Random Puzzles 

Workings

Hint
Since Dale had a second place, what does this tell us about Chris?

Answer
Race 1: Billie, Chris, Alex, Dale.
Race 2: Chris, Dale, Alex, Billie.

Reasoning
Since Chris always beat Dale, and Dale had a second place, one race must have been Chris first and Dale second.

Billie therefore won the other race, with Chris second.

Since only one runner finished in the same place in both races, this must have been Alex in third.

Workings

Hint
The first letters of the words are: R, W, T, W, T.

Answer
Typewriter.

Rip, wet, tire, wire, try.

Workings

Hint
Look at the first and third columns first.

Answer
The missing sum is 40.
Circle   = 12
Star     = 3
Square   = 7
Triangle = 9

Reasoning
Looking at Column 1 and Column 3 we have:

[1]   Square + Star + Circle + Square = 29
[2]   Square + Square + Triangle + Star = 26

If we subtract [1] – [2] we get:

[3]   Circle – Triangle = 3

And Row 3 is:

[4]   Circle + Circle + Triangle + Circle = 45

If we add [3] + [4] we get:

Circle + Circle + Circle + Circle = 48

So, Circle = 12.

Using [3] we find that Triangle = 9.

Using Column 2 we find that Star = 3.

Using Row 1 we find that Square = 7.

Double-Checking
The rows add to: 35 + 26 + 45 + 25 = 131.

The columns add to: 29 + 36 + 26 + 40 = 131.

The rows and columns must add to the same number, so this could have been used a shortcut to the missing sum.

In total, there are:
   5 Squares   = 5 x 7  = 35
   5 Circles   = 5 x 12 = 60
   3 Stars     = 3 x 3  =  9
   3 Triangles = 3 x 9  = 27

Which is also a total of 131.

So all of the totals are the same, as expected.

Workings

Hint
Perhaps think about the thumb?

Answer
It will now fit the left hand.