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daily mensa brain puzzlers

metsmarathon Jan 14 2009 08:36 AM

so i got a new page-a-day calendar this year - an official mensa brain puzzler calendar. i had meant to kick this off earlier this young year, but hadn't quite gotten around to it. the way i think it'll work is that i'll post the day's puzzle to the best of my ability (sometimes there are graphics and if i can't replicate them, i prolly won't post it). the first person to get it right gets a point. at the end of the year, whoever gets the most points can claim to be the smartest person here. i will, of course, be exempting myself from the competition, as i have the answers. duh. if you have the same calendar, i hope you'll do the honorable thing and refrain from cheating! and so, for our first challenge: ] wed, 14 jan 09 a banquet hall contains only chairs and round tables, and has 10 chairs at every table. each table has 8 legs and each chair has 4 legs. the total number of legs on all of the chairs and tables is 960. what is the maximum number of people that can be seated (one per chair, natch) at a banquet in this hall? oh, and i got this one right, which i will denote cleverly with the following: mm=y there will be no penalty for giving the wrong answer, but i'll probably tally those too. feel free to show your work. if nobody shows the work for the correct answer, i will do so out of the goodness of my heart. i will also do this if nobody gets the correct answer by the time i post the next day's puzzle. good luck all! oe: holy crap, did i finally crack the top 50 mets? took me long enough!

Benjamin Grimm Jan 14 2009 08:47 AM

20 tables and 200 chairs

HahnSolo Jan 14 2009 08:48 AM

I will assume there is a catch and I'm wrong, but the answer seems to be 200.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 14 2009 08:55 AM

The answer is 200.

metsmarathon Jan 14 2009 08:56 AM

yeah, this one was disappointingly easy. the answer is 200 people. each table with 10 chairs has 8 + (4x10) = 48 legs. the number of tables in the hall is 960 / 48 = 20. since there are 10 people per table, the banquet hall seats 20 x 10 = 200 people. grimm got there first so the tally is: benjamin grimm: 1 since that was so easy (and i've got a backlog), here's a bonus: ] fri, 2 jan 09 fill in the blanks to complete the 14-letter word below. H _ _ _ A _ _ E R _ _ N _ C mm=n

Benjamin Grimm Jan 14 2009 08:59 AM

HYPOALLERGENIC

metsmarathon Jan 14 2009 09:18 AM

="Benjamin Grimm"]HYPOALLERGENIC benjamin grimm - 2 he's good, folks. alright, i'll give one more for today. this one should take a bit of time, i hope. ] thur, 1 jan 09 2X3 maze in this maze, start on A and end on W. move two letters (e.g. A to K), then three. alternate between moving two and three letters and use hte full amount each move. you can move horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, but you can never repeat a letter in your path, make an immediate u-turn, or land on or cross a blank space. what is the shortest path and the longest path from A to W? <table border="1"><tr><td>A</td><td>B</td><td>C</td><td>D</td><td>E</td></tr><tr><td>F</td><td>G</td><td>H</td><td>I</td><td>J</td></tr><tr><td>K</td><td>L</td><td>M</td><td>N</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>O</td><td>P</td><td>Q</td><td>R</td></tr><tr><td>S</td><td>T</td><td>U</td><td>V</td><td>W</td></tr></table> mm=1/2

smg58 Jan 14 2009 09:33 AM

I see one for four moves: A to K K to N N to T T to W

metsmarathon Jan 14 2009 09:37 AM

and a half point to smg. can anybody get the longest path? benjamin grimm - 2 smg58 - 0.5

smg58 Jan 14 2009 09:37 AM

regarding the longest path: does not repeating a letter simply mean you can't stop on a letter more than once, or that you can't even cross over a letter that you've already crossed over?

