Reasoning
A fathom is 6 feet, which is 1.8288 metres.
So there are 1000 ÷ 1.8288 ≈ 546.8 fathoms in a kilometre.
The shortest month has 28 x 24 hours = 672.
So even the shortest month has more hours than there are fathoms in a kilometre.
??
Puzzle 154
At the local sweet shop, three particularly nice sweets are on special offer.
A Nobbler is over three times the price of a Sparkle. Six Sparkles are worth more than a Wibbler. A Nobbler, plus two Sparkles costs less than a Wibbler. A Sparkle, a Wibbler and a Nobbler together cost 40p.
Can you determine the price of each type of sweet?
Reasoning
By (3) a Nobbler, plus two Sparkles costs less than a Wibbler, therefore a Wibbler must be the most expensive sweet.
By (1) a Nobbler is over three times the price of a Sparkle, therefore a Sparkle must be the cheapest sweet.
So the order of sweets, from the least to most expensive, is Sparkle, Nobbler, Wibbler.
If a Sparkle was 1p, by (2) a Wibbler could only be up to 5p, by (4) a Nobbler would cost at least 34p, which is more than a Wibbler and isn't allowed as the Wibbler is the most expensive sweet.
If a Sparkle was 2p, by (2) a Wibbler could only be up to 11p, by (4) a Nobbler would cost at least 27p, which is more than a Wibbler and isn't allowed as the Wibbler is the most expensive sweet.
If a Sparkle was 3p, by (2) a Wibbler could only be up to 17p, by (4) a Nobbler would cost at least 20p, which is more than a Wibbler and isn't allowed as the Wibbler is the most expensive sweet.
So a Sparkle must be at least 4p.
If a Sparkle was 4p, by (1) a Nobbler must be at least 13p, by (4) a Wibbler would cost 23p. This combination matches all of the clues and is a possible solution.
If a Sparkle was 4p and a Nobbler 14p, by (4) a Wibbler would cost 22p. This would not satisfy (3). And if we increase the price of a Nobbler, (3) is never satisfied.
If a Sparkle was 5p, by (1) a Nobbler must be at least 16p, by (4) making a Wibbler at most 19p. This would not satisfy (3).
If we increase the price of a Sparkle or Nobbler further, (3) is will never be satisfied.
Therefore, the only solution we came across must be the correct one.
?
Puzzle 155
This BrainBashers safe has a rather unusual control panel.
In order to open the safe, you have to press every single square once only, in the correct sequence, ending on the square marked E.
Each square indicates which square to press next, for example, 2U means move up 2 squares and 3R means move right 3 squares.
Can you determine which square you must start with?
3R
4R
2R
2D
2R
4D
2D
2R
1U
1U
3D
2D
1R
2L
3D
1D
3R
1R
2L
4L
1D
1U
4R
2L
3D
2D
2L
4L
4U
1L
2D
E
2R
1D
4L
1R
1D
1R
4U
2R
3L
1D
5U
5U
2L
2R
2U
5U
2L
Note: this puzzle is not interactive, and the safe buttons cannot be clicked.
Hint
Find anagrams of the words in this order: PLEASE, TRANCE, LISTEN, WARNED, VEINED, BRUISE.
Answers
ANSWER.
Reasoning
The initial letters are RWASEN, which is an anagram of ANSWER. bruise becomes rubieswarned becomes wanderplease becomes asleeplisten becomes silentveined becomes enviedtrance becomes nectar