Hint
The largest possible difference is when 1 is next to 8, a difference of 7. Since we have 7 differences to find, and the largest possible difference is 7, all of the possible differences must exist. Start by looking where can the 8 go.
Answer
Reasoning
The largest possible difference is when 1 is next to 8, a difference of 7. Since we have 7 differences to find, and the largest possible difference is 7, all of the possible differences must exist: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and let's call these D1, …, D7.
D7 can only happen when: 1 is next to 8 = D7
D6 can happen when:
1 is next to 7, but these are given numbers that are not next to each other. 2 is next to 8 = D6
Where can 8 go? If we put 8 above 1, we cannot also satisfy D6 (2 is next to 8).
Therefore, we have two possibilities:
(a) 8 to the left of 1
(b) 8 to the right of 1 (a) 8 to the left of 1
By D6, 2 would be below 8, and this would give us D1, D6, D7. What can we place to the right of 1?
3 – no, because the difference between 1 and 3, and the difference between 3 and 5, are both D2.
4 – no, because the difference between 4 and 5 is D1, which we would already have.
6 – no, because the difference between 5 and 6 is D1, which we would already have.
There are no possible numbers we can place to the right of 1, so 8 can't go to the left of 1. (b) 8 to the right of 1
By D6, 2 would be above 8, and this would give us D3, D6, D7.
4 can't go next to 1, otherwise we'd create another D3. Therefore, 4 goes in the bottom left corner.
We are now left with 3 and 6.
If 6 went above 4, and 3 above 1, these would both be D2.
Therefore, 3 goes above 4, 6 goes above 1.
The final answer is:
??
Puzzle 58
Below are 8 Academy Award winners.
The letters of their names have been mixed up and put into alphabetical order.
The brackets contain clues to their names, the first letter and the length of each part of their name. For example, EEIKNNOSTV [K5 S5] = KEVIN STONE.
DEEFIJOORST [J5 F6]
EEELMPRRSTY [M5 S6]
ABEIJLORRSTU [J5 R7]
AABEEHHIKNNPRRTU [K9 H7]
CEEEGGLNOOORY [G6 C7]
ACCHIJKLNNOOS [J4 N9]
BDEEINOORRRT [R6 D2 N4]
AACCEEHIILMN [M7 C5]
Answer
DEEFIJOORST = JODIE FOSTER
EEELMPRRSTY = MERYL STREEP
ABEIJLORRSTU = JULIA ROBERTS
AABEEHHIKNNPRRTU = KATHARINE HEPBURN
CEEEGGLNOOORY = GEORGE CLOONEY
ACCHIJKLNNOOS = JACK NICHOLSON
BDEEINOORRRT = ROBERT DE NIRO
AACCEEHIILMN = MICHAEL CAINE
?
Puzzle 59
Can you complete this paragraph using two words that are anagrams of each other?
While driving their car at a reckless speed, the driver was distracted by their dog ?. Luckily, they managed to complete the ? manoeuvre without crashing.
Hint
There are currently two answers. One answer contains 7 letters, and starts with the letter B. The other contains 4 letters, and starts with the letter S.
Answer
While driving their car at a reckless speed, the driver was distracted by their dog barking. Luckily, they managed to complete the braking manoeuvre without crashing.
Alternative Answer
While driving their car at a reckless speed, the driver was distracted by their dog Spot. Luckily, they managed to complete the stop manoeuvre without crashing.
Reasoning
A baker's dozen is 13, so a dozen baker's dozen is:
12 x 13 = 156 loaves
There are 15 red balls in snooker, and each of these can be followed by the black ball, and then the colours in order gives:
15 x (1 + 7) + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 147 points
This can rise to 155 if the break follows a foul.
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