INTELLECT SHARPENERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23706, 13 January 1939, Page 3

INTELLECT SHARPENERS

Written for the Otago Daily Times. By C. J. Wherefore CHARADE This is really quite simple, but it resembles previous examples in the peculiarity that the subdivision of the word into parts is open to criticism in a way, which may be found slightly perplexing at first. Dear Friend, Your letter came, not long delayed, The 25th of FIRST you posted it. Your English snows then chilled it, I’m afraid, But now New Zealand’s summer sun has roasted it. I’ve read each SECOND a dozen times or more. But the suggestion at the end I fear, That I should make a voyage to your shore, Is one I really must WHOLE, my dear. IS THIS A GEOMETRICAL PROBLEM? Ethel has been staying with her grandparents. She tells me that her grandfather is one year older than her grandmother and that a year ago his age was just six times her own. Another thing she has noticed is that when she drew a triangle having its sides equal to the number of years in these three ages, it was a perfect, right-angled triangle. What are the three ages? BORROWED MONEY Mr Smith met one of his most impecunious and insatiable friends, who wanted to borrow from him, as usual. He replied that he had left his purse at home, and the reply was: “ Give me half of the loose money in your pocket and two pence more.” Mr Smith gave this amount, and the result was that a second friend asked for what was left and three pence more. A third undesirable person wanted half of what now remained and three pence more, and when, this had been paid Mr Smith had only one penny left. How much had he at first? A NEW YEAR PROBLEM George and Mary went to the library to change their books on Saturday, December 31, so that they might have something to help pass away the tediousness of Sunday. But they began to read their books that evening, and by the time they thought of retiring to their rooms they had turned over a good many pages. In fact, the sum of the numbers of the pages read by brother and sister multiplied by their difference makes 1939, the number of the present year. How many pages had they read? ARMCHAIR PROBLEM Three carriers were proceeding along the same street taking cases to the same address. The first one had his load rather badly arranged, so that one-thirteenth part of it fell off, and was not noticed. The second picked up what had fallen, but he also was careless, with the result that one-fourteenth part of what he had, including the addition thus made to it, fell off. The third picked up what had been dropped and carried it to its destination. What is the smallest number of cases which will fit these conditions?

THE PRIZE LIST, Mrs Someone was preparing to hold a card party, and four articles of trifling value were to be given as prizes. Her husband brought home several, things from town, and laid them on the table for her approval. This is what he said to her: “Those four things cost 4s 9d. these four ss, those four 5s 6d. The price of those four is 6s 3d, and of the last four 6s 6d. In speaking thus, it .is to be understood that he merely rearranged the. articles on- the table; he did not point to four different things every time he quoted a price. How many things had he brought, and how much did he pay for them? ANSWERS OF LAST WEEK’S PROBLEMS ' Charade.—For-mid-able. Fat Sheep.—He found six fat sheep in a mob of 63. Insufficient Information.—He can try No. 55, of which the square is 3025, or No. 99. of. which the square is 9801. Roadside Problem.—A, B. C. had paid for their cattle 355, 30s, 28s per head respectively. Hence, it is easy to see that £2O worth could be obtained with five from C’s mob and four from each of the others. At Home.—The numbers in glasses 1. 2.3, 4 were 21. 15, 15 20 respecTherefore. 30 cups required fnilk poured into them. Solutions with larger figures are possible, but the number of guests given seems sufficiently large to ask one lady to entertain.