IMPOSSIPUZZLES

1

“So, that’s Linda,” said Ted, studying the photo. “Quite a young woman now.” “Still in her teens,” Harry laughed. “And that’s Dick with her. When he was half as old as she is now, she was a third as old as he was when Linda was half as old as he is now.” How old was Dick?

2

“Your Uncle Andy sent these for you three kids,” said John, putting some stamps down on the table. “Between three and four dozen of them.” “Fred’s taken one and a half times as many as Carol,” cried Wendy. “It’s not fair.” “Why not, I’m the oldest,” her brother declared. “And anyway you’ve taken half as many as Carol and I together.” How many had Fred taken?

3

“You’re ten minutes early,” said Linda, when Jack came in. “So there wasn’t too much traffic?” “Not at all bad, and I averaged 80 kilometres per hour,” her husband replied. “Last time I could average only 60 kilometres, and I arrived ten minutes late.” How far had he driven?

4

“I won a few pounds today,” Joan told her husband. “Only Gwen and Betty turned up, so we played threehanded. We played three games, and at the end of each the loser had to double whatever money each of the other two had at that moment. Betty started with nearly twice as much as me, but it’s funny we all ended up with exactly £8.” How much did she win?

5

“When I was born, you say Dad was seven times as old as you were?” said Michael. “But he’s only three times as old as you are now. It doesn’t make sense.” “Of course it does,” Steve told him. “That was twelve years ago.” How old was Steve when his brother Michael was born?

6

“That’s all I have left from fifty pounds I drew today,” Elsie declared, emptying her purse on to the table. “Just eight times the pence part of the total, plus seven times the number of pounds, all added to their product in p’s.” Judy had her cash on the table too. “You’ve certainly got more than me,” she said. “But what a coincidence! My total works out exactly the same way.” What were their respective amounts?