Mathematical Teasers
Mathematical Teasers
Mathematical Teasers
Teasers
A distinctive collection of problems, puzzles,
and tricks with complete explanations
MATHEMATICAL TEASERS
MATHEMATICAL
TEASERS
Julio A. Mira
•
IIIII BAR N E S & NOBLE BOOKS
A DIVISION OF HARPER & ROW, PUBLISHERS
v
vi Preface
are never so ingenious as when they are inventing
games."
This book contains a number of interesting, and often
challenging, mathematical puzzles, which have been
very carefully selected and put together especially for
enjoyment by the person who may be neither a mathe-
matical genius nor even a mathematician. It is the
express hope of the author that the reader will enjoy
these "mathematical teasers" as much as he has. The
solution to each of the problems is found at the end of
the chapter containing that particular problem. Some
of the theory used in solving these problems can be
found in Arithmetic Clear and Simple, also by the
author.
Chapter Page
vii
chapter 1
teasers for all
$50 $51
1
2 Mathematical Teasers
7. square geometry
In this arrangement there are ten matches forming
three squares. Which two must be removed to obtain
two squares?
10. discomposing
Which of the ten discs, at the left, must be moved to
form the arrangement at the right by replacing only 3
discs?
CD 0000
®® 000
@@® 00
0®®@ o
Teasers for All 5
-L
Vi I
Transform this fraction into a fraction whose value
equals one third by replacing only one nail.
o <><> o
10 Mathematical Teasers
In this arrangement there are sixteen matches. Re-
move four and replace one so that you can spell the
thing out of which good matches are made!
VJ-IV= I X
Here is an incorrect equation. Change it into a correct
one by replacing just one match.
Teasers for All 11
E F
'=="~~>~....-
G H
J~O ~)
(e)
12 Mathematical Teasers
52. post ti me
A man has a square plot of ground with twelve posts
equally spaced on each side. How many posts are re-
quired altogether?
70. a count up
solutions
7. square geometry
Remove matches numbered 6 and 9.
10. discomposing
Discs numbered 1, 7, and 10.
22 Mathematical Teasers
,~~
J: MELON
0
I- PATCH
i5
H F
LO v E
26. hotel stretch
The manager did not give the eighth man a room.
VI+IV •
• x
29. take it away and it's there
9+8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1=45
1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9=45
8+6+4+1+9+7+5+3+2=45
II~
[] I
Teasers for All 29
50. triality
Form an equilateral triangle with three matches.
With this triangle as the base, erect a pyramid with
the three remaining matches. The three sides of the
pyramid and the base should form four equilateral
triangles.
64. ya rd tract
Since t yard square equals tXt = ! square yard and
! square yard equals half of t square yard, t square
yard equals half of t yard square.
70. a count up
150 triangles; 30 squares.
chapter 2
more teasers for all
1. discotheque go-go
The outer track of a long-playing record is lli inches
in diameter and the label at the center is 5i inches in
diameter. If the record has twenty grooves per inch,
how far does the needle travel to play the whole record?
2. instant product
Find the product of the digits 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 as
fast as possible, and time yourself.
3. an L of a design
A lady asked her son Henry, an architect, to design a
house for her in the form of an "L" with windows in
each wall and with all the windows having a southern
exposure. How did the architect solve this problem?
34
More Teasers for All 35
4. a long cou nt
How many triangles are there in this figure?
6. after dinner
Using eight large toothpicks, form a regular polygon
with more than four sides, two squares, and eight
triangles.
8. out on a limb
There were nine pigeons on the limb of a tree. A hunter
shot three of them. How many remained?
9. ta ke it away
From six you take nine
And from nine you take ten,
Then from forty take fifty
And six will remain.
13. shuttle
The shuttle service has a train going from Washington
to New York City and from New York City to Wash-
ington every hour on the hour. The trip from one city
to the other takes 4i hours, and all trains travel at the
same speed. How many trains will you pass in going
from Washington to New York City?
20. triangulate
How many equilateral triangles can be formed from
nine matches of equal length ?
43. are-match
MV-I - IV
44. nutty arithmetic
Show that four and four is nine.
V--IV==VII
More Teasers for All 47
Change this incorrect equation to a correct one by re-
placing just one match.
Given any two lines AB and CD, draw two lines passing
through the end points A and C, and Band D meeting
at the point V. From every point on AB, a line may
be drawn to V. Everyone of these lines will also cut
CD at a point. For example, the line VP will cut CD
at M. This is easy to visualize, as follows: Hold a thin
piece of thread so that one end is at V with the other
end at B. Then, keeping the end at V fixed, and holding
the thread taut, move the free end at B toward A. Since
every one of these lines cuts CD, and a line has no
thickness, for every point on AB there will be a corre-
More Teasers for All 49
13
7)28
7
21
13
7
21
7
28
67. grouping
Add four two's and get five for the sum.
52 Mathematical Teasers
solutions
1. discotheque go-go
6 in. To play one side of the record, the needle travels
(11 t - 51) -7- 2 = 3 inches. To play the. whole record,
the needle travels 3 X 2 = 6 inches.
54 Mathematical Teasers
2. instant product
Zero. Any number multi pled by zero equals zero.
3. an L of a design
The architect chose the north pole as the site for the
house.
4. a long count
Thirty-five triangles.
6. after dinner
More Teasers for All 55
8. out on a limb
The three that were shot. The rest flew away.
9. take it away
SIX IX XL
IX X L
S I X
13. shuttle
Ten. As our train leaves Washington, there is a train
just 1 hour away from Washington, another 2 hours
away, etc. Since the trains are traveling at the same
rate of speed, we will pass the train that is 1 hour
away from Washington in i hour, the train 2 hours
away in 1 hour, or i hour after passing the preceding
train; that is, we pass a train every i hour. Since the
trip takes 4i hours, or nine half hours, and as we leave
Washington we also pass a train just arriving, we
shall pass a total of ten trains during our trip.
