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Puzzle 197 


What number comes next in this sequence:

42  1412  11141112  31143112  132114132112  ?

Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone

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Puzzle 198 


A Proof That 2 = 1. Let A = B:

           A = B

multiply by A on both sides:

         A x A = A x B

subtract B x B from both sides:

   A x A – B x B = A x B – B x B

factorise:

  (A + B)(A – B) = B(A – B)

divide by (A – B) on both sides:

       (A + B) = B

replace A with B:

         B + B = B

factorise:

          2B = B

divide by B on both sides:

           2 = 1

Where lies the flaw in the logic?

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?

Puzzle 199 


Can you find the country hidden in the following paragraph:

At school, most of my friends learnt French. I learnt Chinese, mainly because I planned to visit the area when I grew up.

Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone

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Puzzle 200 


The local CD shop operates an unusual discount policy. The discount on the next purchase is worked out on the current purchase in the following way: for every whole pound spent you get 0.5% discount on the next purchase. For example, if you purchased £8.99 on the first purchase, you would then get a 4% discount on the next purchase and so on. You can make as many purchases as necessary.

You need to buy 7 CDs, costing, £11.50, £12.00, £12.00, £12.50, £13.00, £13.00 and £14.50. What is the cheapest method of buying them?

Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone

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