X
It is now four years since I first asked for support, and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me. BrainBashers doesn't show adverts, and I continue to depend on the ongoing support from everyone who enjoys the site.
support BrainBashers
?
Puzzle 201
At the annual BrainBashers puzzle discussion conference, 20 people attended.
At the start of the conference, each person shook hands with every other person, how many handshakes took place in total?
During the latest round of the BrainBashers school triathlon the final results were mislaid, however, this is what we do know.
Hayden was fourth. Alex was not the oldest but was older than Drew, who was not second. The child who was next in age to the youngest, finished second. The child who finished in third place was older than the child who finished first. Billie was younger than the child who finished in third place.
Can you determine who finished where and place the children in order of age?
Answer # Name Age
#1 Drew youngest
#2 Billie next to youngest
#3 Alex next to oldest
#4 Hayden oldest
Reasoning
By (2), neither Alex nor Drew were the oldest. By (5), neither was Billie. Therefore, Hayden was the oldest, and by (1) came fourth.
#1
#2
#3
#4 Hayden oldest
By (4) the youngest didn't come third, and by (3) the youngest didn't come second. Therefore, the youngest came first.
#1 youngest
#2
#3
#4 Hayden oldest
By (3), the next to youngest came second, leaving the next to oldest in third.
#1 youngest
#2 next to youngest
#3 next to oldest
#4 Hayden oldest
By (2), Drew wasn't second, but Alex was older, so Drew can't be third either. Therefore, Drew can only have come in first.
#1 Drew youngest
#2 next to youngest
#3 next to oldest
#4 Hayden oldest
By (5) Billie didn't come third, so came second. Leaving Alex in third.
#1 Drew youngest
#2 Billie next to youngest
#3 Alex next to oldest
#4 Hayden oldest
?
Puzzle 203
Using exactly four straight lines, without taking your pen off the (virtual) paper, can you join all nine dots?
Note: this puzzle is not interactive, and cannot be clicked.
A Charming Puzzle, Twentieth Century Standard Puzzle Book, A. Cyril Pearson.
Answer
Start from the top left dot, and go past the top right dot, and then diagonally down to the bottom left dot, back up to the top left dot, and diagonally down to the bottom right dot.
??
Puzzle 204
At the recent BrainBashers code-breaking convention, Billie Brisk won the speed contest.
The following sentence was deciphered in a record time of 123 seconds.
What was the well-known saying, and how has it been encrypted?
MOOT CYNA SKOO IOPS EHTL TORB YCBH
It is now four years since I first asked for support, and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me. BrainBashers doesn't show adverts, and I continue to depend on the ongoing support from everyone who enjoys the site.