All Touching
20. triangulate
Seven. They form two tetrahedrons with a common
base.
58 Mathematical Teasers
33. double up
A half dollar. Deduct the word half, and you have a
dollar.
~----~----.;1
\', 11\ /1
\, 11\ /1
\ " I I \ // /
\ 'I )\ /
\ I " : / \ /
;;---;r,---
1\ /1' /\
I V 'L \
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More Teasers for All 61
43. are-match
N\V-T==V
44. nutty a rith metic
=
Write 4 1V , turn it upside down 1/\ ,put 1V
on top of it and you have 1X 9=
45. a neat profit
$1. If 100% of 1¢ equals 1¢, then 10,000<70 of 1¢ equals
100 X 100 % of 1¢, or 100 X 1¢.
More Teasers for All 63
V--IV ==VT
(the square root of 1)
(A + 56) - 58 = 2A - 20
A-2 =2A-20
A-2A= -20+ 2
A= 18.
o
More Teasers for All 67
64. noth i ng to it
Draw a horizontal line through the number 888, divid-
ing it in half; thus, half of 888 is 000 = O.
67. grouping
2~ + 2 = 2 + 1 + 2 = 5.
2. the la nd of ifthen
If a quarter of twenty is four, what would a third of
ten be?
3. melon fa re
A watermelon weighs nine tenths of its weight plus
itr of a pound. If I eat a slice consisting of one ninth of
the melon, what is the weight of the slice?
69
70 Mathematical Teasers
4. a square in ifthen
If three times five were twenty, what would the square
of six be?
5. metamorphosis
-L
VII
Transform the fraction into an integer by replacing
just one nail.
6. balancing act
If a brick balances with three quarters of a brick of
the same weight and size plus three quarters of a
pound, how much does the brick weigh?
8. in wonderland
Jklk
.3 1../0
7h//13
u33 r J.I 8./ 3
Show that this sum is correct.
Teasers for the Mathematicians 71
9. sloppy joe
Sloppy Joe never puts away his socks in pairs, but
simply throws them into a drawer. There are fourteen
black socks and eight blue socks in the drawer. One
night, he needed just one pair of socks the same color,
but, in order not to wake up his roommate, Joe did not
put the light on; therefore, he had to get the socks in
complete darkness. How many socks did Joe have to
draw to be sure that he had a pair of matching socks.
n-n--
12. transformation
Transform the expression,
XVII
into the number 100 by rearranging the matches.
35. speedy
A man must travel a distance of 4 miles. If he travels
the first 2 miles at 30 miles per hour, at what speed
must he travel the remaining 2 miles so that he can
average 60 miles per hour in going 4 miles?
36. fore
Three men were about to start a game of golf, but
one of them discovered that he had forgotten to bring
any golf balls. The first golfer produced five new balls
and the second four new balls. They divided the golf
balls equally among themselves and the forgetful golfer
had to pay $3 for his share of the golf balls. How was
the $3 divided equitably between the other two golfers?
Teasers for the Mathematicians 79
47. partners
Dick and Bob form a partnership in a store. Dick
furnishes the money and half the rent, while Bob works
in the store and furnishes the other half of the rent.
Bob being short of money one day, uses $60 from Dick's
money to pay the rent. The next day they receive from
a customer an amount of money in which Dick owns
a third interest. How many dollars should be returned
to Dick from this amount to maintain his equity?
.
B
.
A
a) How long will it take before all three boys are again
back on the line at the the same time?
b) How long will it take before all three boys are again
at the points from which they originally started?
71. traffic ia m
A certain highway was being repaired, so it was neces-
sary for the traffic to use a detour. At a certain time, a
car and a truck met in this detour which was so narrow
that neither the truck nor the car was able to pass.
Now, the car had gone three times as far into the
detour route as the truck had gone, but the truck
would take three times as long to reach the point where
the car was. If both the car and the truck can move
backward at one third of their forward speed, which
of these two vehicles should back up in order to pennit
both to travel through the detour in the minimum
amount of time?
72. homework
A teacher assigned homework to his class and told the
students that on each day after the first, they must do
twice the number of problems that they had done so
far. If at the end of five days, the students had com-
pleted one third of the problems, how long will it take
them to do all of their problems?
Teasers for the Mathematicians 89
solutions
2. the la nd of ifthen
2~. If! of 20 = 4, then 5 = 4 and 10 = 2 X 5 becomes
2 X 4 = 8; so that -l of 10 becomes -l of 8 = 2i.
3. melon fa re
1 pound. If 10 of its weight plus Ii! of a pound equals
the weight of the melon, then 1% of a pound is T~ the
weight of the melon; hence, 9 pounds is the weight of
the melon. Thence, it follows that the weight of the slice
is t of the melon, or 1 pound.
4. a square in ifthen
48. If 3 X 5 = 20, then 3 = 4; hence 6 = 2 X 3 be-
comes 2 X 4 = 8 and the square of 6 = 6 X 6 becomes
6 X 8 = 48. Also, if 3 X 5 = 20 and 6 X 6 = x, then
15 :36 = 20 :x and x = 48.
90 Mathematical Teasers
5. meta morphosis
,
VT 1 I
6. ba la nci ng act
3 pounds. If! the weight of a brick plus! of a pound
equals the weight of the brick, then i of a pound is t the
weight of the brick; therefore, the weight of the brick
is 3 pounds.
