IMPOSSIPUZZLES

1

I once met a chap in Kildare, Who told me his age was a square. Its reverse was a prime So it took me no time To figure his age, I declare.

2

John had been looking over his brother’s farm. “So you only have pigs now and some geese,” he remarked. “Quite a change.” “That’s right, a hundred feet in all and forty heads,” Bill replied. “Much less work for me.” How many geese?

3

“Did you get my envelopes?” Andy asked his son. “I need one right away.” Peter nodded. “Sure, Dad. Seventeen in all, and two sizes, as you said,” he replied. “The big ones were one pence each more than the others, and they came to 80 pence for the lot.” How many of each size did he buy?

4

“Look, Mum,” said Kim pointing to a sheet of paper on the table. “Can you multiply that number by 29 in your head?” Linda looked. “Of course not. Can you?” “Sure I can,” the girl replied. “Just write a one in front and a one behind, and it’s the smallest number that works that way for 29 times.” What was her number?

5

Joan watched as the boy counted his money. “You’ve won a lot,” she commented. “How much altogether?” Jeff thought a moment. “Well, if I had twenty p’s more now I’d have three times as much as I’d have if I had a penny more than twice as much as I started with,” he replied. “In fact, I’ve only won £1.23.” How much did he have?

6

Poor Charlie! It’s been an expensive week for him, with two weddings, and now his daughter Arabella’s birthday. She’s just one and a half times as old as she was ten years before she’ll be one and a half times as old as she is. How old is Arabella?