metsmarathon Jan 14 2009 09:40 AM

cannot stop on the same letter more than once. you may pass over any letter as often as you like, but no landing on or passing over the blank spots.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 14 2009 09:54 AM

to c-to p to r- to h-to u-to w (CPRHUW)

batmagadanleadoff Jan 14 2009 09:58 AM

="batmagadanleadoff":yjhwsua1]to c-to p to r- to h-to u-to w (CPRHUW)[/quote:yjhwsua1] Better: A-->DNKCPRHUW batmagadanleadoff Jan 14 2009 09:59 AM ="batmagadanleadoff":3i18pzal] ="batmagadanleadoff":3i18pzal]to c-to p to r- to h-to u-to w (CPRHUW)[/quote:3i18pzal] Better: A-->DNKCPRHUW[/quote:3i18pzal] Bad me. metsmarathon Jan 14 2009 09:59 AM A-C-P-R-H-U-W is not a valid path. you must alternate between moving two letters and three letters. after a two letter move, your next move must be three letters, followed by two letters, and so on. also, it is too short. metsmarathon Jan 14 2009 10:01 AM the first move is 2 letters, starting at A. batmagadanleadoff Jan 14 2009 10:05 AM A-->KNDQGW (don't know if it's the longest but it works) batmagadanleadoff Jan 14 2009 10:08 AM ="batmagadanleadoff":3me4v6ge]A-->KNDQGW (don't know if it's the longest but it works)[/quote:3me4v6ge] longer path A-->KNDQORHUW Nymr83 Jan 14 2009 10:13 AM best i have so far is ACPJGORHUW(10 letters) smg58 Jan 14 2009 10:45 AM I have a very similar path with ACPFIORHUW. But nothing longer. metsmarathon Jan 14 2009 01:34 PM that's better than i came up with, i think. but its still short. be not disheartened! there's still some 18 hours until i post the next one! batmagadanleadoff Jan 15 2009 02:36 AM Here's a 14 character solution. I know it's not the longest possible solution. AKNBECPFIGJHUW Nymr83 Jan 15 2009 05:59 AM i think thats no good because when you go from F to I then G you violate one of the rules "but you can never repeat a letter in your path, make an immediate u-turn" metsmarathon Jan 15 2009 07:30 AM you've made quite a few u-turns in there, actually. the correct solution takes 13 moves: A-C-P-R-B-D-Q-G-T-V-F-H-U-W the current standings: 2 - benjamin grimm 0.5 - smg58 for today's puzzle ] Thurs, 15 Jan 09 Add the same letter (represented by the question mark) to each of the following groups of letters, and then rearrange them to form a common English word for each group. What are the four words? O E N ? C N I I U H C ? R E O ? T S E ? mm=n the way this question was originally written on my calendar threw me off. since i am unable to capture the graphic nature of the original question, i've attempted to capture its intent, while losing the source of my confusion. i don't think it makes it necessarily any easier. TransMonk Jan 15 2009 07:45 AM ZONE ZUCCHINI ZERO ZEST metsmarathon Jan 15 2009 07:54 AM correct! 2 - benjamin grimm 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 stay tuned for tomorrow's challenging brain teaser! batmagadanleadoff Jan 15 2009 11:11 AM ="Nymr83"]i think thats no good because when you go from F to I then G you violate one of the rules "but you can never repeat a letter in your path, make an immediate u-turn" You're right. I forgot all about the no U-turn rule. I tried solving this puzzle last night the way a computer might solve it if it were programmed to do so. I ended up making up two charts for each letter -- one chart listing all the possible "two box away" moves from that letter, and the other chart for "three box away moves". Working in this fashion for a while, and having forgotten about the no U-turn restriction, I quickly realized intuitively that the number of permutations under those rules was too high to solve the problem without an actual computer program. Forgetting entirely the no U-turn rule, I came up with about ten 14 character solutions. Without the U-turn rule, I estimate that a 20 character solution is possible. metsmarathon Jan 16 2009 07:29 AM ] Fri, 16 Jan 09 Add one letter to the four letters at each base to form the word for a player on a Major League Baseball team. Then take those added letters and add one more to form yet another team player. <table