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I have a few questions / puzzles from a popular pocket encyclopaedia from 1888 which you may like to try...
1) Divide 2 by 5 so the result will be 1000
2) Place 15 sheep in 4 pens so that there will be the same number of sheep in each pen
3) Arrange 5 numbers, none of which are greater than 10, so that when read from left to right, the one on the right will always be nearer to 10
than the preceding one, and the first number will be nearer 10 than the
5th
4) A lady sent a diamond cross to a jeweller to be repaired. She noted
that the number of diamonds, counting from the bottom of the cross to
the top, or from the bottom to the end of each cross piece , was 9. The
jeweller retained 2 diamonds, but the number counted in the same manner
was still 9. How?
I've re-phrased the next one as the answer was in the question.
5) A man rides into town and finds 3 brothers in a bit of a quandary.
Their father had died and left 17 horses to be shared amongst them. To
the eldest he leaves 1/2 his horses, to the next 1/3, and to the last
1/9. The man resolves the issue to everyone's satisfaction without
sacrificing a horse. How?
Good Luck!
Robert Linford
03-23-2009, 09:24 AM
I'll leave these to How, who's a Mensa member and a Norman to boot. Such things are too hard for simple Saxon folk like me.
I'd give them a go Robert- they are easier than you think at first
I only have the given answer for the last one - I worked the others out but I'm not sure about the sheep...
Chris G.
03-23-2009, 11:41 AM
The smartest thing
I ever did was to address
a MENSA meeting about
the Whitechapel murders. :)
Chris
Sam Flynn
03-23-2009, 03:30 PM
2) Place 15 sheep in 4 pens so that there will be the same number of sheep in each pen
You don't interweave the planks forming the walls of two of the pens, do you? As in...
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/sheep-1.jpg
You have three sheep in 2 pens and 6 sheep in 2 pens there Sam...
My answer is similar I suppose
Sam Flynn
03-23-2009, 04:14 PM
You have three sheep in 2 pens and 6 sheep in 2 pens there Sam...I see an interesting paradox there, Nemo. 3 of those 6 are the same sheep - so how can they be in the same two pens at the same time? ;)
I'm not sure m8 - I haven't got the answer to this one!
They were fond of unsolved mysteries in 1888
Here's my attempt...
http://i908.photobucket.com/albums/ac287/HowieNina/SHEEP.jpg
oops - that's a bit big sorry...
Apologies - I don't seem to be able to delete the biggun...:ohwell:
Both those fit the criteria do they not?
4 pens with the same number of sheep in each pen?
Sam Flynn
03-23-2009, 05:26 PM
Both those fit the criteria do they not? 4 pens with the same number of sheep in each pen?I like solution 2 the best :)
How Brown
03-23-2009, 06:02 PM
I like the big picture since the dotted sheep are bigger...bigger is more better. Next time, make it horsies in a pen or piggies..
Robert...I, uh, paid someone to get in with the eggheads. Don't tell anyone.
Good questions Nemo and thanks for posting them. I, uh, have a Jehovah Witless at the door at the moment and I am uh...sort of busy, because we're over here talking 'bout Ecclesiastes,Corinthians, and the second Book of Shlomo...I'll answer the questions a.s.a.p.
I laugh at the way the mortal Saxons and Welshmen are stumped with these questions....no wonder the Normans cooked their gooses..or geeses.
Sam Flynn
03-23-2009, 06:04 PM
I laugh at the way the mortal Saxons and Welshmen are stumped with these questions...... for some reason, I find it difficult to concentrate on anything else when sheep are mentioned. Is it becoz I is Welsh?
I prefer the second solution Sam - but I'm sure I have come across a puzzle similar to this and I don't think that was the answer -
I've worked out the definitive answers for the others if that helps - they are much easier than you think - sort of "kick yourself when you know the answer" type of thing
+ one other puzzle - from the 1893 edition...
A board 1" in thickness is 15" long and 9" wide. Saw the board into two pieces which when placed together will form a square 12" on each side
I haven't tried this one yet so I have no answer for it at the moment
Sam Flynn
03-23-2009, 06:24 PM
Its probably why I didn't try to answer the questions,Sammy..because I have a thing about...about...oh damn it !!!...a major obsession with our farm friends in a randy sort of way !!!The beauty of being an - ahem! - "faithful shepherd" is that, when you split up, you can still wear the sweater as a memento of your love. Do that in the context of a conventional relationship, and you're instantly tarred with the same brush as Ed Gein and Jame Gumb. I know where I'd rather be ;)
I knew I shouldn't have mentioned sheep!
Robert Linford
03-23-2009, 06:37 PM
Come on How! I solved this instantly.
