Puzzle 29
This equation contains the numbers 1-8.
Can you complete it?
6.
.. x
————
....
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
The answer begins with 3.
Answer
64 x 58 = 3712.
Reasoning
Since no digit is duplicated, neither number can end in 1, otherwise, the last digit of the answer would already have been used.
Neither number can end in 5 because the answer would then end in 5 or 0.
So the first number can only be 62, 63, 64, 67, or 68.
We can now look at what the second number can end with, and we find that...
if the first number was 62, the second number can only end in 4 or 7.
Why...
not 1 as previously explained
not 2 because we've already used that in the 62
not 3 because 62 x *3 would end in 6, which is already in the 62
not 5 as previously explained
not 6 because we've already used that in the 62
not 8 because 62 x *8 would end in 6, which is already in the 62
We can repeat this for the other possible first numbers and find that...
if the first number was 62, the second number can only end in 4 or 7.
if the first number was 63, the second number can only end in 4, 7, or 8.
if the first number was 64, the second number can only end in 2, 3, 7, or 8.
if the first number was 67, the second number can only end in 2, 3, or 4.
if the first number was 68, the second number can only end in 3 or 4.
Let's check these in turn...
If the first number was 62, the only possible values are:
62 x 14 = 868
62 x 34 = 2108
62 x 54 = 3348
62 x 74 = 4588
or
62 x 17 = 1054
62 x 37 = 2294
62 x 57 = 3534
62 x 87 = 5394
Only 4 calculations are required for each option, as we didn't need to check 62 x 84 as we already know that the answer would end in 8, or 62 x 47 as we already know that the answer would end in 4.
All of these answers fail as they don't contain all of the digits.
Similarly, we can look at 63, then 64, etc. For each of the numbers, we have to check the possible endings, but in each case, only 4 calculations are required (as seen in the examples above).
We (quickly?) find 64 x 58 = 3712.
Puzzle 30
Cen yee rell wrer er wreng werr rrer peregrepr? Er ferrr glence yee mey rrenk rrer jerr rre vewelr reve preblemr, ber ne! Rrree cenrenenrr elre reve preblemr, rrey reve been repleced werr rre lerrer R, ber wrecr ener ere rrey?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
It's not just the vowels that have a problem.
Answer
H, S, and T.
Reasoning
It should read:
"Can you tell what is wrong with this paragraph? At first glance you may think that just the vowels have problems, but no! Three consonants also have problems, they have been replaced with the letter R, but which ones are they?"
Puzzle 31
What is the next number in the sequence:
32 35 40 44 52 112 {?}
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
This is a tricky question related to number bases.
Answer
200.
Each number in the sequence is a representation of the number 32 in different bases, starting with base 10.
Base 10: 32 = 3 x 10^1 + 2 x 10^0 = 3 x 10 + 2 = 32
Base 9 : 35 = 3 x 9^1 + 5 x 9^0 = 3 x 9 + 5 = 32
Base 8 : 40 = 4 x 8^1 + 0 x 8^0 = 4 x 8 + 0 = 32
Base 7 : 44 = 4 x 7^1 + 4 x 7^0 = 4 x 7 + 4 = 32
Base 6 : 52 = 5 x 6^1 + 2 x 6^0 = 5 x 6 + 2 = 32
Base 5 : 112 = 1 x 5^2 + 1 x 5^1 + 2 x 5^0 = 1 x 25 + 1 x 5 + 2 = 32
Base 4 : 200 = 2 x 4^2 + 0 x 4^1 + 0 x 4^0 = 2 x 16 + 0 + 0 = 32
Puzzle 32
During a recent BrainBashers race meeting, the fastest driver managed to complete a lap with an average speed of 150 mph.
They managed to complete the first two fifths of the lap at a speed of 123 mph and the second two fifths of the lap at a speed of 164 mph.
At what speed was the final one fifth of the lap length covered?
The answer is not 176 mph.
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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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.
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