border="1"><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>E</td><td>P</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>D</td><td>A</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>2nd</td><td>base</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td>L</td><td>A</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>V</td><td>E</td></tr><tr><td>Y</td><td>R</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>R</td><td>B</td></tr><tr><td>third</td><td>base</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>first</td><td>base</td></tr><tr></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>I</td><td>R</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>G</td><td>E</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>home</td><td>plate</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></table> mm=y this should be right up your alley, cranepoolers! Frayed Knot Jan 16 2009 07:39 AM 1st = A for Brave 2nd = R for Padre 3rd = O for Royal Home = T for Tiger A + O + T + R [u:ws8t55tj]+ S[/u:ws8t55tj] = ASTRO metsmarathon Jan 16 2009 07:58 AM correct! and frayed knot is on the board! 2 - benjamin grimm 1 - frayed knot 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 as i was running through the list of baseball teams (and once i figured out what they were actually asking for), i realized that i have trouble with the central divisions of each league. royals and astros were the last two names i wrote down. metsmarathon Jan 20 2009 07:32 AM i'm going to be on travel and away from my desk the rest of this week, so there'll be only one mensa puzzle this week. sorry. on the bright side, 6-7 hours in an airplane, plus 3 more in an airport should give me plenty of opportunities to finish writing a song parody... ] Saturday, 17 Jan 09 Solve this small crossword: <table border="1"><tr><td>X</td><td>1_</td><td>2_</td><td>3_</td></tr><tr><td>1_</td><td>__</td><td>__</td><td>__</td></tr><tr><td>2_</td><td>__</td><td>__</td><td>__</td></tr><tr><td>3_</td><td>__</td><td>__</td><td>X</td></tr></table> Across 1. Auto club service 4. Boat's path 5. Graceful Horse 6. Pig's digs Down 1. Lemony 2. "Sure!" 3. Surfer's spot 4. Used to be Frayed Knot Jan 20 2009 07:43 AM Well, you screwed up on the numbers a bit; the left hand column should read 4, 5, & 6 rather than 1, 2 & 3 again But anyway ... 1A = TOW 4A = WAKE 5A = ARAB 6A = STY 1D = TART 2D = OKAY 3D = WEB 4D = WAS metsmarathon Jan 20 2009 07:47 AM ="Frayed Knot":1lxz4xxj]Well, you screwed up on the numbers a bit; the left hand column should read 4, 5, & 6 rather than 1, 2 & 3 again But anyway ... 1A = TOW 4A = WAKE 5A = ARAB 6A = STY 1D = TART 2D = OKAY 3D = WEB 4D = WAS[/quote:1lxz4xxj] crap. i rushed it and ended up with a copy/paste error. i'm also upset at note getting the "b" in arab/web. 2 - benjamin grimm 2 - frayed knot 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 metsmarathon Feb 02 2009 08:28 AM ] Monday, 2 Feb 09 I'm creating floral arrangements using the flowers and vases that i have. if i put one flower per vase, there are three flowers left over. if instead i put four flowers per vase (and all of the flowers get used), there are three vases left over. how many flowers and how many vases do i have? Benjamin Grimm Feb 02 2009 08:39 AM 8 flowers and 5 vases. metsmarathon Feb 02 2009 08:43 AM yup! me, i made a dumb algebra error and didnt bother checking my work. damned mondays. 3 - benjamin grimm 2 - frayed knot 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 Centerfield Feb 02 2009 11:54 AM I never get here in time to be smart. Frayed Knot Feb 02 2009 12:17 PM I'm never smart enough to be on time. metsmarathon Feb 03 2009 09:30 AM i'm thinking this one should take a while... ]Tuesday, 3 Feb 09 What do all these words have in common? <table><tr><td>carton</td><td></td><td>waging</td><td></td><td>pined</td></tr><tr><td>holy</td><td></td><td>renter</td><td></td><td>biter</td></tr><tr><td>pose</td><td></td><td>rifle</td></tr></table> no, i didn't get it at all. batmagadanleadoff Feb 03 2009 10:00 AM Is it that every word has two vowels? The double-duty "Y" is clearly acting as a vowel in "holy". Frayed Knot Feb 03 2009 10:01 AM ] Tuesday, 3 Feb 09 What do all these words have in common? carton waging pined holy renter biter pose rifle All can be made into new words by doubling up on one of the letters: Carton = Cartoon Holy = Holly Pose = Posse Waging = Wagging Renter = Reenter (that was the tough one) Rifle = Riffle Pined = Pinned Biter = Bitter batmagadanleadoff Feb 03 2009 10:05 AM ="Frayed Knot"] ] Tuesday, 3 Feb 09 What do all these words have in common? carton waging pined holy renter biter pose rifle All can be made into new words by doubling up on one of the letters: Carton = Cartoon Holy = Holly Pose = Posse Waging = Wagging Renter = Reenter (that was the tough one) Rifle = Riffle Pined = Pinned Biter = Bitter I like your answer better than mine. Wanna trade? metsmarathon Feb 03 2009 11:45 AM ="Frayed Knot"] All can be made into new words by doubling up on one of the letters: Carton = Cartoon Holy = Holly Pose = Posse Waging = Wagging Renter = Reenter (that was the tough one) Rifle = Riffle Pined = Pinned Biter = Bitter correct! 