James' Thought Spot » puzzles

Puzzle 49

James — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:25:50 +0000

Here we go with home-brews.

How is:
8-3=1
True?

Answer saturday.

Puzzle 48

James — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:36:36 +0000

There once was a man who had married thirty women. Yet he never had a wife. How?

Puzzle 47

James — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:08:47 +0000

Find the error in this mathematical conundrum. Answer Saturday.

1=1 [To start]
a=b [Got it?]
a•a=b•a [Both sides multiplied by a]
a^2=ab [Which is]
a^2-b^2=ab-b^2 [Subtraction axiom with b^2]
(a+b)(a-b)=b(a-b) [Factored]
(a+b)(a-b)/(a-b)=b(a-b)/(a-b) [Divide both sides by (a-b)]
a+b=b [Which is]
b+b=b [Unnecessary step but shows the result easier]
2b=b [Which is]
2=1 [Equals]

Puzzle numbering

James — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:43:26 +0000

I found I had a numbering error earlier in the puzzles and have fixed it. Puzzle 42 is still puzzle 42 for the number sake though.

Puzzle 46

James — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:01:18 +0000

Study this post and all things in it. What is vitally wrong with it? Actually, nothing in it is wrong, but you must admit that it is most unusual. Don’t just zip through it quickly, but study it scrupulously. With luck you should spot what is so particular about it and all words found in it. Can you say what it is? Tax your brains and try again. Don’t miss a word or a symbol. It isn’t all that difficult?

I shall grant you a rumination on Saturday

Puzzle 45

James — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:01:18 +0000

Happy Columbus Day! And Canadian Thanksgiving. And what other holiday you celebrate!

Dr Dr

What did that mean? Answer Saturday.

Puzzle 44

James — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 07:01:36 +0000

I think my last one was clever. This one… ehh not so much.

How can you throw a ball so that it goes a short distance, comes to a total stop, reverses its motion, and then goes the opposite way? You are not allowed to bounce it against anything, hit it with anything, or tie it to anything.

Answers saturday!

Puzzle 43

James — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:01:58 +0000

Last week I was driving the local school bus and 12 kids got on. At the next stop, 5 got off and 7 got on. At the next stop, 10 got on and 1 got off. At the last stop 23 kids got off. What was the name of the bus driver?

I’d be shocked and appalled if no one gets this. You have till Saturday.

Puzzle 42

James — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:01:34 +0000

Yay 42! I have to make a “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” reference!

“Six by nine. Forty two.”

But I know how that sentence is true! Answer Saturday.

Puzzle 41

James — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:01:25 +0000

Well for #40 I thought I would do something challenging.

Over the last few hundred years there have been thousands of reported incidents of horses jumping over towers and landing on clergy and small men, forcing their removal. These incidents are well documented and there is great evidence that they all happened. How can this be explained?

I actually witness this frequently and I’ll tell you how on Saturday.