Regards
Lassie
dougie
03-23-2009, 06:41 PM
Form a square with the 4 pens in such a way as to leave the middle empty . Gently pick up and place 3 sheep within each pen and the middle space ,(which of course has become another pen)taking care not to have any sexual contact with each or any of the sheep.....remembering also to clean out the pens at regular intervals.
Error - I haven't got the answer to No.3 yet sorry -
Good solution Dougie - that works too...
Correction - I have an answer for No.3 but I think it is a trick question
- those devious Victorians!
Let me know when you want the answers...
Any takers left?
I'm surprised at you guys - you're definitely going to kick yourself if I have to tell you the answers
How Brown
03-24-2009, 08:31 PM
Nemo:
Since the question was "put 15 sheep in 4 pens and have the same amount of sheep in each pen"...could that not also mean to put 15 sheep into one pen and then 15 in a second...and 15 in the third pen...and 15 in the 4th pen ?
Just a suggestion...
Sam Flynn
03-24-2009, 09:01 PM
Since the question was "put 15 sheep in 4 pens and have the same amount of sheep in each pen"...could that not also mean to put 15 sheep into one pen and then 15 in a second...and 15 in the third pen...and 15 in the 4th pen ?... does the real answer involve an industrial mincing machine - like that chap with the hard hat and utility-belt from Village People?
That's good lateral thinking Howard - and when you see the answers to some of the other questions, I can well believe that that would be the answer
Is anyone going to try another Q or are we focussing on the sheep?
In fact - I'll give you the answer to number 1 to show you what I mean
1) Divide 2 by 5 so the answer will be 1000
A) Using Roman numerals... II divided by V (ie put the V in the middle) creates M which is 1000... (Groan!)
Robert Linford
03-25-2009, 06:24 AM
With number 3, the hours of a clock go 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. They get closer to ten numerically but 1 is closer to 10 spatially. However, a drawback is that they only go from left to right up to 3. After 3, they go right to left.
Currerbell
03-25-2009, 07:02 AM
do u put 3 sheep in each of the 4 pens and shoot the other 3?
Blimey Robert! That's a good theory regarding the clock face
It does say arrange them so that they read left to right though so I don't think that is the answer
I have an answer that is similar in a way to your "spatially nearer" concept
I don't have the definitive answer to the sheep Q - Your guess is as good as mine really
My answer for 3) would be...
1 3 5 7 9
Number 1 is nearer to ten because you only have to add a nought/zero to it
ie 1<--------0 = 10
Whereas you have to add 1 to 9 to make it 10
(a bit crap I know)
I haven't worked out the board one yet..
How can a board 135" square be changed into a board 144" square?
I imagine it is something to do with the board being 1" in depth(?)
dougie
03-25-2009, 11:53 AM
do u put 3 sheep in each of the 4 pens and shoot the other 3?
The way things are going in this country nothing that lives and can be eaten will be safe:)....
dougie
03-25-2009, 11:56 AM
That's good lateral thinking Howard - and when you
1) Divide 2 by 5 so the answer will be 1000
A) Using Roman numerals... II divided by V (ie put the V in the middle) creates M which is 1000... (Groan!)
Thats good thinking Nemo Id never have thought of that in a million years seriously.....Bloody Romans!
Sam Flynn
03-25-2009, 01:55 PM
Got it!
Put one sheep into one of the pens, and the rest follows...
I have a few questions / puzzles from a popular pocket encyclopaedia from 1888 which you may like to try...
1) Divide 2 by 5 so the result will be 1000
2) Place 15 sheep in 4 pens so that there will be the same number of sheep in each pen
3) Arrange 5 numbers, none of which are greater than 10, so that when read from left to right, the one on the right will always be nearer to 10
than the preceding one, and the first number will be nearer 10 than the
5th
4) A lady sent a diamond cross to a jeweller to be repaired. She noted
that the number of diamonds, counting from the bottom of the cross to
the top, or from the bottom to the end of each cross piece , was 9. The
jeweller retained 2 diamonds, but the number counted in the same manner
was still 9. How?
I've re-phrased the next one as the answer was in the question.
5) A man rides into town and finds 3 brothers in a bit of a quandary.
Their father had died and left 17 horses to be shared amongst them. To
the eldest he leaves 1/2 his horses, to the next 1/3, and to the last
1/9. The man resolves the issue to everyone's satisfaction without
sacrificing a horse. How?
Good Luck!
OK you've had long enough to dwell on the sheep
Here are the answers so far...
No.1 = divide II with V to get M
No.2 take your pick - not sure
No.3 Not sure (1 3 5 7 9 ?)