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - frayed knot 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 metsmarathon Feb 04 2009 10:22 AM ]Wednesday, 4 Feb 08 The following puzzle consists of one word that can be split into two words. 1) One word: someone seeking office (9 letterrs) 2) Two words: a. frank and open (6 letters) b. consumed (3 letters) John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 04 2009 10:23 AM Candid/ate TransMonk Feb 04 2009 10:24 AM 1) Candidate 2) Candid...Ate metsmarathon Feb 04 2009 11:21 AM lunchbucket swoops in! 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - frayed knot 1 - transmonk 1 - john cougar lunchbucket 0.5 - smg58 Edgy DC Feb 04 2009 11:40 AM I've avoided this thread, as I've been so busy I was afraid my productivity would half itself (again) if I started spending my work day puzzling over a brain bender. But, now that I've given you all a head start, I'm in. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 04 2009 11:51 AM That question was so easy it was only a matter of speed and timing. I don;t expect to be on the leaderboards for much longer. metsmarathon Feb 05 2009 08:00 AM ]Thursday, 5 Feb 09 Find two different answers to this letter selection rhyme. My first is in carob and also in boast, My second's in costar but not in coast. My third is a vowel you'll see in rattan, My fourth is in cornmeal and lentils and bran. My fifth is in cognac and also in grace, My sixth is in hornet and benches and chase. My whole is an object you'll probably see While strolling in an orchard and viewing a tree! _ _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _ Frayed Knot Feb 05 2009 08:04 AM ORANGE & BRANCH John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 05 2009 08:05 AM ORANGE and... John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 05 2009 08:05 AM BRANCH John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 05 2009 08:05 AM dadgummit metsmarathon Feb 05 2009 08:08 AM frayed knot for the win, and the lead! 4 - frayed knot 3 - benjamin grimm 1 - transmonk 1 - john cougar lunchbucket 0.5 - smg58 metsmarathon Feb 09 2009 08:23 AM ]Sunday, 8 Feb 09 DATING GAME Below is an observation about dating. So what do you observe? ]If forty years seems somewhat too old, dating grandfathers should drive every young girl loopy John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 09 2009 08:30 AM The last letter of the previous word is the first letter of the next Frayed Knot Feb 09 2009 08:31 AM The letter ending each word starts off the next one sharpie Feb 09 2009 08:32 AM The last letter of each word is the same as the first letter of the subsequent word. John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 09 2009 08:32 AM revenge is mine Frayed Knot Feb 09 2009 08:32 AM CURSES!! Frayed Knot Feb 09 2009 08:48 AM Since that one went quickly I'll tack one on here that should take a bit more thought. It also came from a MENSA book of puzzles. ABCDE [u:2evdc8hm] x4[/u:2evdc8hm] EDCBA Find which unique integer represents each letter. There is one and only one solution. smg58 Feb 09 2009 09:29 AM 21978 x 4 = 87912 John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 09 2009 09:29 AM Hot water burn baby Frayed Knot Feb 09 2009 09:32 AM ="smg58":2oxpztos]21978 x 4 = 87912[/quote:2oxpztos] Yup! batmagadanleadoff Feb 09 2009 11:13 AM The last letter of each word is the first letter of the following word. metsmarathon Feb 09 2009 11:33 AM lunchbucket sneaks in there with the right answer! 4 - frayed knot 3 - benjamin grimm 2 - john cougar lunchbucket 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 batmagadanleadoff Feb 09 2009 12:39 PM 21978 x 4 = 87912 metsmarathon Feb 10 2009 06:49 AM ] Tuesday, 10 Feb 09 Using the logic of the first four examples, decode the final eight-letter word. 40 - 1 - 19 - 13 = FONT 2 - 81 - 90 - 7 - 11 = TENSE 16 - 1 - 19 - 9 - 8 - 3 = SONNET 20 - 1 - 4 - 5 - 8 - 87 = TOFFEE 14 - 1 - 1 - 10 - 98 - 1 - 30 - 18 = ________ batmagadanleadoff Feb 10 2009 06:53 AM footnote. Take the first letter of each # if that # were spelled out alphabetically. metsmarathon Feb 10 2009 02:29 PM ="batmagadanleadoff":1k0d83pw]footnote. Take the first letter of each # if that # were spelled out alphabetically.