 x 5 x 4 x 4 x 1 x 2 = 960 different ways to make the sign.