Puzzle 1
If I give you seven apples, you will then have five times as many as I would then have.
However, if you give me seven apples, we will then both have the same number of apples.
How many apples do I currently have?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zdec
share
Hint
A little bit of algebra might help.
Answer
I have 14 apples, and you have 28 apples.
Reasoning
We can work this out with a little algebra. I have A apples, and you have B apples, then
[1] 5 x (A − 7) = B + 7
[2] A + 7 = B − 7
From [1] we have:
5A − 35 = B + 7
[3] 5A = B + 42
From [2] we have:
[4] A + 14 = B
We can then use [4] in [3] to give:
5A = (A + 14) + 42
5A = A + 56
4A = 56
A = 14
Which gives B = 28 (by [4]).
Puzzle 3
The BrainBashers football world tour is well underway and Alex is planning the journey to each country.
Unfortunately, the BrainBashers atlas software is playing up again and has worked out the mileage incorrectly, as shown below.
China 3,500
Finland 6,000
Chile 3,700
Jamaica 3,800
Wales 6,000
According to the software, how many miles is it to Germany?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zxxr
share
Hint
Think of the whole alphabet, and not just the vowels (AEIOU).
Answer
8,300.
Each letter of the country is worth 100 miles based on its position in the alphabet.
Therefore, Germany = 7 + 5 + 18 + 13 + 1 + 14 + 25 = 83 x 100 miles.
Puzzle 4
What number replaces the question mark?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zwsm
share
Hint
In the first box, look at 7 & 3, and 4 & 1, to see how we can use them to make 12.
Answer
4.
Reasoning
For each row, the left minus the right gives a number.
The numbers for the rows are then multiplied together.
In the first box:
7 − 3 = 4
4 − 1 = 3
so 4 x 3 = 12
In the second box:
9 − 2 = 7
8 − 3 = 5
so 7 x 5 = 35
In the last box:
6 − 2 = 4
8 − 7 = 1
so 4 x 1 = 4.
next >