[/quote:1k0d83pw] persistence pays off! 4 - frayed knot 3 - benjamin grimm 2 - john cougar lunchbucket 1 - transmonk 1 - batmagadanleadoff 0.5 - smg58 metsmarathon Feb 11 2009 07:42 AM ok. everybody get ready. this one's gonna go quick... metsmarathon Feb 11 2009 07:43 AM ]Wednesday, 11 Feb 09 What two words, formed from different arrangements of the same six letters, can be used to complete the sentence below? The ______ in the old cookbook recommended that the reader ______ the skin of the bird with a sharp needle as part of the preparation. Frayed Knot Feb 11 2009 07:44 AM RECIPE & PIERCE batmagadanleadoff Feb 11 2009 07:50 AM ="metsmarathon":1snj4cf9] persistence pays off![/quote:1snj4cf9] Persistence Shmersistence! There are enough quick-draw gunslingers here that you gotta be lucky enough to be logged on here at the exact moment you decide to post your riddles. seawolf17 Feb 11 2009 07:53 AM DAMMIT! I need to just stop working and sit on this thread all morning. metsmarathon Feb 11 2009 07:53 AM why would you ever not be logged in, waiting with bated breath for the next awesome post? 5 - frayed knot 3 - benjamin grimm 2 - john cougar lunchbucket 1 - transmonk 1 - batmagadanleadoff 0.5 - smg58 batmagadanleadoff Feb 11 2009 07:55 AM ="metsmarathon":gn69jg2s]why would you ever not be logged in, waiting with bated breath for the next awesome post?[/quote:gn69jg2s] That's a good question. I have no answer. Please deduct one point from my MENSA riddles score. metsmarathon Feb 11 2009 08:07 AM its ok. there's no penalty for wrong answers. no matter how clearly wrong they are. metsmarathon Feb 12 2009 08:00 AM ]Thursday, 12 Feb 09 Equal opportunities Place each digit from 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that the three rows across and the three columns down form correct arithmetic statements. all calculations involve only positive whole numbers and should be performed from left to right and top to bottom. <table border="1" align="center" bgcolor="white" bgcolor="blue" bordercolor="black" cellspacing="0"> <tr><td width="30" valign="center" align="center"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">+</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">/</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">=8</td></tr><tr><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">+</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center" bgcolor="black"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">x</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center" bgcolor="black"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">+</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center" bgcolor="black"></td></tr><tr><td width="30" valign="center" align="center"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">x</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">+</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">=9</td></tr><tr><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">-</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center" bgcolor="black"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">/</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center" bgcolor="black"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">-</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center" bgcolor="black"></td></tr><tr><td width="30" valign="center" align="center"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">-</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">x</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">=6</td></tr><tr><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">=0</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center" bgcolor="black"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">=6</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center" bgcolor="black"></td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center">=4</td><td width="30" valign="center" align="center" bgcolor="black"></td></tr></table> batmagadanleadoff Feb 12 2009 08:08 AM 7-9-2 1-4-5 8-6-3 metsmarathon Feb 12 2009 08:58 AM nice work. it took me longer to figure out how to make the damned table than it did for you to answer hte question... 