Puzzle 197
A 'complete' word is a word in which every letter, in turn, can be replaced by another to form a new word.
For example, RUG is a complete word because:
-ug = hug
r-g = rig
ru- = run
How many of the following words are not complete words? Proper nouns and names are not allowed.
team
cost
flew
ward
fail
rook
soft
most
lamp
load
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
Another example, PEN is a complete word because:
-en = ten
p-n = pin
pe- = pea
Answer
Three of the words are not complete: flew, rook, lamp.
Reasoning
The remaining 7 words can be changed as follows:
team:
-eam = beam
t-am = tram
te-m = term
tea- = tear
cost:
-ost = host
c-st = cast
co-t = coat
cos- = cosy
flew:
-lew = blew
f-ew = ---- X
fl-w = flow
fle- = flex
ward:
-ard = card
w-rd = word
wa-d = wand
war- = warm
fail:
-ail = nail
f-il = foil
fa-l = fall
fai- = fair
rook:
-ook = book
r-ok = ---- X
ro-k = rock
roo- = roof
soft:
-oft = loft
s-ft = sift
so-t = sort
sof- = sofa
most:
-ost = cost
m-st = mast
mo-t = moat
mos- = moss
lamp:
-amp = damp
l-mp = lump
la-p = ---- X
lam- = lamb
Note that LARP is an uppercase acronym, and not in any of my word lists.
load:
-oad = road
l-ad = lead
lo-d = loud
loa- = loaf
Puzzle 198
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?
| 2R |
1D |
2D |
2L |
1L |
1L |
1L |
| 1U |
2R |
2L |
2D |
1D |
1R |
2D |
| 3R |
5R |
2D |
2L |
1R |
1U |
4D |
| 2D |
1R |
2R |
3L |
2U |
2D |
1D |
| 2U |
1U |
2D |
1D |
1L |
1U |
2L |
| 6R |
1U |
4U |
E |
1D |
3L |
2L |
| 2U |
1U |
2L |
2L |
1R |
2L |
6U |
Note: this puzzle is not interactive, and the safe buttons cannot be clicked.
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
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Hint
Start on any square, and see how far you can get.
Answer
Start from the 1U which is on the 5th row and the 6th column.
Puzzle 199
How can you drop an egg exactly 30 feet …
… above a concrete floor without breaking the egg?
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Hint
What could cause the egg to break, and how can we prevent this?
Answer
If we drop the egg from somewhere above 30 feet high, the egg can fall 30 feet and be caught, while still above the floor.
Puzzle 200
What number comes next in this sequence:
2 · 5 · 9 · 19 · 37 · ?
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Hint
The sequence involves doubling in some way.
Answer
75.
Alternately double plus one, double minus one.
