Random Puzzles 

Workings

Hint
Think of the alphabet.

Answer
25 for Y.

These are the positions of the letters of the alphabet, and they are spelling Donkey.

Workings

Hint
Oval becomes Opal.

Answers
Paperweight.
opal past spin melt wren swab mess find aged shed stay

Workings

Hint
Each sentence hides a single word.

Answer
Badgers rapidly excavate a mound.

Reasoning
The initial letters of the words spell BREAM, a fish. The other sentences all spell birds.
    SWAN  = Sam wanted another newt.     EAGLE = Every artistic giraffe likes elephants.  *  BREAM = Badgers rapidly excavate a mound.     WREN  = Wild rabbits enjoy nature.     DUCK  = Dale understood cute kittens.     CRANE = Casual restless aardvarks need exercise.

Workings

Hint
The answer is a whole number less than 10.

Answer
3.

Reasoning
We can multiply throughout by 12,
    X     X     X     X
    -  -  -  +  -  =  -
    X     2     4     12

to give:

   12 − 6X + 3X = X

        12 − 3X = X

             12 = 4X

              3 = X

As required.

Double-Checking
    3     3     3     3
    -  -  -  +  -  =  -
    3     2     4     12

    1 − 1.5 + 0.75 = 0.25

              0.25 = 0.25, which confirms that 3 is correct.