8. in wonderla nd
Hold the page in front of a mirror and it will read,
NINE
ONE
EIGHT
EIGHTEEN
Teasers for the Mathematicians 91
9. sloppy joe
Three socks. If the first sock drawn is blue and the
second is black, then the third must match either one
of the first two, since it must be either blue or black.
Vx = jlo,ooo' 100
92 Mathematical Teasers
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Teasers for the Mathematicians 99
35. speedy
None. To average 60 miles per hour for 4 miles, the
man must travel the 4 miles in t~ = 1~ of an hour. But
in traveling the first 2 miles at 30 miles per hour he has
already used-k, or A- of an hour, so that he has no time
left; therefore, this cannot be done.
36. fore
Since the first golfer contributed two golf balls and the
second contributed one golf ball. For the distribution
to be equitable, the first golfer received i of the $3, or
$2, while the second received t of the $3, or $1.
II
i. ~-----
_L _________________________ -I __
- G
it
100 X 410£ ft. The diagram represents the lawn. The
man starts the lawn mower at M and cuts the strip a
down the entire length of the field. Next, he cuts b,
then c and d, and is now ready to start on strip e.
Although the strips a, b, c, and d are all of different
lengths, he has cut an area which is equal to the dif-
Teasers for the Mathematicians 101
,..---'--,11
p
102 Mathematical Teasers
VT
46. a neat profit
20%. If i of the goods are sold for i of the cost, then i
;0
of the goods are sold for ~ + 5 = of the cost; hence,
the goods are sold for fo X 8 = Po = *'
cost. Therefore, the profit is 20ro of the cost.
or 120% of
47. partners
$45. Since Dick furnishes half the rent, Bob owes him
$30; but, since Dick owns a third interest, he should
receive an amount which exceeds $30 by a third. Thus,
$30 is i of the amount he should receive, so that ¥ =
$30, or x = $45.
24
+
will fill ..!.. 48
+
..!.. ..!..
72
+
..!.. = 12 + 6 + 4 + 3 = ~ of the
96 288 288
vat in 1 hour. It follows that altogether they will fill
2~8 of the vat in to of an hour and the whole vat in 2:58
hours. Therefore, it will take the four pipes running
at the same time', thus 288 -'- 24 = 288 = g day or
25' 600 25 '
slightly less than i day.
276
345)95221
690
2622
2415
2071
2070
North Wall
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West Wall ,//
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Spider
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112 Mathematical Teasers
*
a revolution. Therefore, the distance is
revolution, which is
* of k of a
X ta X 60 = 5 1: 3 minutes past
12 :00. It then follows that the time when he came back
+
is 51~3 55-& = 601~~ minutes after 12 :00; that is, 1~
of a minute past 1 o'clock.
72. homework
6 days. Since each day the students will do twice the
number of problems already done, when one third of the
problems are done at the end of 5 days, the students
will do two thirds of the problems the next day; hence,
they will complete the assignment in one more day.
Therefore, it will take them 6 days.
chapter 4
teasers for the wizard
115
116 Mathematical Teasers
after, or anywhere within the number making it exactly
divisible by 9. Suppose you write 765932, then I shall
put a 4 before, after, or anywhere within the number
so that the new number is exactly divisible by 9. Thus,
4765932, 7645932, 7659324, etc. are all exactly divisible
by9. - -
8. lightning calculator #1
Write two numbers of four digits each on a piece of
paper and I shall quickly write two other numbers of
four digits each; then I shall immediately write the
sum of the four numbers on another piece of paper.
I can also predict the answer and write the sum before
you write the two numbers, without letting anyone
see it.
I write 2317
4563
9. lightning calculator #2
I ask you to write four numbers of four digits each,
one under the other. I shall then write four numbers of
four digits each under the four numbers you have
120 Mathematical Teasers
written. Now I can immediately write the sum of all
eight numbers,
I write 5672
4538
1967
2746
I write 2876
6597
13. telepathy #1
Without letting me see it, write a number of four digits
such that the digits decrease by one from left to right.
Reverse the order of the digits, obtaining a new number
and subtract this number from the original one. Then
I, the wizard, can read your mind and, without seeing
your work, I can tell you what the difference is.
14. telepathy #2
Without letting anyone see it, write any number of
three digits such that the digits decrease by one from
left to right. Reverse the order of the digits and obtain
a new number, then subtract this number from the
original one. Now I, the wizard, can read your mind
and, without seeing your work, I can tell you what the
difference is.
16. telepathy #3
Without letting me see it, write any number of three
digits such that the difference between the hundred's
and the unit's digits exceeds 1. Form a new number by
reversing the order of the digits and subtract it from
124 Mathematical Teasers
the original number, finding their difference. Form
another number by reversing the order of the digits in
the difference; then add this number to the difference.
Without seeing your work I, the wizard, can read your
mind and tell you the result.
17. telepathy #4
Without letting me see it, write any number of four
digits such that the digits decrease from left to right,
form a new number by reversing the order of the digits,
and subtract it from the original number, finding the
difference; then form another new number by revers-
ing the order of the digits in the difference and add this
number to the previous difference. Without seeing your
work I can read your mind and tell you the result.
Suppose you write ~~~; then I write ;:k and you cross
out the 5 in 456 and add. Thus,
Teasers for the Wizard 127
738
416
261
543
1948
Assume that you are 19; then write down 99 and sub-
tract 19, which leaves 80. Suppose the other person is
21, then he finds the sum 80 + 21 = 101. Cancel the
left-hand digit 1 and add it to 01; thus, 01 + 1 = 2.
Then let him tell you that his result is 2 and you will im-
mediately reveal that his age is 21.
I write 6787
Now suppose you cross out the 7 in 2754 and add (not
adding the crossed-out digit) to obtain the sum 19298,
as shown above. The sum of the digits in the sum is
1 + + + +
9 2 9 8 = 29. Tell me this sum 29 and I
shall immediately reveal that the crossed-out digit is 7.
