The total distance was 180 miles, but as I still had 5 miles to go, the required answer is 175 miles.
Reasoning
Let's try working backwards.
Day 4: I travelled 3/4, which means that the other 1/4 was 5 miles, and 20 miles were left at the start of day four.
Day 3: I travelled 2/3, which means that the other 1/3 was 20 mile, and 60 miles were left at the start of day three.
Day 2: I travelled 1/2, which means that the other 1/2 was 60 miles, and 120 miles were left at the start of day two.
Day 1: I travelled 1/3, which means that the other 2/3 was 120 miles, and 180 miles were ahead at the start of day one.
The full distance was therefore 180 miles, but we were asked how many miles I had travelled so far, and as I still had 5 to go the answer is 175 miles.
Double-Checking
Start distance: 180 miles.
Day 1: I travelled 1/3 of the distance (60 miles), leaving 120 miles.
Day 2: I travelled 1/2 of the distance (60 miles), leaving 60 miles.
Day 3: I travelled 2/3 of the distance (40 miles), leaving 20 miles.
Day 4: I travelled 3/4 of the distance (15 miles), leaving 5 miles.
The results of a recent Chess tournament between five close rivals is described below:
Dale finished before Alex. Emery finished after Bailey. Alex finished before Chris. Emery finished after Dale. Bailey finished before Alex. Dale finished after Bailey. Chris finished before Emery.
Who finished where?
Hint
Try rewriting each statement so that they are all 'finished before' statements instead.
Answer
Bailey won …
… then Dale, Alex, Chris, and Emery.
Reasoning
By placing the person who finished higher to the left, we have:
Dale finished before Alex (Dale > Alex)Emery finished after Bailey (Bailey > Emery)Alex finished before Chris (Alex > Chris)Emery finished after Dale (Dale > Emery)Bailey finished before Alex (Bailey > Alex)Dale finished after Bailey (Bailey > Dale)Chris finished before Emery (Chris > Emery)
From (1) and (3):
Dale > Alex > Chris
Adding (7):
Dale > Alex > Chris > Emery
Adding (6):
Bailey > Dale > Alex > Chris > Emery
Which is the final placing for all the players, and can be double-checked with the remaining clues.
???
Puzzle 4
Find an word which is singular, add an 's' and it becomes plural, and add another 's' it becomes singular again?