GO TO THE TOP OF THE CLASS

Cue (NZERS), Issue 28, 31 July 1945, Page 29

GO TO THE TOP OF THE CLASS

1. Smith cycles at ten miles an hour uphill, twenty miles an hour downhill, and fifteen miles an hour on the level; Jones keeps up a steady fifteen miles an hour whatever the grade. If they both cycle from Wellington* to Paekakariki—or from Christchurch to Lyttelton—-and back, which one will do the double journey in the shorter ■’time? . ’ v- ■■■ 2. Suppose two men, each possessing a perfect knowledge of the game, sit down to, play noughts and -crosses. There are, of course, only three results possible in noughts and crossesa win or a loss for the first player, or a draw. In our hypothetical case of the two perfect players the result will always übe the same. Which is it ? ' ' c ~ ( i .. ■». ' a’L’ ’7 ’■ / \ '"■ **' 7 • 3. A party of men, went into a restaurant. Each gave exactly the same order their total bill came to 6s o£d. • How many of them were there? , * ’ '.. - '

4. Mr. Smith, a businessman, went for a fortnight’s holiday. He gave

Miss Jones, his secretary, the ; key to his office, asking .here to forward his mail, but he forgot to give her the key to his mailbox. A few days later, Miss Jones received a telephone call from her boss, asking why he had not received any mail, and she replied that he still had the key to the box. So Mr. Smith posted her the key, but he still did not get any mail. \ Why ? :

5. Two vessels contained equal quantities of whisky and water. . A teaspoonful of the whisky was transferred to the vessel: containing water. A teaspoonful of the mixture from this ,vessel was then transferred to the vessel containing whisky. How does the proportion of water in this vessel now compare with the proportion of whisky in "the other? .- ' ? .

6. ”As a result, presumably, of the increasing accessibility of the more subtle poisons, the proportion of undetected murders has risen from 11.8 per cent, in 1935 to 18.7 per cent, in 1945.” Do you see anything absurd in this statistical comparison? ~ *

1. Jones. While the average speed of the two cyclists appears to be the same, it really is not. Smith spends more time travelling at ten miles an hour than at twenty; to average fifteen miles an hour he would have to cycle at twenty miles an hour as. long as he did at ten. ■ '' „ /*' < - < 2. A draw. 3. ‘Seventeen. Each one’s order amounted to 4>d. 4. When Mr. Smith posted the key it would be duly delivered in the locked box.

5. The proportion of water in the whisky is -exactly the same as that of the, whisky in the water. 6. -Statistics concerning undetected crimes are' always difficult to compile.