INTELLECT SHARPENERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22723, 8 November 1935, Page 3

INTELLECT SHARPENERS

Written for the Otago Daily Time*. By C. J. Wherefore. [Correspondence should be addressed to Box 1177, Wellington.] ARMCHAIR PROBLEM. There were two paddocks adjoining one another —A, which held wethers, and B, which held ewes. A number of the wethers equal to one-ninth of the number of ewes passed through a gap in the hedge from A to B. Then onefifth of the number of both sexes in B passed in the opposite direction — that is, from B to A, after which both paddocks contained the same number of sheep. How many were there of each description ? TWO ANAGRAMS. In the lines given below the first two spaces are to bo filled with words composed of the same nine letters. The third and fourth spaces are also to be filled with a similar pair of words composed of the same seven letters. Among all those he’s sure to meet, whenever He visits or friends again, There is no one more or clever Than Isabel, whose face is rather plain. Can that be why he gives her no attention? With one whose brains deserve but little mention, But she him for an hour away. A PROBLEM IN AGES. The ages of Mrs C and her daughter are such that in a few years the mother will be live times as old as the child. Another seven years after that she will be only three times as old as the child. These facts arc true also of Mrs D., the elder sister of Mrs C. What are the ages of these two women, if it is understood that they are the maximum and minimum values for which such conditions are possible? AN ASTONISHING PROBLEM. Three schoolboys had an exciting race on their ponies. Tom won very easily, Dick was second, and Harry third. There is no reason why one boy should be so much more skilful, or at any rate more successful, than the others. Their teacher admits that they are all in different standards, as might be expected, ns their ages are all different. The three ages added together make 30. Tom says, “ I am twice as old as my pony.” Dick says, “I am two and n-half times as old as mine.” Harry says, “ I am three times as old as mine.” Tom’s father, who bred all the mounts, says that they are still reasonably young, the three ages added together making only 12. Which is the older pony, that of Tom or of Harry? ' ARGUMENTATIVE PROBLEM.

Among the following extracts from letters, the first is written by a girl, who is still at school. The problem is to discover her father and mother among the husbands and wives, whose letters are quoted afterwards. Two of the letters, written by Anne and Ruth, are missing, and the extracts from those of the other three are given in their proper places. The schoolgirl’s letter states: “We break up in less than a fortnight, so I shall be able to keep house for you if mother is not back by then. Tommy is already wearing her end-of-term look, and is cross and jumpy. If she is anxious to see die last of us, we are all of the same mind. Of course, I should not mind coming home sooner, if you want me. Yours affectionately, Muriel.” Betty writes: “ Who do you think is staying at this hotel? Mrs Simpson, if you remember her by that name. She gives me all the news of our cousins, and I think they would be pleased to see us again, if we could arrange a visit.” Dorothy writes: “Your letter came by same mail as one from Elizabeth, giving her own version of everything, which differs in some ways from yours, but on the whole she seems satisfied with what she found, without being enthusiastic.”

Clara writes: “It is evident that you will be away longer than you expected, and I have made at least one preparation for this by getting a further supply of writing paper.” Edward writes: “Of course, I admit the house does hot look as bright and glorious as it used to. How could it? But my sister was down here yesterday to do a little mild tidying, as she calls it, and she did at least admit that there was less to do than there might have been.” Frank writes: “ I reached this unlovely spot last night, and found both your letters waiting for me. As you anticipated in your cheerful postscript, I opened and read the later one first, but then why should I not'do so?” George writes: “ I was interested in your news of Kate. I know you have seen her more than once since she spread her wings and flew away, but I have not.”

Henry writes: “I enclose a letter from Miss Thomson, the usual formality of course, but I call it good news all the same.”

John writes: “Dear unrelenting one. Your letter just received. As you will be home again so very delightfully soon, I need not write a long letter to-day. But the house shall be put in order and looking as well as it can look, so that no more merciless or unsparing criticism will be possible.” Which of these letter writers are Muriel’s father and mother? SOLUTIONS OF LAST WEEK’S PROBLEMS. Sixpence Worth. —37, 43, and 40. Boys. —The ages are: 6,8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and the 12-year-old boy is absent. Sheep Owners.—A’s result must be 84 per cent., because no other avoids fractions. Therefore B has 49 ewes and 49 lambs, while A has 700 ewes and 588 lambs. Pillow Problem. —The simplification is that the number bought must be one more than one-third of 240, which makes it 81. The price of the second lot must be 19 pence to account for the square, therefore the first lot cost 21 pence. Substitution. —It is not stated whether B is one more or one less than A, and it happens that solutions exist for both alternatives, 49 articles at 7d, £1 8s 7d, and 121 articles at lid, £5 10s lid.

Eastern Story. —The total number of camels must be 28, 47, CO, 85, 104, or some higher number. If it is either of the first two, C owns the largest number and A the smallest. If it is either of the last two or any larger number, then A owns the most and C the fewest. If there are (56, all three have the same number. The prince is dissatisfied, because each of his ministers can see only one aspect of the case, and he may also suspect them of guessing.