Random Puzzles 

Workings

Hint
Try working backwards.

Answer
335 strawberries.

Reasoning
Working backwards …

I ended up with 34 strawberries, so I had 102 before giving Charlie two thirds.

I ate 6 myself, so I had 108 before I ate those.

I had 108 strawberries, so I had 162 before giving Billie one third.

I ate 3 myself, so I had 165 before I ate those.

I had 165 strawberries, so I had 330 before giving Alex one half.

Ate 5 myself, so I had 335 before I ate those.

Therefore, I started with 335 strawberries.

Double-Checking
I started with 335.

I ate 5, leaving 330.

I gave Alex half (165), leaving 165.

I ate 3, leaving 162.

I gave Billie one third (54), leaving 108.

I ate 6, leaving 102.

I gave Charlie two thirds (68), leaving 34.

Workings

Hints
The first letters of the words are: P, O, B, C, U, R, D, V, D, D, N, S, B, T, D.

Answers
---cil = pencil ---hid = orchid ---nze = bronze ---ese = cheese ---lug = unplug ---som = ransom ---uxe = deluxe ---uum = vacuum ---arm = disarm ---amo = dynamo ---rby = nearby ---ink = shrink ---sai = bonsai ---too = tattoo ---fen = deafen

Workings

Hint
There are three feet in a yard, and 1,760 yards in a mile.

Answer
Seconds in a week.

Reasoning
There are 60 x 60 x 24 x 7 = 604,800 seconds in a week.

There are 3 x 1760 x 100 = 528,000 feet in 100 miles.

Workings

Hint
There are fewer than 20 squares.

Answer
18 squares.

In the solution below, you can see 6 squares in the middle, with another 12 squares around the outside.