Puzzle 641
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
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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 643
What do you get if …
… you add 2 to 200 four times?
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Hint
Try it once, and then try it again.
Answer
You get 202 each time!
Puzzle 644
Find three common nine letter words that can be formed on an upside-down calculator.
Assuming you have one of the old-fashioned calculators that can show 9 digits!
What is the longest word which could be formed?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Answer
Illegible, eggshells and bobsleigh. The longest word is bibliologies with 12 letters.