5 - frayed knot 3 - benjamin grimm 2 - john cougar lunchbucket 2 - batmagadanleadoff 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 metsmarathon Feb 13 2009 03:07 PM ] Friday, 13 Feb 09 Palindrome Pals A palindrome is a word, sentence, or group of words that reads the same backward or forward. What palindrome is suggested by the following clue? What the Dutch housewife did to please the palates of her cheese-loving family two words [M _ _ _ ] [ _ _ _ _ ] Edgy DC Feb 13 2009 03:10 PM [ M A D E ] [ E D A M ] metsmarathon Feb 17 2009 08:11 AM Two questions ]Sixty kids are playing five different activities on the playground <ul><li>28 kids are playing activities A and B</li> <li>25 kids are playing activities B and C</li> <li>15 kids are playing activites C and D</li> <li>22 kids are playing activities D and E</li></ul> How many kids are playing each activity? ] Monday, 16 Feb 09 Central American What do these names have in common? <table><tr><td>SIMPSON</td><td>WILSON</td></tr><tr><td>RUDOLPH</td><td>KNOX</td></tr><tr><td>CLARK</td><td>JEFFERSON</td></tr><tr><td>BIRCHARD</td><td>ALAN</td></tr></table> John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 17 2009 08:19 AM Middle names of presidents. batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2009 08:21 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 17 2009 08:22 AM did a question just disappear? John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 17 2009 08:22 AM U. Simpson Grant Gerald Rudolph Ford Wm. Jefferson Clinton Chester Alan Arthur Herbery Clark Hoover looked em up: James Knox Polk Rutherford Birchard Hayes Edgy DC Feb 17 2009 08:22 AM Um, I accidentally deleted the first question. batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2009 08:24 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 17 2009 08:39 AM a 13 - b 15 -c 10 - d 5- e 17. I swear I thought I solved a question that's gone now. Edgy DC Feb 17 2009 08:25 AM Yup. I scrod up. batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2009 08:30 AM This is an abuse of power. I intend to lodge a formal complaint. Also, how does a guy go about getting an avatar around here? Edgy DC Feb 17 2009 08:33 AM I just messed up. Sorry. The good news is you got your answer in there. Let me see if I can reconstruct it. Edgy DC Feb 17 2009 08:36 AM Did I get it right? metsmarathon Feb 17 2009 08:49 AM ="Edgy DC":17iynaej]Um, I accidentally deleted the first question.[/quote:17iynaej] evil adminstrative powers! the bucket and magadan are both correct. 5 - frayed knot 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 Edgy DC Feb 17 2009 08:53 AM [ M A D E ] [ E D A M ] metsmarathon Feb 17 2009 06:22 PM sorry. you've gotten it right, but you've also earned yourself one demerit for deleting a question. that'll teach you. damned administrators and their evil powers. Edgy DC Feb 17 2009 07:27 PM I'll rally. metsmarathon Feb 18 2009 08:24 AM ] Wednesday, 18 Feb 09 Good Times 1) Determine the largest four-digit number ABCD in which A x B = C and B x C = D. (Example: 1224, because 1 x 2 = 2, and 2 x 2 = 4) 2) Determine the largest five-digit number ABCDE in which A x B = C and B x C = D and C x D = E. seawolf17 Feb 18 2009 08:35 AM 9000 and 90000 ? Edgy DC Feb 18 2009 08:36 AM 9199 42818 seawolf17 Feb 18 2009 08:40 AM Dammit. Edgy DC Feb 18 2009 08:46 AM 9199 and 90000 seawolf17 Feb 18 2009 08:46 AM Dammit again. Edgy DC Feb 18 2009 08:52 AM I think he'll split the point. metsmarathon Feb 19 2009 12:23 PM ooh, and unfortunately edgy gets another half-point demerit for being presumptuous. rough break that one! nah, i'm kidding. you can have your half point. also, i think you've done your pennance by reinstating that missing question, and, having been shamed by the removal of that one point, will never ever commit such administrative evil again. so you get your other point back. but i'm watching you... 5 - frayed knot 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 1.5 - edgydc 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 0.5 - seawolf ] Thursday 19 Feb 09 The following puzzle consistes of one word that can be split into two words. 