No.4 4688
(Though I think she would notice)
No.5 The man donates his own horse to make the total 18. The first brother gets 1/2 which is 9 horses, the second gets 1/3 which is 6 horses, the third gets 1/9 which is 2 horses.
9+6+2 = 17 horses
Which means there is one left which is the stranger's horse so he can take it back.
No.6 No idea...
Currerbell
03-27-2009, 06:56 AM
Nemo, have we no answer to the sheep one??? I really want to know the answer!!
I have been looking for similar puzzles - there are a few - and some answers have pens inside each other
Still trying...
It's the board puzzle I can't work out yet - but I'll get it one day
dougie
03-27-2009, 01:19 PM
Who was the "greatest comedian" in the Bible?
dougie
03-27-2009, 01:34 PM
Explain please why this statement while sounding nonsensical,is in fact perfectly correct.....or is it?
The Son of Pharoahs daughter is the daughter of Pharoahs son.
Robert Linford
03-27-2009, 03:41 PM
Pharaoh had a son who had a daughter and they all ended as mummies.
Sam Flynn
03-27-2009, 03:47 PM
Who was the "greatest comedian" in the Bible?Samson. He only had to stand up, and he'd bring the house down.
dougie
03-27-2009, 04:06 PM
Correct Sam.......Your Winners copy of the Gideon Bible (revised edition) will be despatched to you as soon as possible.
Sam Flynn
03-27-2009, 04:15 PM
Correct Sam...
Thank you, Dougie. At first I thought it might have been Joseph - that "Coat of Many Colours" is so Max Miller, don't you think? - but his jokes weren't nearly as good:
"There were these seven fat cows and seven skinny cows..."
Too non-PC, even for the 17th Century BCE.
(Apparently his coat was one of "many skins" - I read somewhere that the "many colours" bit was a mistranslation.)
dougie
03-27-2009, 04:24 PM
Yes Sam Im sure the " 7 fat cows and skinny cows" phrase would have brought the Germaine Greer wannabees out in their thousands ,waving their placards as if there was no tommorrow.
Today the "coat of many colours" might instead read "coat of many shades" ....just to be on the safe side.
How Brown
03-27-2009, 05:07 PM
The Son of Pharoahs daughter is the daughter of Pharoahs son. Doug
Unless Pharoah was from Southeast Texas or West Virginia...or Hull,Yorkshire, where brother- sister marriages are de rigeur and still en vogue....I ain't got the slightest damned clue what the answer is Doug.
Sam Flynn
03-27-2009, 05:20 PM
Explain please why this statement while sounding nonsensical,is in fact perfectly correct.....or is it?
The Son of Pharoahs daughter is the daughter of Pharoahs son.
Consider the following.
1. The Son-of-Pharaoh is (self-evidently) Pharaoh's son.
2. If he had a daughter then one could either call her the "daughter of Pharaoh's son", or the "Son-of-Pharaoh's daughter". They both mean the same.
3. In other words:
"The Son-of-Pharaoh's daughter" = "The daughter of Pharaoh's son".
4. Just take away the hyphens, substitute "is" for the "equals" sign, and you have the original sentence.
dougie
03-27-2009, 05:47 PM
Yes quite..its just the phrasing....Sam is 2-0 up at the moment .
How Brown
03-27-2009, 05:52 PM
Oh balls on that answer ! I still say it was Ma and Pa Baxter from Bumpkin,Texas.
Good going Sam.
Caroline Morris
04-01-2009, 06:16 AM
No.5 The man donates his own horse to make the total 18. The first brother gets 1/2 which is 9 horses, the second gets 1/3 which is 6 horses, the third gets 1/9 which is 2 horses.
9+6+2 = 17 horses
Which means there is one left which is the stranger's horse so he can take it back.
Hmm. I knew this was going to be the solution, and it may have been to everyone's satisfaction, but it would not have adhered strictly to the old boy's wishes, since the first brother would end up with 9/17 (not 1/2), the second with 6/17 (not 1/3) and the third 2/17 (not 1/9) of his horses.
So they may as well have taken 5 horses each and given the helpful stranger the remaining 2 for his trouble, since their dad had not exactly played fair. :)
Love,
PedantiCaz
X
I've found the answer to the sheep thingy!
Another bit of a groaner I'm afraid
There's a reference to the puzzle here, the puzzle being P505, and the answer being entitled "oooooh; the pens weren't empty at the beginning"
http://www-cs-staff.stanford.edu/~uno/dudeney-twd.txt
So I imagine there are 4 pens and one already has a sheep in it...
Perhaps someone can trace the full answer in the Weekly Dispatch 26/7/1903
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