Suppose you cross out the 7 in 5724 and add (not add-
ing the crossed-out digit) to obtain the sum 20135, as
shown above. The sum of the digits in this sum is
2 + 0 + 1 + 3 + 5 = 11. Tell me this sum 11, and I
shall immediately reveal that the crossed out digit is 7.
234 8 6 4
472 365
824 148
6 5 8 4 1 3
5 6 2 374
2 4 7 8 3 3
You may choose anyone of the following options and
I shall restore the digit, or digits, erased.
Suppose you choose the 7th card from the top and
it is the 8 of diamonds. You replace the card in its
original position, which is the 7th from the top. I then
pick up the deck, reverse the order of the top 10 cards,
and transfer 15 cards from the bottom to the top by
140 Mathematical Teasers
dealing them out. Then I return the deck to you and ask
you to count to 26 beginning with the top card and
starting the count with the number following 7 which is
the number indicating the original position of the card
you selected. Thus, the top card is counted 8, the next
one, 9, etc. When you reach 26 you will have the 08.
•K 05 .6 .2
\18 .9 03 .10
08 .9
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07 \14
\lA .Q 06
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07
\14
\18
.9
.K
05
.Q 08 03 .6
06 .9 .10 .2
142 Ma thema tical Teasers
\lQ - oQ;
.3 - 06;
""9 - \18 ;
""3 - \lK;
\12 - ""4 ;
\19 - ""5
05 - .J ;
03 - .K; \17 - .6;
.7 - 09;
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05
03
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06
solutions
If the sum of the digits in the odd places is less than the
sum of the digits in the even places, the difference be-
tween these sums is the amount that the remainder
lacks from being 11. Thus, if we subtract from the
given number the difference between the amount that
the remainder lacks from being 11 and the nearest
integral mUltiple of 11, which is greater than this dif-
ference, then upon dividing the new number by 11, it
will have a remainder of 0; thus, it is divisible by 11.
nl = 9ql +r
n2 = 9q2 +r
Teasers for the Wizard 149
8. lightning calculator #1
The number I write on a piece of paper before the per-
son writes the two numbers is 19998 = 9999 X 2.
Teasers for the Wizard 151
Explanation. After you write two numbers, I write the
other two numbers such that each corresponding pair
of digits adds up to 9. Thus, corresponding to 7682, I
write 9 - 7 = 2, 9 - 6 = 3, 9 - 8 = 1 and 9 - 2 = 7 ;
that is, 2317. Similarly, the number corresponding to
5436 is 4563. Hence, I have two pairs of numbers,
7682 5436
2317 and 4563
each of which adds up to 9999. Therefore, the result
must be 9999 X 2 = 19998.
9. lightning calculator #2
The number I write is 39996 = 9999 X 4.
. . 7123 3402
Explanatwn. I have two paIrs 2876 and 6597' each of
which adds up to 9999. Hence, the sum of these four
numbers is 9999 X 2 = 19998. It is easily seen that,
since the unit's digit 8 lacks 2 from being 10, the result
of adding any digit greater than 1 to 8 is always 2 less
than the digit added. Moreover, because in each case
we carry one, all the other digits will be the same as
those of the number added, for each time we are adding
10 to each digit. Finally, the ten thousand's digit must
be 2. Therefore, since the remaining number is 2635,
the answer is 22633.
9 (h - u) = d and h - u = 9d
That is, the difference between the two digits h - u is
equal to the difference between the two numbers d
divided by 9.
13. telepathy #1
7654 - 4567 = 3087. No matter what number of four
digits you write such that the digits decrease by one
from left to right, t.he difference between this number
and the number formed by reversing the digits is
always 3087.
154 Mathematical Teasers
Explanation. If a represents the thousand's digit, then
a - I is the hundred's digit, a - 2 is the ten's digit and
a - 3 is the unit's digit. The number is
14. telepathy #2
765 - 567 = 198. No matter what number of three
digits you write, where the digits decrease by one from
left to right, the difference between this number and
the number formed by reversing the digits is always
198.
Explanation. If a represents the hundred's digit, then
a - 1 is the ten's digit and a - 2 the unit's digit. So
that the number is
100a + 10 (a - 1) + (a - 2)
100(a-2) +10(a-1) +a
The difference is
Teasers for the Wizard 155
100a +10(a-1)+(a-2)
100 (a - 2) + 10 (a - 1) + a
200 + 0 + (-2) = 198
16. telepathy #3
No matter what number of three digits you choose, the
result of these operations is always 1089.
156 Mathematical Teasers
17. telepathy #4
No matter what number of four digits you choose such
that the digits decrease from left to right, the result of
these operations is always 10890.
Teasers for the Wizard 157
Explanation. Let ct, k, t, and u denote the thousand's,
hundred's, ten's, and unit's digits, respectively, where
a is greater than k, k is greater than t, and t is greater
than u.
The original number is 1000a + lOOk + lOt + u
The new number is 1000u + lOOt + 10k + a
Now, a is at least three more than u, so we must borrow
one unit of 10 from t.
The original number is
1000a + lOOk + 10(t - 1) + (u + 10)
The new number is
1000u + lOOt + 10k + a
But k is greater than t, hence k is greater than t - 1, so
we must borrow one unit of 100 from k.
The number is
1000a + 100(k - 1) + 10(t - 1 + 10) + (u + 10)
The new number is
1000u + lOOt + 10k + a
Since k is greater than t by at least 1 then k - 1 is
either greater than or at least equal to t. Hence, we do
not have to borrow from a
The difference is
1000 (a - u) + 100(h - t - 1) + 10(t - h + 9) + (u + 10 - a)
1000 (u + 10 - a) + 100 (t - h + 9) + 10 (h - t - 1) + (a - u)
10000 + 800 + 80 + 10
That is, no matter what number of four digits you
choose such that the digits decrease from left to right,
the result of these operations is always 10890.