1) One word: red in the cheeks (7 letters) 2) Two words: a. winter bug (3 letters) b. gardener's building (4 letters) Edgy DC Feb 19 2009 12:30 PM flushed, flu, shed metsmarathon Feb 23 2009 01:17 PM edgy's on a roll. 5 - frayed knot 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 2.5 - edgydc 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 0.5 - seawolf i'll give two today, since i meant to post one on friday... ] Friday, 20 Feb 09 Fill in the first blank below with a five-letter word that fits the definition. Add one letter and rearrange to make a six-letter word that fits the next definition. Then add another letter and rearrange to make a seven-letter word that fits the last definition. More impolite ______ Case for Hercule Poirot ______ Tympanic membrane ______ and ]Saturday, 21 Feb 09 Give me a... For each pair of U.S. colleges or universities below, add hte same letter to make a common word out of each school. There's no need to rearrange letters. The added letter will be different from pair to pair. 1. EMORY and COE 2. MAINE and BAKER 3. HANOVER and LEE 4. BARNARD and SMITH seawolf17 Feb 23 2009 01:31 PM ="metsmarathon"]edgy's on a roll. For each pair of U.S. colleges or universities below, add hte same letter to make a common word out of each school. There's no need to rearrange letters. The added letter will be different from pair to pair. 1. EMORY and COE 2. MAINE and BAKER 3. HANOVER and LEE 4. BARNARD and SMITH 1. MEMORY and COME 2. MARINE and BARKER 3. HANGOVER and GLEE 4. BARNYARD and SMITHY seawolf17 Feb 23 2009 01:32 PM ] Friday, 20 Feb 09 Fill in the first blank below with a five-letter word that fits the definition. Add one letter and rearrange to make a six-letter word that fits the next definition. Then add another letter and rearrange to make a seven-letter word that fits the last definition. More impolite ______ Case for Hercule Poirot ______ Tympanic membrane ______ RUDER MURDER EARDRUM metsmarathon Feb 23 2009 02:45 PM seawolf swoops in like a mixed metaphor to catch right back up to edgy. 5 - frayed knot 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 2.5 - edgydc 2.5 - seawolf17 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 metsmarathon Feb 24 2009 12:09 PM i expect today's to take a while, and perhaps engender some wild guesses... ] Tuesday, 24 Feb 09 Heavens to Betsy! What do the following things have in common? The answer is based on knowledge rather than observation, although observation has a lot to do with it. <table><tr><td>FURNACE</TD><TD>FLY</TD><TD>MICROSCOPE</TD></TR><TR><TD>SCULPTOR</TD><TD>EASEL</TD><TD>GOLDFISH</TD></TR><TR><TD>COMPASS</TD><TD>TOUCAN</TD><TD>RIVER</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD>AIR PUMP</TD><TD></TD></TR></table> seawolf17 Feb 24 2009 12:17 PM Not to an old Cub Scout who still has his battered rotating glow-in-the-dark star chart in his room. Those would all be constellations. Centerfield Feb 24 2009 12:24 PM This is the first time I've gotten here remotely on time. I had no chance on that one. Good job seawolf. What do we join if we're not smart enough for Mensa? Does that next tier put out a calendar? John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 24 2009 12:25 PM Are we not mensa? We are devosa. metsmarathon Feb 24 2009 12:45 PM the cub scout jumps all the way up into second place! 5 - frayed knot 3.5 - seawolf17 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 2.5 - edgydc 1 - transmonk 0.5 - smg58 seawolf17 Feb 24 2009 12:47 PM I have a SkyChart app on my Palm Centro -- I'm too cheap to actually pay for it, so I have the shareware demo version, but I use the hell out of that when I'm on the road. We can't see the stars much where we are because of all the trees and the light pollution, but I love getting out there. I don't think any of those are visible in the northern sky, though. (It was the air pump that clued me in -- I remember thinking that was an odd thing for a constellation.) Centerfield Feb 24 2009 01:03 PM Antila (the air pump), like all other contellations, looks nothing like the object it is said to depict. Frayed Knot Feb 24 2009 01:43 PM Those are all (I believe) "modern" constellations, ones invented in more recent times using leftover stars not used by the ancients in an effort to emulate the tradition of inventing shapes and stories around them. As such they kind of suck as constellations. Not much to look at and no real mythology behind them to boot. metsmarathon Apr 06 2009 07:48 AM ]Friday, 3 Apr 09 I really love the number three, So when i store my books, you see: (Now pay attention to these facts) I pile them all in 3-high stacks. My books (now, don't be terrified) Are all in 3 rooms side-by-side; The count per room (don't be perplexed) Is triple, one room to the next. At 40 books, I bought some more But never reached one hundred four. So now deduce (oh, please don't groan) How many books I claim I own. lets get this rolling again! Edgy DC Apr 06 2009 07:54 AM 81 Mendoza Line Apr 06 2009 08:06 AM 78 Edgy DC Apr 06 2009 08:07 AM