Random Puzzles 

Workings

Hint
Look at the number of letters in each name.

Answer
Yes.

Because there is an odd number of letters in the name.

Workings

Hint
The country spans more than one word.

Answer
France.

We told Cliff to run, 'Run Cliff, run'. So ClifF RAN, CElebrating his recent victory in the inter-departmental relay race.

Workings

Hint
Adding the speeds won't work.

Answer
205 mph.

Reasoning
If we take the number of miles in a lap to be L miles and use Time = Distance ÷ Speed.

The first ²/₅ are covered at 123 mph. Therefore, the time taken was [(²/₅) x L] ÷ 123 hours.

The next ²/₅ are covered at 164 mph. Therefore, the time taken was [(²/₅) x L] ÷ 164 hours.

The last ¹/₅ is covered at y mph. Therefore, the time taken was [(¹/₅) x L] ÷ y hours.

The entire trip is covered at an average of 150 mph, and we can conclude that:
 2L      2L      L     L
————— + ————— + ——— = ———
5x123   5x164    5y   150

Rearranging and simplifying gives:
 1     1    2     2
——— = —— - ——— - ———
 y    30   123   164

That means that y = 1 ÷ (¹/₃₀ - ²/₁₂₃ - ²/₁₆₄)

Using a calculator gives y = 205.

Workings

Hint

Answer
23.

Reasoning
By likely, we mean greater than 50% chance.

With one person there is a 0 percent chance that you'll have two people with the same birthday.

With two people the probability that they won't share a birthday is 364 / 365. The probability that they will share a birthday is therefore 1 - (364 / 365).

With three people the probability that they won't share a birthday is the same as for two people, times 363 / 365. So the probability that three people will share a birthday is 1 - (364 / 365) x (363 / 365).

Notice that with each additional person added, the probability that they shares a birthday with one of the previous persons goes up, because there are fewer "free" days remaining.

We keep adding people until the %age is greater than 50%.

When we have 23 people the %age is 50.729%.