(7-b)10+ (7-c) =
a10 5 + b10 + c10 a10 b10 - c + 777.
4 3 - 2 -
Teasers for the Wizard 171
Collecting terms, we may write,
+ b10(103 - 1) + c(103 -1) + 777
a102 (10 3 - 1)
= a102(999) + b10(999) + c(999) + 777
Now 999 and 777 are both divisible by 37; hence, the
number is divisible by 37.
D E D I T C 0 C I s
178
Teasers for the Thinker 179
8. a hat trick
This old puzzle sometimes takes the form of a fairy
tale. Once upon a time, the king of Utopia decided to
give his beautiful daughter in marriage to the most
capable young man in his kingdom. Four young men,
Alert, Wise, Clever, and Shrewd, where finally selected
from a very large number of candidates as being the
most gifted and intelligent. In order to make the final
decision, the king devised a fair test.
The king then placed a hat on each man's head and had
the blindfolds removed simultaneously. All four men
raised their right hands and almost immediately Wise
stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have a white hat."
How did he justify his statement?
D F
STATEMENTS
Color Color Color
of of of
Witness Age (1) hair (2) eyes (3) jacket (4)
Brown 40 brown blue dark grey
Cohen 30 black brown black
O'Neil 40 brown blue dark brown
Lash 30 blond brown dark blue
Smith 25 brown brown dark blue
26. nepotism
The offices of president, vice-president, secretary and
treasurer of a corporation were held by members of
the same family. A very good customer from South
America was visiting the president of this corporation.
Dear Dad,
Each letter in this message represents a dif-
ferent digit. Please send me the amount of cents
shown by this sum.
SEN D
+ M 0 R E
MONEY
Love to Mom.
Signed,
Sonny Boy
S PEN D
L E S S
MONEY
If each letter represents a different digit, show how
Dad refused Sonny Boy's request?
-----
Dear Son,
I have though it over and I am sending you the
largest amount of cents represented by this sum.
S A V E
+MORE
MONEY
Love,
Dad
T A K E
+MORE
MONEY
198 Mathematical Teasers
D E FER
D U T Y
N 0 G 0
If each letter represents a different digit, how much
more money could .sonny Boy spend?
F 0 U R
T WO
TEN
Obtain the solution that gives anyone of these letters
its greatest possible value.
T H R E E
F 0 U R
F I V E
CAT
R C)A PDT M
A D C
MNT
B A
AEM
AEM
A R A B
P R E)A N MMR D R
P R E
C S R R
C C P R
A E MD
P R E
D EAR
D EAR
GOO DON E
P R R)D R E 0 0 0 DMN
D R M
P 0 0 0
R R D
D DM
G R E
P D R N
P D R N
* * * * * * *
* * *)5 * * * * * * * *
* * *
* * * *
* * *
5 * *
* * *
* 5 * *
* * * *
* 4 * *
* * *)* * * * * * 4
* * *
* * 4 *
* * * 4
* * * *
* 4 *
* * * *
* * * *
solutions
sits between Bill and Jeffer, and seats 7 and 5 will both
be occupied. Similarly, Cathy cannot sit on seat 6.
Hence, Cookie and Cathy may sit either on seats 4 or
8. Assume that Cookie sits on seat 4, then Peggy can-
not sit on seats 2 or 6, for she would be next to Tony
or Chris and she does not want to sit next to them;
hence, she must sit on seat 10. Now Tory cannot sit
on seat 6 for she must be opposite Jeffer, so she must
sit on seat 2. It follows that Jeffer must sit on seat 7,
opposite Tory. Cathy must sit on seat 8, and Bill on
seat 9. Julia must then sit on seat 6 and either Tony or
Chris on seat 5. If Tony sits on seat 5, then Chris must
sit on seat 3. If Cookie sits on seat 8, the reader may
check that the relative positions will be the same, but
in a counterclockwise direction.
Paul
I
I
I /
I /
- \1/ _-
--~I~_-
.--
_-'11~-_
/
/
/
I \
I
\
\
-
/ I \
I
6
Julia
o
12
\ I /
\ I I
............ \ 1/,,/""
C 9 --:~~.::-- 3
"" II \ ......
"" I \ ......
I I \
I
6
b
a
12
I
I
.... \ I / ,.-
............. \ 1/ ././
....... ~It-./
C 9 ----:.. ..../I~~-- 3
./
./ / 1\ ....... .......
./ / I \ ....
/
I \
/ I \
6
b
Seats 2 and 8 are now left for Mrs. Dexter and Mrs.
Foster, but Mrs. Dexter could not have been in seat 8,
for then she would have been next to her husband.
Hence, Mrs. Dexter was in seat 2 and Mrs. Foster was
in seat 8.
o
12
I
\ I /
\ I I ./
...... ...... \ I /
""""~1. /
" "
C9 -----~---- 3 E
,,'11~ . . .
" "" I
/ 1\\ . . . . ......
I ......
/ I \
/ I \
6
b
8. a hat trick
While the king was placing the hats on each man's head
and the blindfolds were removed, Wise reasoned: the
king must place more than one white hat on all of us,
for if he placed a white hat on only one, or none of us,
no one would raise their right hands when the blind-
folds are removed, and one of the men wearing a black
hat on seeing no white hats or only one white hat and
no hands raised would conclude at once that he has a
black hat. Moreover, the king must place at least three
white hats, for if he places only two, the two men wear-
ing them would not see more white than black hats and
would not raise their right hands, but they would im-
mediately realize that their hats are white. Further-
more, if the king places only three white hats and all
the men raise their right hands, one of them wearing a
white hat would conclude at once that he is wearing a
white hat, since he would see a black hat and there can
be no more than three white hats; in that case, not
all will raise their right hands. If the king places three
white hats and one black hat on our heads, the test
would not be the same for each man; hence, it would
not be a fair test. Thus, as soon as the blindfolds were
removed and each of the men raised his right hand,
Wise stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am wearing
a white hat."
