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The puzzles on this page are designed to be a challenge for those with mathematical insightfulness, yet solvable by the majority. There are usually many ways to "answer" the question, although most have a unique solution that will make the problem easier. The challenge, then, is to find the best solution, or a way to solve the problem without using trial and error. When submitting an answer, also include your solution(how you got it). Good luck to all. I appreciate any comments/suggestions/ideas that you might have. E-Mail me.

[ This Month's Puzzle | Previous Puzzles | Submit Puzzle ]

This Month's Puzzle:

Here is a simple puzzle that may perplex the reader for a few minutes
A miller is accustomed to take as toll one-tenth of the flour he has ground for his customer. How much did he grind for a man who had just one bushel after the toll had been taken?

Students with correct solutions will receive a congratulatary E-Mail from Mr. Byer. Students with incorrect or incomplete solutions will receive a response indicating the nature of their solution. A hint if appropriate may accompany this response.

Submit Solution
OR
Click on E-mail Solution. Write your solution in message area. Include your name, grade and school.

Previous Puzzles: [no solutions provided, sorry.]

What is the angle between the hour and minute hands of a clock at exactly 20 minutes after 3?
Here is an ancient puzzle...Two women were selling apples at a market. One at two for a dollar, and the other at three for a dollar. One day both women were called away with 30 apples unsold. They had a friend sell them at 5 for 2 dollars. Show that they would have raised $25 had they sold them seperately, but only $24 when sold together. Surely 3 for a dollar and two for a dollar is the same as 5 for 2 dollars, can you explain this little mystery?
Four boys and three girls are seated in a row at random. What is the probability that the two children sitting at the end of the row will be girls?
ABCDEFGHI correspond (somehow) to the digits 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,and 9. When AB is multiplied by C = DE. Also, FG - DE = HI. Substitute the letters for the correct digits so these two arithmetic statements work.
A man's age at death was one twenty-ninth of the year of his birth. How old was he in 1900?
What is the largest sum of money -all in current U.S. coins and no silver dollars(or Susan B's)- that I could have in my pocket without being able to give change for a dollar, half dollar, quarter, dime, or nickel?
An ant is located in the bottom corner of a 30ft x 20ft x 20ft room. What is the shortest distance the ant would have to travel to reach the opposite corner of the room? Show or explain why this must be the shortest distance.
We all remember "match" puzzles. Where the person has to move a single match to change/create a new situation. This puzzle is of that nature. Move ONE match in the following picture so that the resulting diagram is mathematically equal to "1"
If you have a circular disk with a radius of 50cm, and you cut a circular hole out of the center. What will the radius of the hole need to be in order for the remaining "donut" to have an area equal to that of the hole (that was just cut out)?
What comes next in the following series? 1,11,21,1211,111221,312211,13112221,1113213211,31131211131221,....

This puzzle courtesy of Brad Jolly.

Submit a puzzle

Those who submit puzzles will be given full credit. Note: solutions need not accompany puzzles. Keep in mind that these puzzles are intended to be solved by students in grades 6-12.

OR
Click on E-mail Puzzle. Write puzzle in message area. Include your name, and any other relevant information.

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Any comments/questions/suggestions send to: Mr.Byer .