Random Puzzles 

Workings

Hint
Don't forget the extra 9's in 90, 91, etc.

Answer
300.

Reasoning
Start with: 9, 19, 29, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 – which is 20 9's.

We then repeat this for 100, 200, 300, up to 900 – which is 200 9's.

But from 900 to 999 we have an extra 100 9's as each starts with a 9.

So the total is 300.

Workings

Hint
The sons row across first.

Answer
The two sons rowed to safety first, one son rowed back.
I rowed to safety and the other son rowed back to the island.
The two sons rowed to safety first, one son rowed back again.
My wife rowed to safety and the other son rowed back.
Finally, the two sons rowed to safety.

Workings

Hint
It doesn't matter what the distance is, so try a random distance.

Answer
This cannot be done.

It does not matter how far the trip is, let's assume that it is random distance, say 60 miles, and remembering that Time = Distance ÷ Speed.

The morning trip took 60 miles ÷ 30 mph = 2 hours.

To average the required 60 mph, we would have to travel the total distance (of 120 miles) in 2 hours. However, we've already used all of the two hours for the morning trip!

Choosing any random distance would also show that it can't be done.

Workings

Hint
What day of the week was the 1^st?

Answer
Saturday.

Reasoning
For a 31-day month, such as March, to have 5 Saturdays and 5 Mondays the 1^st must be a Saturday (and the 31^st a Monday).

You can then work forwards from the 1^st.