Teasers for the Thinker 213
Statement 1 2 3
Statement 1 2 3 4
Brown F F T F
Cohen F F F T
O'Neil F F T F
Lash F T F F
Smith T F F F
216 Mathematical Teasers
Statement 1 2 3
Lamb F T T
Clod T T F
Dolt F F
Statement 1 2 3
Lamb F F
Clod
Dolt F T T
Statement 1 2 3
Lamb T T F
Clod T F T
Dolt T F T
218 Mathematical Teasers
Statement 1 2
Knave F F
Cell
Divine
Statement 1 2
Knave F F
Cell
Divine F F
Statement 1 2
Knave T T
Cell F F
Divine T F
METHOD I
METHOD II
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Physicist C C M M H H
Pianist M H C H M C
Philosopher H M H C C M
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Physicist C C M M H H
Pianist M H C H M C
Philosopher H M H C C M
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Bill G G J J B B
Sam J B G B G J
Jack B J B G J G
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Controller C C B B E E
Manager B E C E B C
Treasurer E B E C C B
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Pete C C J J F F
Dan J F C F C J
Sid F J F C J C
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Engineer J J R R S S
Fireman R S J S J R
Brakeman S R S J R J
228 Mathematical Teasers
By 4, Smith cannot be the fireman, so we eliminate
possibilities 2 and 4. Reasoning as in method I, we con-
clude that Jones is the brakeman. This conclusion elim-
inates possibilities 1, 3, and 5, that do not have Jones
as the brakeman. Therefore, 6 is the only possibility
consistent with the given statements. Thus, Smith is
the engineer, Robinson is the fireman, and Jones is the
brakeman.
Wives Children
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
AI A A G G R R M M T T J J
Fred G R R A A G T J J M M T
Ed R G A R G A J T M J T M
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Doctor H H H H H H B B B B B B
Draftsman B B M M A A H H M M A A
Architect M A B A B M M A H A H M
Lawyer AMABMBAMAHMH
Possibility No. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Doctor M M M M M M A A A A A A
Draftsman H H B B A A H H B B M M
Architect BAH A H B B M H M H B
Lawyer A BAH B H M B M H B H
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
President B B B B B B K K K K K K
Vice-President K K L L WW B B L L W W
Treasurer L W K WK L L W B W B L
Secretary WL WK L K W L W B L B
Possibility No. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
President L L L L L L WWW WWW
Vice-President WW K K B B B B K K L L
Treasurer K B B WK W K L B L B K
Secretary B K W B W K L K L B K B
234 Mathematical Teasers
Row 1
H Hart J
C T G H B J
Stark X X 0 X X X
Hart 0 X X X X X
Duffy X X X X
Carter X X X X X 0
Waters X X X 0 X X
Ring X X X X
Now, from the table Duffy must be either the toy sales-
man or the boat salesman. If Duffy is the toy salesman
then, by 2, Duffy would have to be reading the hard-
ware catalog. Hence, Duffy cannot be the toy sales-
man; thus, he must be the boat salesman. However, if
he were the boat salesman, he cannot be sitting opposite
either the hardware salesman or Carter, the jewelry
salesman, for we know Stark sits opposite Carter. Then,
Duffy must be sitting opposite Hart and, by 2, he must
be reading the carpet catalog. However, by 5, Carter
is reading the carpet catalog; hence, Duffy cannot be
either the toy or the boat salesman. Thus, Waters can-
not be the hardware salesman and Hart cannot be the
carpet salesman. Therefore, all the conclusions arrived
at from the assumption that Hart is the carpet sales-
man are incorrect. Hence. erase all these conclusions.
C T G H B J
Stark X X 0 X X X
Hart X X X X 0 X
Duffy 0 X X X X X
Carter X X X X X 0
Waters X 0 X X X X
Ring X X X 0 X X
Possibility No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Dancer H H H H H H R R R R R R
Painter R R M M P P H H M M P P
Writer M P R P R M M P H P H M
Pianist P M P R M R P M P H M H
242 Mathematical Teasers
Possibility No. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Dancer M M M M M M P P P P P P
Painter P P H H R R H H R R M M
Writer H R P R P H R M H M H R
Pianist R H R P H P M R M H R H
26. nepotism
(See No. 15.) By 1, neither Burr nor Fox holds the
offices of president or treasurer and they are both office
holders; therefore, X's are placed opposite each of the
rows corresponding to Burr and Fox in the columns
headed Pres., Tr., and N.O. (no officeholder). By 2,
McCue is not president; therefore, X's are placed op-
posite McCue in the column headed Pres. and N.O. By 3,
Burr is not the secretary. Therefore, an X is placed op-
posite Burr in the column headed Sec. It immediately
follows from the table that Burr is the vice-president;
therefore, an 0 is placed opposite Burr in the column
headed V.P. and X's in the same column in all the other
Teasers for the Thinker 243
(1) SEN D
+ lOR E
ION E Y
9 END
(2) + 1 0 8 E
ION E Y
9 5 6 7
(3) + 1 0 8 5
1 0 6 5 2
S PEN D
L E S S
MONEY
equal 0 or 9. That is, N = 0 if no borrowing is neces-
sary, or N = 9 if we must borrow 1 unit of a thousand
from P. But, if the remainder in the hundred's column
is 9; that is, if N = 9, then the minuend N in the pre-
ceding column (ten's column) also equals 9. This
minuend is then so large that no borrowing from P
would be necessary. This gives us a contradiction.
