IMPOSSIPUZZLES

1

The three children had their marbles spread out on the floor when Jane looked in. “What a lot!” she exclaimed. “How many have you got there?” Betty smiled. “Gwen and I together have seventy-three,” she replied. “But Andy and Gwen have only sixty-two.” Andy looked up. “That’s right,” he said. “And Betty and I total sixty-five.” How many did Andy have?

2

Bill noted the new number in his little book. “They’ve given you the same figures as my 4-digit number,” he said. “That’s funny.” “So they have,” John agreed. “But our first and second digits are interchanged, and so are our third and fourth. As you say, the same four figures, but yours is four times my number.” What was Bill’s number?

3

“You remember that teaser about dividing a big number, Dad?” Steve asked. “I’ve got another one with this serial number.” Tom looked up. “So you’ve got an eight digit number now. What’s the idea?” “A good one,” the boy replied. “To divide it by 68 you just add one, and then remove the first pair of digits.” As simple as that! What was Steve’s number?

4

I know a young lady called Clare. Her age is six less than the square Of the total I make

If her digits I take. Quite simple! The clues are all there. How old is Clare?

5

Tom emptied his wallet. “Just fourteen pounds left,” he said. “Wonderful!” exclaimed Elsie, noting the amount on her list. “I had collected an average of £2.22 per head, but now you’ve raised the average to £2.41. Thank you so much.” How much was the new total? 6 “He had twenty-three on sale, just three varieties,” said Doug. “I didn’t take all but I got all three sorts. Five hundred pounds the lot.” Glen gasped. “Wow! But I suppose it costs plenty to bring fancy fish in from Venus. How many of each did you buy?” “Work it out,” replied Doug. “A pletzy was two-thirds the price of a gryva. I got twice as many imlacs as gryvas, and at £6 each less than a pletzy.” All prices exact pounds. Well?