Puzzle 165
What number comes next in the sequence:
11 · 13 · 17 · 31 · 37 · 71 · 73 · 79 · 97 · ?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zuke
share
Hint
A very tricky puzzle involving prime numbers.
Answer
101.
These are prime numbers, which, when reversed, are also prime.
Puzzle 166
Billy has twice as many sisters as brothers.
His sister, Frankie, has one more sister than she has brothers.
How many boys and girls are there in the family?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zyvh
share
Hint
The answer isn't very large at all.
Answer
There are four boys and six girls in the family.
If there were B boys, and G girls we know that Billy has twice as many sisters as brothers, so 2 x (b − 1) = g.
And his sister, Frankie, has one more sister than she has brothers, so g − 1 = b + 1.
2(b − 1) = g [1]
g − 1 = b + 1 [2]
Using [1] in [2] gives:
2(b − 1) − 1 = b + 1
Expanding the bracket gives:
2b − 2 − 1 = b + 1
Simplifying the left hand side gives:
2b − 3 = b + 1
Add 3 to each side gives:
2b = b + 4
Subtract b from both sides gives:
b = 4
Using b = 4 in [1] gives:
2(4 − 1) = g
6 = g
Puzzle 167
Starting with BALL, change one letter at a time until you have the word HEAD.
Each change leaves the other letters in their original places and must result in a proper word.
What is the minimum number of steps required to achieve this change?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zcog
share
Hint
There is more than one way of completing this in 4 moves.
Answer
Ball bell hell heal head.
Ball bell hell held head.
Ball hall hell heal head.
Ball hall hell held head.
Puzzle 168
A farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field.
How many haystacks would there be if they were combined in one field?
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zjtn
share