INTELLECT SHARPENERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

INTELLECT SHARPENERS.

al T. L. BRITON.

PROBLEM IN PUNCTUATION.

A correspondent has sent a problem, somewhat novel for this column, but as it is one likely to stimulate the mental faculties of the reader in his cndeavoui; to make something intelligible of it, ho is now given the opportunity, for tho apparent tangle is quite capable of being straightened out. A teacher of a school not many miles from Auckland wrote a formidable-looking sentence on the blackboard, instructing his class to copy it exactly, and punctuate it so that it might more easily be understood. It was as follows: Tom although John lyid had had had had had had had had had had the approval of the inspector. Tho correspondent adds that the result was somewhat disappointing, for no one was able to interpret it correctly. Can the reader do better, and punctuate this obscure passage, marking it in this way by points and stops necessary in written or printed composition ? The syntax need not be considered, the qu*»lion being merely one of punctuation to make the passage more easily understandable. GREENGROCER'S WEIGHTS. A country greengrocer has in use » series of one-pound weights, 1. 2, 3, 4, and so on, up to 40. and sold nothing above the latter nor less than one pound in weight, favouring the customer by not charging for fractions of a. pound, which resulted in all sales being an even number of pounds. It so happened that all the forty weights had to bo sent away to be tested and adjusted correctly, and as a day or so would elapse before their return," he was negotiating for the purchase of a second set when the local schoolmaster came along. After explaining tho position to the pedagogue, the latter assured the greengrocer that if he could obtain from the authorities the favour of retaining four of the weights while the others were being tested, he could " carry on " his weighing in the manner stated with tlifOsa four only. Now, assuming that the schoolmaster instructed the dealer that the latter might be obliged to use some of the weights oil the " goods" side of the scales in order to get the right quantities, whH> should these four weights be?

TWO FOR THE ARMOHAIR SOLVER. A .scholastic institution possessed a ten-acre square block of land which was intended to be converted into an uptodate athletic ground. If. before the measured tracks were laid down, the athlotes desired to have a mile distance properly marked, how many timfs round (he boundaries (all unfenced) would give them exactly 1760 yards ? A recent long-dated Dominion loan was reported at the time of issue as maturing on Ffbvuarv 10, 1960. If so, on what dav cf the week would it fall due, allowing tho usual three days' grace, if we know that this date in 1904 fell on Wednesday :

GOLD COINAGE. The exchange value of the standard gold coin of the United States of America is the ten dollar piece (eagle) the weight of -which is 258 grains, while that of Great Britain is the sovereign, of 123.27 grains. Now, if gold is worth 23.7 dollars an ounce, what is the smallest number of ounces that can be coined into an exact number of sovereigns, the par of exchange being one dollar for 4s 2d. If the statement of this problem be read carefully, it is quite possible to arrive, at the 'correct solution" without using all the data given. In fact, the calculation is quite an elementary one, but, at- the same time, very useful. v , GOLD AND SILVER COINS. While on this (heme, here is a little problem that may require a few moments' thought. I have ninetv-fivc coins, made up of 30 sixpences, 25 shillings, 20 halfcrowns, 15 half-sovereigns, and five sovereigns, and it is desired to reduce this number by at least 30 per cent, though retaining their full value, and to have the whole sum made up of the'same number of each denominations mentioned. What number of each will there be ? It is really a mental calculation, though the use of pen and pencil is not barred, but the reader is recommended not to solve it by trials, as that method will hardly be .is useful as the more mathematical and easier one of calculation. There is only one solution. LAST WEEK'S SOLUTIONS. Marin's Money. Under tho conditions of this problem there could only be sixteen people to receive the million francs. One received one franc,- one received seven francs, three others 49 francs each, three 343 francs each, three others 2401 francs each, three more 16.807 francs each, while one received 117.649 francs, the sixteenth person receiving 823.543 francs. What Time Was It? The time when Hopkins looked at his watch was 9.36 p.m. a Servian War Figures.

A total of 386 men wcro left in A, 8450 in 15, while 16.514 remained in C division. Limerick and Aussie. Upon the figures stated in the problem, Limerick must have run the distance between the. half-mile- and six furlong po.sts in 21! seconds. Two Assessments. Both assessments were £275. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. C.A.P. —There are several ways in which it could be solved were it not for the condition stated, but that limits it to one solution. " Plantation."—Yes. send it along, and it will be examined. " Carry On."—The answer to your query is 148. " Weight."—The sign " lb." (pound weight) is a contraction of the Latin*word " libra."