Hence, N cannot be 9; thus, N = O. But, if N = 0, no
borrowing from P is necessary. However, if the
minuend N in the ten's column is 0, then we must bor-
row from the minuend E in the hundred's column no
matter what S equals. But, if we borrow from the
minuend E in the hundred's column, we must borrow
from P to perform the subtraction E - E. This again
leads to a contradiction. Thus, no matter which one
of the possible values for N we choose, we get a con-
tradiction and therefore the subtraction is impossible.
S A V E
(1) + 1 0 R E
1 0 N E Y
9 A 7 6
(2) + 1 0 8 6
ION 6 2
It follows that A may equal 5, 4, or 3. If A = 5, then,
since A + 1 = N, N = 6. This i~ impossible for E = 6.
If A = 4, then N = A + 1 = 5 and we obtain the sum
10562 shown in (3).
9 4 7 6
(3) + 1 0 8 6
1 0 5 6 2
If A = 3, then N = A +1= 4 and we obtain 10462
shown in (4).
9 3 7 6
(4) + 1 0 8 6
1 0 4 6 2
It is evident that if we assume V = 8 and R = 7, the
sums will be the same as in the case where V = 7 and
R = 8. Therefore, the amount sent by Dad to Sonny
Boy is 10562 cents, or $105.62.
1 0 FOR
(1) 1 U T Y
9 0 G 0
1 0 8 0 R
(2) 1 5 T Y
9 2 G 2
1 0 8 0 R
(3) 1 5 7 Y
9 2 3 2
1 080 6
1 574
9 232
1 8 U R
(1) 9 W 8
9 E N
1 8 U 5
(2) 9 W 8
9 E 7
1 8 6 5
938
927
252 Mathematical Teasers
1 5 0 E E
(1) 7 0 U 0
7 I V E
Teasers for the Thinker 253
Consider now the unit's column E - °= E. Since E
may have any value except 0, 1,5, and 7, choose E = 9.
We then have result (2).
1 5 0 9 9
(2) 7 0 U 0
7 I V 9
1 5 0 9 9
(3) 7 0 6 0
7 I 3 9
1 5 0 9 9
7 8 6 0
7 2 3 9
254 Mathematical Teasers
A P D
A D 6
NN
Now, D cannot equal 6, for C = 6; thus, D is either less
than or greater than 6. If D is less than 6, we must
borrow from P, so that,
Teasers for the Thinker 255
A P-l D+IO
A D 6
N N
It follows that D + 10 - 6 = N, or D + 4 = N, and
that P - 1 - D = N; hence, D + 4 = P - 1 - D, or
2D + 5 = P. Since P must be a digit, then D must be
less than 3; that is, D may be equal to 0, 1, or 2.
NNT 5 5 T
B A or 7 2
A E 2 E
A P D 2 P 7
A D C or 276
NN NN
Hence, N = 7 - 6 = 1 and P = N + 7 = 1 + 7 = 8.
So far, we have the result shown below.
lines 1. 6 2 T
2. 4 6 )2 8 7 T M
3. 2 7 6
4. 1 1 T
5. B 2
6. 2 E M
7. 2 E M
1, 2, and 6, 46 X T = =
46 X 5 230 = 2EM; therefore,
M = O. Thus, the complete solution is,
625
4 6)2 8 7 5 0
276
115
9 2
230
230
ANMM
PRE
C S R
258 Mathematical Teasers
Substituting A = 1 and M = 0,
1 N 0 0
PRE
C S R
To subtract the unit's digits 0 - E, we must borrow
from 0 in the ten's column, but we cannot do this un-
less we borrow from N in the hundred's column; thus,
1 N -1 9 10
PRE
C S R
1 E 0 D
PRE
D E 1
Thus, D - E = 1, or D =E + 1. To subtract 0 - R
in the ten's column, we must borrow from E in the
hundred's column, so that 10 + (E - 1) - P = D, or
9 + E - P = D, but D = E + 1; hence, 9 + E - P =
E + 1andP = 8.
C S R R C S R R
C CPR or C C 8 R
AEM 1 E 0
Teasers for the Thinker 259
lines 1. 1 4 1 B
2. 8 4 6 )1 N 0 0 4 7 4
3. 8 4 6
4. C 5 4 4
5. C C 8 4
6. 1 6 0 7
7. 8 4 6
8. 7 6 1 4
9. 7 6 1 4
1 N 0 0
8 4 6
C 5 4
So that 10 + N - 1 - 8 = C, or 1 + N = C. Then,
from lines 4, 5, and 6,
C 5 4 4
C C 8 4
160
260 Mathematical Teasers
1 4 1 9
8 4 6)1 2 0 0 4 7 4
846
3 544
3 3 8 4
1 607
846
7 6 1 4
7 6 1 4
D R E
DRM
P
P 000 P 0 0 0
R R D or R R D
D D
P - 1 9 9 10
R R D
D
D = D, or 10 = 2D, and D = 5.
It follows that 10 -
Moreover, 9 - R = 0, so R = 9 and, since P - 1 = 0,
then P = 1. Thus, so far, we have the result shown
below.
