Random Puzzles 

Workings

Hint
Which letters are missing?

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.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs Middins.

Workings

Hint
Going down and across the floor isn't the only route.

Answer
40 feet.

Explanation Diagram
If you imagine the room to be a cardboard box, you can 'unfold' the room in various ways, and each route gives a different answer.



We can use Pythagoras' theorem (a² + b² = c²) to calculate the distances:
   distance² = horizontal² + vertical²
   distance = √(horizontal² + vertical²)

Route #1
   distance = 1 + 30 + 11 = 42 feet.

Route #2
   horizontal = 6 + 30 + 6 = 42 feet.
   vertical = 10 feet.
   distance = √(42² + 10²) ≈ 43.174 feet.

Route #3
   horizontal = 1 + 30 + 6 = 37 feet.
   vertical = 6 + 11 = 17 feet.
   distance = √(37² + 17²) ≈ 43.178 feet.

Route #4
   horizontal = 1 + 30 + 1 = 32 feet.
   vertical = 6 + 12 + 6 = 24 feet.
   distance = √(32² + 24²) = 40 feet.

Workings

Hint
The arrow doesn't move.

Answer
 

Workings

Hint
The chemical symbol for iron is Fe.

Answer
Yttrium.

The element's symbols are spelling February:

   iron (Fe) + bromine (Br) + uranium (U) + argon (Ar) + yttrium (Y)