Random Puzzles 

Workings

Hint
The country spans more than one word.

Answer
Sweden.

As managerS, WE DENy all involvement in the unscrupulous dealings that have come to light in the recent interdepartmental investigation.

Workings

Hint
The sequence ends with STUCK.

Answers
flock = a gaggle of geese clock = a device for measuring time click = what you can do with a mouse chick = a baby chicken chock = a device to prevent wheels from moving shock = a surprise shack = a small house stack = a pile of cards stick = a small piece of wood stuck = unable to move

Workings

Hint
Try starting with the cube root of the number.

Answer
195 x 197 x 199.

Reasoning
Since we're after three numbers that multiply together, a good place to start is the cube root of 7,644,585, which is roughly 196.99.

Let's try dividing by the closest odd number to 196.99:

   7644585 ÷ 197 = 38805

We're now after whole divisors of 38,805, so trying either odd number either side of 197 might work.

Trying either 195 or 199 gives the answer.

Double-Checking
   195 x 197 x 199 = 7,644,585

Note
Trying the closest odd number to the cube root always works, and the other two numbers are the odd numbers either side.

Workings

Hint
How many miles were left at the start of yesterday?

Answer
336 miles.

Reasoning
To work these numbers out, it is perhaps easier to start at the end and work backwards.

Yesterday I travelled ¹/₃ of the distance to leave 21 miles, therefore there were 31.5 miles (=21 ÷ ²/₃) at the start of yesterday.

On day 3 I travelled ³/₄ of the distance to leave 31.5 miles, therefore there were 126 miles (=31.5 ÷ ¹/₄) at the start of day 3.

On day 2 I travelled ¹/₂ of the distance to leave 126 miles, therefore there were 252 miles (=126 ÷ ¹/₂) at the start of day 2.

On day 1, I travelled ¹/₄ of the distance to leave 252 miles, therefore there were 336 miles (=252 ÷ ³/₄) at the start of day 1.

Double-Checking
On day one, I travelled one quarter of the distance (84, leaving 252).

On day two, I travelled one half of the remaining distance (126, leaving 126).

On day three, I travelled three quarters of the remaining distance (94.5, leaving 31.5).

Yesterday I travelled one third of the remaining distance (10.5).

I now have 21 miles left to travel.