262 Mathematical Teasers
lines 1. G 0 0 5 0 N E
2. 1 9 9 )5 9 E 0 0 0 5 MN
3. 5 9 M
4. 1 0 0 0
5. 9 9 5
6. 5 5 M
7. G 9 E
8. 1 5 9 N
9. 1 5 9 N
From lines 6, 7, and 8,
5 5 M
G 9 E
1 5 9
4 4 M + 10
G 9 E
1 5 9
3 0 0 5 0 2 8
1 9 9)5 9 8 0 0 0 5 7 2
597
1 000
995
557
398
1 592
1 592
lines A. **
5
B. ** *
C. *
That is, the difference between these two three-digit
numbers is a number of one digit; therefore, the digit
Ba = 5. Line E shows that we must bring down two
digits from the dividend before the divisor jkl is con-
tained in this partial remainder. But, line D is jkl X p,
for the digits nand 0 in the quotient equal O. Hence,
=
Aq or simply q O.
lines C. * * **
D. * * *
E. 5
E. 5 * *
F. * * *
G. * 5 *
Then the difference, line G, has the extreme left-hand
digit different from 0; that is, the difference is a three-
digit number, while the difference 5** - 597 must be
a number of one digit. Hence, r cannot equal 3.
E. 5 * *
F. 398
G. * 5 *
Line G must be less than 199, so the hundred's digit
in line G must be 1 ; that is, Gf = 1. It immediately fol-
lows that the ten's digit in line E must be 4, if there is
no borrowing, and 5, if we must borrow to subtract
the unit's digit. Since the final remainder is zero, then
line H = line G, so that Hf = 1 and Hg = 5. But, line
H = jkl X s; that is, 199 X s = 15**, a four-digit
number, equals 1500 plus **. Hence, s must equal 8,
and jkl X s = 199 X 8 = 1592 = line H = line G.
Therefore, Gh = Hh = 9 and Gi = Hi = Ai = 2. But,
line E - line F = line G, or line E = line F + line
G = 398 + 159 = 557; hence, Eg = Ag = 5 and
Eh = Ah = 7. Therefore, the complete solution is,
268 Mathematical Teasers
3 0 0 5 028
1 9 9)5 9 8 0 0 0 5 7 2
597
1 000
9 9 5
557
398
159 2
159 2
A. * * * *
B. * * "
C. * * 4
That is, line B +line C = line A. Since lines Band C
are each a three-digit number and line A is a four-digit
number, then the thousand's digit in line A must be 1,
Teasers for the Thinker 269
so that Aa = 1. Similarly, line G +
line F = line E
and lines G and F are both three-digit numbers (before
bringing down Gg) while line E consists of four digits;
hence, Ec = 1. Now line D =
hij X 4 =
***4, a four-
digit number, while line B = hij X k = ***, a three-
digit number, and line F = hij X m = ***, a three-digit
number; therefore, both k and m are less than 4. More-
over, hij X 4 = ***4, a number ending in 4; that
is, j X 4 must equal a number ending in 4. Hence, j
equals 1 or 6.
C. * * 4 *
D. * * 6 4
E. 1 **
No matter what the unit's digit in line C may be, the
ten's digit in line E will have to be either 8 or 7. This
means that the hundred's digit in line F will have to
be 9 or 8, but line F =
hij X m h41 X 1 = 94*, or =
84*, so that h must be 9 or 8. But, if h = 9, line D =
941 X 4 = 3764 =
line H =
line G and if h 8, line=
D = 841 X 4 =3364 =
line H =
line G. From lines
E, F, and G, we then have,
18* * 17* *
9 4 1 or 8 4 1
376 376
c. * * 4 *
D. * * 8 4
E. 1 * *
E. 17**
F. 842
G. 336
C. * * 4 *
D. * * 8 4
E. 1 * *
17* * 16* *
7 4 6 or 646
298 258
C. * * 4 *
D. * * 6 4
E. 1 * *
No matter what the unit's digit in line C may be, the
ten's digit in line E will have to be 8 or 7. This means
272 Mathematical Teasers
1 8 * *
948
126
C. * *4 *
D. 1 3 8 4
E. 1 * *
Thus, the thousand's digit in line C must be 1; that is,
Cb = 1 and the hundred's digit in line C must be 5. It
follows from lines A, B, and C that,
A. 1 * **
B. 6 9 2 = 346 X 2 = hij X k
C. 1 5 4
Let k = 2 and h =
4, then hij 446 and line D= =
hij X 4 = 446 X 4 = 1784. From lines C, D, and E,
we then have,
C. * * 4 *
D. 1 7 8 4
E. 1 * *
Thus, Cb =1, Cc =
9, and Ed 6. Line F= = hij X
m = 446 X m =
*4*, so that m 1, Fd = = 4, and
Ff = 6. Then from lines E, F, and G,
E. 1 6 * *
F. 446
G. 1 2 * * or 1 1 * * (a four-digit number)
E. 1 * * *
F. 346
G. 3 1 1
E. 1***
F. 4 4 6
G. 4 0 1
E. 1 * * *
F. 546
G. 4 9 1
C. * * 4 *
D. 2 1 8 4 = 546 X 4 = hij X 4
E. 1 0 3
C. * * 4 *
D. 2 5 8 4 = 646 X 4 = hij X 4
E. 1 2 2
If h = 7, line F = hij X m =
746 X m =
*4*, so that
m = 1 and line F =746. Now, line G =
line H =
hij X n = 746 X 9 = 6714, so that from lines E, F, and
G, line E = line F +line G =
746 +
671 = 1417;
that is, Ef = 7, Ee =1, Ed =
4, and Ec =1. Then,
from lines C, D, and E,
C. **4 *
D. 2 9 8 4 = 746 X 4 = hij X 4
E. 1 4 1
C. * *4 *
D. 3 7 8 4 = 946 X 4 = hij X 4
E. 1 7 9
C. * * 4 *
D. 3 3 8 4 = 846 X 4 = hij X4
E. 1 6 0
1 4 1 9
8 4 6)1 2 0 0 4 7 4
846
3 5 4 4
3 384
1 607
846
7 6 1 4
7 6 1 4