Answer
The two sons rowed to safety first, one son rowed back.
I rowed to safety and the other son rowed back to the island.
The two sons rowed to safety first, one son rowed back again.
My wife rowed to safety and the other son rowed back.
Finally, the two sons rowed to safety.
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Puzzle 3
Billy has twice as many sisters as brothers.
His sister, Frankie, has one more sister than she has brothers.
Answer
There are four boys and six girls in the family.
If there were B boys, and G girls we know that Billy has twice as many sisters as brothers, so 2 x (b - 1) = g.
And his sister, Frankie, has one more sister than she has brothers, so g - 1 = b + 1.
2(b - 1) = g [1]
g - 1 = b + 1 [2]
Using [1] in [2] gives:
2(b - 1) - 1 = b + 1
Expanding the bracket gives:
2b - 2 - 1 = b + 1
Simplifying the left hand side gives:
2b - 3 = b + 1
Add 3 to each side gives:
2b = b + 4
Subtract b from both sides gives:
b = 4
Using b = 4 in [1] gives:
2(4 - 1) = g
6 = g
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Puzzle 4
This is an annoying paragraph, in which you try and work out what is unusual about it. This paragraph has a quandary though. A solitary word has found a way to slink into this paragraph, to fox your fun, by going against all my jazzy plans. What is that word? Don't try to run a utility to assist you, that would spoil all of my attempts to absorb all of your avid skills in this mind blowing prank.