IMPOSSIPUZZLES

1

There was this big cylinder on its side, tucked into the corner against the wall. A ladder was placed so it went up the wall just touching the cylinder, like a tangent.

The foot of the ladder was 7 feet from the wall, and its top was an exact number of feet up from the floor. The radius of the cylinder was also a whole number of feet – so what was it?

2

“The pavements are wide but not the same. One is a third again as wide as the other,” said Mike. “That may explain it.” Peter nodded. “Could be,” he replied. “In fact, the roadway itself is four metres wider than the narrower one, exactly as wide as the two pavements together.”

How wide was the roadway?

3

“Sarah?” said Sam. “She’s my sister, three years younger than me.”

“Is that so?” Ted smiled. “Well I don’t mean to be rude, but what is your age?”

“Figure it out,” Sam replied. “If you subtract the square of my first digit from the square of my second, you get Sarah’s age.” How old was she?

4

“You know that round table stowed tight into a corner in the basement, with papers piled on it?” said Stan. “I think I’ll bring it up.”

“The top wasn’t clear, but I can work out the exact diameter. One point on the edge is just 25 centimetres from one wall and 32 centimetres from the other wall.” What was the diameter?

5

“Divide that by 83 in my head?” Harry exclaimed. “Have a heart, Doug. It’s an eight-figure number.”

They boy grinned. “I know, but it’s so easy, Dad,” he replied. “You only have to remove the first and last digits.” Just like that! But what was the number?