IMPOSSIPUZZLES

1

“That goldfish bowl must have cost you a pretty penny,” Susan’s father commented. “Plus all the little fish.” “I paid only thirty per cent more for them than I did for the bowl,” Susan replied. “And the whole lot cost me just £7.82.” What did she pay for the bowl?

2

“I got what you wanted,” said Malcolm. “Buckles and buttons, exactly a hundred pounds the lot.” Sarah smiled. “Sounds reasonable. What prices?” “The buttons were 60p each, the buckles £2 and £3.25 each,” Malcolm replied. “And I got exactly one hundred items in all.” How many buttons and buckles at each price?

3

“That’s quite a family,” said Alan. “How old are you yourself?” “A teaser for you.” Greg chuckled.

“There are five of us boys spaced evenly 2 years apart, and I’m the oldest. I’m one and a half times as old as my youngest brother.” How old was he?

4

“You and your wife, and a boy,” Charlie commented. “But he’s not your son?” “No, Betty’s brother Ted,” Dave replied. “That was taken a year ago, when Ted was half as old as Betty, and I was one and a half times as old as she was. It’s odd that our three ages now total the square of our son’s age.” How old was the son?

5

“Your wife, Karen, and the three kids, eh?” said Joe, handing back the photo. “You’re a lucky man.”

Keith smiled. “I suppose I am, but it’s funny about their ages. The difference between the cubes of the boys’ ages is the square of Karen’s age, while the difference between their squares is the cube of little Anne’s age.” How old were the boys?

6

“Doughnuts and eclairs, that’s fine for the party,” said Susan. “You must have got about fifty in all.” Nancy shook her head. “Not that many, but I got all they had,” she replied. “I got as many of each as its price in pence, and the lot came to as many pounds as the number of eclairs and as many pence as the number of doughnuts.” How many of each?