At the local sweet shop, three particularly nice sweets are on special offer.
A Nobbler is over three times the price of a Sparkle. Six Sparkles are worth more than a Wibbler. A Nobbler, plus two Sparkles costs less than a Wibbler. A Sparkle, a Wibbler and a Nobbler together cost 40p.
Can you determine the price of each type of sweet?
Reasoning
By (3) a Nobbler, plus two Sparkles costs less than a Wibbler, therefore a Wibbler must be the most expensive sweet.
By (1) a Nobbler is over three times the price of a Sparkle, therefore a Sparkle must be the cheapest sweet.
So the order of sweets, from the least to most expensive, is Sparkle, Nobbler, Wibbler.
If a Sparkle was 1p, by (2) a Wibbler could only be up to 5p, by (4) a Nobbler would cost at least 34p, which is more than a Wibbler and isn't allowed as the Wibbler is the most expensive sweet.
If a Sparkle was 2p, by (2) a Wibbler could only be up to 11p, by (4) a Nobbler would cost at least 27p, which is more than a Wibbler and isn't allowed as the Wibbler is the most expensive sweet.
If a Sparkle was 3p, by (2) a Wibbler could only be up to 17p, by (4) a Nobbler would cost at least 20p, which is more than a Wibbler and isn't allowed as the Wibbler is the most expensive sweet.
So a Sparkle must be at least 4p.
If a Sparkle was 4p, by (1) a Nobbler must be at least 13p, by (4) a Wibbler would cost 23p. This combination matches all of the clues and is a possible solution.
If a Sparkle was 4p and a Nobbler 14p, by (4) a Wibbler would cost 22p. This would not satisfy (3). And if we increase the price of a Nobbler, (3) is never satisfied.
If a Sparkle was 5p, by (1) a Nobbler must be at least 16p, by (4) making a Wibbler at most 19p. This would not satisfy (3).
If we increase the price of a Sparkle or Nobbler further, (3) is will never be satisfied.
Therefore, the only solution we came across must be the correct one.
April, August, December, February, January, July, June, March, May, November, October, September.
?
Puzzle 4
Apparently, one side of a cat has more hair. The findings of the scientific establishment have been corroborated by a special enquiry by the BB Feline Federation. Many hair counts were taken of the side in question and consistently it was found to contain more hairs. The scientists determined that more hair was required on this side to insulate the cat from the elements while it was lying down. Perhaps you would like to examine a cat to confirm the findings. Before you do, can you guess which side of a cat has more hair?
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