Many years ago, a cruise liner sank in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The castaways luckily landed on a remote desert island.
There was enough food for the 135 people to last four weeks.
Nine days later a rescue ship appeared, unluckily this ship also sank, leaving an additional 36 people stranded on the island to now share the original rationed food.
The food obviously had to be re-rationed, everyone was now on three-quarters of the original ration, so how many days in total would the food last, from the day of the original sinking?
Originally there was enough food for 135 people for 28 days, which totals 3780 rations.
After 9 days, 1215 rations had been eaten.
Therefore there were now 2565 rations left for 171 people, which would last for another 20 days at three-quarter rations per person = (2565 ÷ 3/4) ÷ 171.
Which is 29 days in total from the original sinking.
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Puzzle 626
During a recent BrainBashers race meeting, the fastest driver managed to complete a lap with an average speed of 150 mph.
They managed to complete the first two fifths of the lap at a speed of 123 mph and the second two fifths of the lap at a speed of 164 mph.
At what speed was the final one fifth of the lap length covered?
Reasoning
If we take the number of miles in a lap to be L miles and use Time = Distance ÷ Speed.
The first 2/5 are covered at 123 mph. Therefore, the time taken was [(2/5) x L] ÷ 123 hours.
The next 2/5 are covered at 164 mph. Therefore, the time taken was [(2/5) x L] ÷ 164 hours.
The last 1/5 is covered at y mph. Therefore, the time taken was [(1/5) x L] ÷ y hours.
The entire trip is covered at an average of 150 mph, and we can conclude that:
2L 2L L L
————— + ————— + ——— = ———
5x123 5x164 5y 150
Rearranging and simplifying gives:
1 1 2 2
——— = —— - ——— - ———
y 30 123 164
That means that y = 1 ÷ (1/30 − 2/123 − 2/164)
Using a calculator gives y = 205.
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Puzzle 627
If I was in Florida and dropped a heavy ball into a bucket of water which was at a temperature of 45 °F and dropped another identical ball into an identical bucket of water at a temperature of 25 °F …
… which ball would hit the bottom of the bucket first?
Hint
Remember that the question uses Fahrenheit °F.
Answer
The ball would reach the bottom of the 45 °F bucket first because the water is frozen in the 25 °F bucket!
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Puzzle 628
Here are some less well known proverbs. What is the missing word in each?
Loyalty is worth more than ?.
He that cannot pay in ? must pay in person.
Shameful ? is worse than shameful eating.
Don't say ? until you are asked.
Payment in advance is ? payment.
Answer
Loyalty is worth more than money.
He that cannot pay in purse must pay in person.
Shameful leaving is worse than shameful eating.
Don't say no until you are asked.
Payment in advance is evil payment.
