Puzzle 202
After a day picking strawberries, I ended up with a full basket, which is always nice.
I ate 5, and then gave Alex half of the remaining.
I ate another 3, and then gave Billie one third of the remaining.
I ate another 6, and then gave Charlie two thirds of the remaining.
I now had 34 strawberries left. How many did I start with?
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zxgg
share
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.
Puzzle 203
What comes next in this sequence:
eno · owt · ehret · rouf · eivf · xis · ?
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zmzy
share
Hint
The sequence started as a very common one.
Answer
Neves.
Reasoning
These are the first few numbers with their first and last letters swapped.
Puzzle 204
The map below shows the street locations of a city. Position three police officers such that the entire length of every street can be seen by at least one officer.
Puzzle Copyright © Cihan Altay
workings
hint
answer
print
www.brainbashers.com
/puzzle/zmua
share
Hint
There is an officer at B.
Answer
Position officers at B, G and H.
next >