BRAINTEASERS

Can you bend your brain around this set of mathematical, lexical and logistical teasers?

1 One chemist, one physicist and one biologist were asked to complete an important survey detailing their favourite metals. The results found that neither Ben nor the chemist prefer tin. The biologist, who is not Kim, does not like iron. Also, gold is the favourite metal of either Mary or Kim. What is each scientist’s favourite metal?

2 Which two words meaning ‘blunder’ and ‘also’ combine into one meaning ‘task’? 3 Find the aircraft in these anagrams: a) Iris Hap, b) Triple Echo, c) Easel Nap.

4 After a clear-out, avid toaster collector Dimitri gave four fifths of his toasters to fellow collector Delphine, half of which she gave back.

He then gave two thirds of his remaining toasters to Frieda, of which she returned half. If Dimitri now has twenty-four toasters, how many did he have to begin with?