IMPOSSIPUZZLES

1

Jenson took a deep breath. “I’ll guess your age, Dad,” he said. “Think of a number.” “Not me, and you know it anyway,” Brian replied. “But I’ve got something to make you think. If you add the two figures of your Aunt Ethel’s age, and then multiply their sum by twice their difference, you’ll get what her age will be in two years’ time.” That was a tough one, but what was the woman’s age?

2

“That’s funny, Dad,” said Maisie. “Ten years ago you were three times as old as I was.”

Her father nodded. “That’s right, but what’s so funny about it?” “Well, now you’re older,” Maisie replied. “But you’re only twice as old as I am.” How old is she?

3

Paul spent £180 on footballs from Medhursts. If he had bought them from Nortons, he would have paid £3 more per football, so he would have got two less balls for the same money. How many did he buy?

4

“A 6-figure number, eh?” said Achraf, glancing at the boy’s working. “What’s so special about it?” “Look, Dad,” Mo replied. “If you shift the second half and put it in front of the first half, you get two more than three times the original number.”

As simple as that! But what was the number?

5

“Lend me a pound,” said Jill. “You’ve got twice as much as I have.” “Not likely!” Jack replied. “Then I’d have only one and a half times as much as you.” How much did Jack have?

6

Josh picked up the photo. “Your two teenage boys, eh? Fine looking kids,” he commented. “How old are they?”

“A teaser for you,” Jorg replied. “There’s also Rosa, our youngest child. The sum of their three ages is one less than three times the age of the second child, and Rosa is two years younger than half the age of the eldest.” What were the three ages?