IMPOSSIPUZZLES

1

“We checked the staff today,” Peter told his wife. “Some of the results surprised me. For example, exactly half the women are married, but only a third of the men. So just two-fifths of them all are married.” Helen smiled. “Makes it good for the women, but how many are there?” “Work it out,” replied Peter. “We have 30 men.”

2

“What’s your dad’s new number?” asked Susan. “I know it’s the same exchange.” John smiled. “This may help you to remember,” he replied. “The two middle digits are the same, and multiplied together they give the last digit. All four figures add up to 23, your age.” Well?

3

3 Alan was examining the little charm. “You bought it last week? A kalotan korbel, eh?” he said. “Many thanks, but can you spare it?” “Sure, I got lots of them. They were cheap enough, 49 pence each the green, and 45 pence the gold,” replied John. “But there was something funny about the total. The pounds were the same as the number of gold I bought, and the pence as many as the number of greens.” How many of each did he buy?

4

“No plums left?” exclaimed Ann. “How many did you buy?” “I’m not sure, but we didn’t think you’d want one,” replied Mike. “Les took a third of them and one third of a plum, then Betty took half of what remained and also half a plum, and that left five for me.” Well, how many were bought?

6 5

When Bob was twice as old as Judy was when Bob was twice as old as Judy is now, Judy was one third as old as Bob was when Judy was a third as old as Bob is now. We have taken ages in complete years, so it should be fairly simple to discover just what these ages must be.

“So there were eleven of you girls and eleven men at the party,” said Jill. “I bet it was fun.” Sally shook her head. “There were no unmarried men,” she replied. “Also, none of the married people would dance, and the number of men who wouldn’t dance was the same as the number of married girls.” How many of the girls would dance?