Puzzle 109
Four shepherds were watching over their flocks, and they were commenting on how many sheep they each had.
If Alex had three more sheep, then he'd have one fewer sheep than Billie.
Whereas Drew has the same number as the other three shepherds put together.
If Charlie had three fewer sheep, he'd have exactly three times the number of Alex.
If they were evenly distributed, they'd each have eleven sheep.
How many sheep does Alex have?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
Find how many sheep Drew has first.
Answer
3.
Reasoning
If we denote Alex by A, Billie by B, Charlie by C, and Drew by D and number the clues.
If Alex had three more sheep, then he'd have one fewer sheep than Billie.
Whereas Drew has the same number as the other three shepherds put together.
If Charlie had three fewer sheep, he'd have exactly three times the number of Alex.
If they were evenly distributed, they'd each have eleven sheep.
By (4):
A + B + C + D = 44
And, by (2), these are shared equally between A + B + C and D.
So D = 22, and A + B + C = 22 (* )
By (1):
A + 3 = B − 1
A + 4 = B
By (3):
C − 3 = 3A
C = 3A + 3
Substitute B and C in (* ):
A + (A + 4) + (3A + 3) = 22
5A + 7 = 22
5A = 15
A = 3
And, B = 7, C = 12.
Double-Checking
A = 3, B = 7, C = 12, D = 22.
(1) 3 + 3 = 7 − 1
(2) 3 + 7 + 12 = 22
(3) 12 − 3 = 3 x 3
(4) 3 + 7 + 12 + 22 = 44, and 44 ÷ 4 = 11 each.
Puzzle 110
Each of these words can have the same letter placed at the beginning and the end to form a new (common) word.
For example, -LIT- becomes ELITE by adding an E at both ends.
What are the new words?
-eve-
-able-
-carve-
-as-
-on-
-ode-
-elude-
-ape-
-ate-
-rod-
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
One of the words starts and ends with T.
Answers
eve = level
able = tablet
carve = scarves
as = ease, hash, sass
on = gong, sons
ode = codec, modem
elude = deluded
ape = lapel
ate = dated, rater
rod = erode
Puzzle 111
At the recent BrainBashers code-breaking convention, Billie Brisk won the speed contest.
The following sentence was deciphered in a record time of 123 seconds.
What was the well-known saying, and how has it been encrypted?
MOOT CYNA SKOO IOPS EHTL TORB YCBH
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
The first word begins with T.
Answer
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Reasoning
The saying has been broken down into blocks of 4, the last block has been filled with dummy letters. Each block has then been reversed.
Double-Checking
Start with:
TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE BROTH
Group together:
TOOMANYCOOKSSPOILTHEBROTH
Split into groups of 4 letters:
TOOM ANYC OOKS SPOI LTHE BROT H
Add 3 random characters:
TOOM ANYC OOKS SPOI LTHE BROT HBCY
Reverse each group of 4 letters:
MOOT CYNA SKOO IOPS EHTL TORB YCBH
Puzzle 112
During the recent BrainBashers cipher convention, a Morse code contest took place.
The contest consisted of a Morse code transmission where the spaces between the letters and words were missing.
Can you find the ten names for pet cats?
Luckily, BrainBashers has provided you with a list of the Morse code characters:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
The first letters of the words are: F, T, W, S, F, T, T, T, S, M.
Answers
Fluffy
Tiger
Whiskers
Spot
Felix
Tom
Tabby
Tiddles
Socks
Mittens
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