Chit. You're right. metsmarathon Apr 06 2009 09:26 AM mendoza line is on the board! the first room has N books. the second room has 3N books. the third room has 3x3N books, or 9N books. so there is a total of 13N books. and there's a multiple of 3 books in each room. 13 x 3 = 39 13 x 6 = 78 13 x 9 = 117 there's only one multiple of 3 and 13 that falls between 40 and 104 5 - frayed knot 3.5 - seawolf17 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 2.5 - edgydc 1 - transmonk 1 - mendoza line 0.5 - smg58 metsmarathon Apr 07 2009 09:41 AM ]Tuesday, 7 Apr 09 Start at the top of each column and select one letter from each successive row to spell out five things that might be poured during breakfast at a diner. You can cross off the letters as you use them - each will only be used once. <TABLE border="1"><TR><TD> C </TD><TD> S </TD><TD> J </TD><TD> W </TD><TD> S </TD></TR><TR><TD> U </TD><TD> A </TD><TD> Y </TD><TD> R </TD><TD> U </TD></TR><TR><TD> R </TD><TD> I </TD><TD> T </TD><TD> G </TD><TD> E </TD></TR><TR><TD> A </TD><TD> C </TD><TD> U </TD><TD> A </TD><TD> E </TD></TR><TR><TD> P </TD><TD> R </TD><TD> M </TD><TD> E </TD><TD> R </TD></TR></TABLE> seawolf17 Apr 07 2009 09:45 AM cream syrup juice water sugar DocTee Apr 07 2009 09:45 AM Coffee Syrup Juice Water Sanka Centerfield Apr 07 2009 10:12 AM Can we start a separate thread for answers? That way, we can still try them even if we get here late. metsmarathon Apr 08 2009 09:03 AM ]Wednesday, 8 Apr 09 Using exactly four 7s and only the basic arithmetic operations +, -, x, /, I can make the number 13 like this: ( 7 + 7 ) - ( 7 / 7 ) = 13 Find an expression that uses exactly four 7s and the four basic arithmetic operations (as many times as needed) to make the number 8. (Important: You have to use all four 7s and you may not use exponents, but you may use parentheses to group numbers.) Please place your answers in the answer thread [url=http://cranepoolforum.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?p=275831#275831]here[/url] metsmarathon Apr 08 2009 09:04 AM also... sorry. forgot to confirm that seawolf got yesterday's puzzle correct. 5 - frayed knot 4.5 - seawolf17 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 2.5 - edgydc 1 - transmonk 1 - mendoza line 0.5 - smg58 metsmarathon Apr 08 2009 09:25 AM oh, good, the answer thread worked! i knew it would with all you geniuses trying to answer these questions. sensing seawolf hot on his heels, frayed knot pads his lead with another correct answer... 6 - frayed knot 4.5 - seawolf17 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 2.5 - edgydc 1 - transmonk 1 - mendoza line 0.5 - smg58 metsmarathon Apr 15 2009 08:44 AM ]Tuesday, 14 Apr 09 Put the same four-letter word in each of the blanks below to make four new words. ____ SWIPE ____ REAL ____ WAYS ____ SLIP Please place your answers in the answer thread [url=http://cranepoolforum.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?p=275831#275831]here[/url] metsmarathon Apr 16 2009 08:52 AM transmonk wins it on the quick draw. 6 - frayed knot 4.5 - seawolf17 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 2.5 - edgydc 2 - transmonk 1 - mendoza line 0.5 - smg58 ]Wednesday, 15 Apr 09 Patti starts to correct a pile of 163 multiple choice tests at a rate of four per minute. Five minutes later Sandy joins her, and corrects tests at a rate of seven per minute. When they are finished correcting the entire pile, how many papers has each corrected? please place your answers in the answer thread [url=http://cranepoolforum.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?p=275831#275831]here[/url] metsmarathon Apr 17 2009 06:58 AM 6 - frayed knot 4.5 - seawolf17 3.5 edgydc 3 - benjamin grimm 3 - john cougar lunchbucket 3 - batmagadanleadoff 2 - transmonk 1 - mendoza line 0.5 - smg58 ]Friday, 17 Apr 09 Complete the word square by inserting the nine letters into the grid, one per square, to create the same words reading across and down. <TABLE border="1"> <tr><td>A</td><td>J</td><td>A</td><td>R</td></tr><tr><td>J</td><td>_</td><td>_</td><td>_</td></tr><tr><td>A</td><td>_</td><td>_</td><td>_</td></tr><tr><td>R</td><td>_</td><td>_</td><td>_</td></tr></TABLE> <TABLE> <tr><td>D</td><td>D</td><td>D</td></tr><tr><td>E</td></tr><tr><td>O</td><td>O</td></tr><tr><td>S</td><td>S</td></tr><tr><td>U</td></tr></TABLE> please place your answers in the answer thread [url=http://cranepoolforum.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?p=275831#275831]here[/url]