Answer
The letter was written on a typewriter which has a problem with the middle row of letters, which print spaces instead. The letter should have read:
Dear Sir,
I recently visited one of your outlets to buy one of your typewriters. However, as you can see I am having a small problem.
The middle row of the keyboard appears to be faulty.
I would be very grateful if you could despatch a replacement by return post. Failing this, could you please send an engineer to resolve this problem as a matter of urgency.
During the latest round of the BrainBashers school triathlon the final results were mislaid, however, this is what we do know.
Hayden was fourth. Alex was not the oldest but was older than Drew, who was not second. The child who was next in age to the youngest, finished second. The child who finished in third place was older than the child who finished first. Billie was younger than the child who finished in third place.
Can you determine who finished where and place the children in order of age?
Answer # Name Age
#1 Drew youngest
#2 Billie next to youngest
#3 Alex next to oldest
#4 Hayden oldest
Reasoning
By (2), neither Alex nor Drew were the oldest. By (5), neither was Billie. Therefore, Hayden was the oldest, and by (1) came fourth.
#1
#2
#3
#4 Hayden oldest
By (4) the youngest didn't come third, and by (3) the youngest didn't come second. Therefore, the youngest came first.
#1 youngest
#2
#3
#4 Hayden oldest
By (3), the next to youngest came second, leaving the next to oldest in third.
#1 youngest
#2 next to youngest
#3 next to oldest
#4 Hayden oldest
By (2), Drew wasn't second, but Alex was older, so Drew can't be third either. Therefore, Drew can only have come in first.
#1 Drew youngest
#2 next to youngest
#3 next to oldest
#4 Hayden oldest
By (5) Billie didn't come third, so came second. Leaving Alex in third.
#1 Drew youngest
#2 Billie next to youngest
#3 Alex next to oldest
#4 Hayden oldest
??
Puzzle 7
At the local racetrack, Alex was testing the latest car.
During the eight test laps, Alex managed to average the first two laps at 100mph, the next two laps at 102mph, the next two laps at 140mph, and the last two laps at 150mph.
The 8 laps were 40 miles, and using Speed = Distance ÷ Time: average speed = 40 ÷ (40⁄119) average speed = 40 x (119⁄40) = 119 mph
??
Puzzle 8
Using all of the letters A to Z, each once only, complete these common words. There are currently 2 different answers, can you find them both? ap--eb-a-ebo--d-an-c-ro-e--ell-ra-ybu-c--o-ra-umb-s-ua-lo--lg-es-
