Solutions
1. The Traveling Checker
You cannot make the checker traverse all the squares in less than sixteen moves, as shown in [Fig. 12].
Fig. 12.—Solution to traveling checker.
Fig. 13.—Solution to second checker puzzle.
2. Another Checker Puzzle
The way to place the sixteen pieces so that no three are in a line in any direction, can be seen from [Fig. 13].
3. The Rings Joined
The nine rings can be joined by four lines, as shown in [Fig. 14].
Fig. 14.—The joined rings.
4. The Ten Rows
The complicated geometrical figure shown in [Fig. 15] shows the ten rows formed with nine counters.
5. The Cabalistic Sign
By making the two cuts shown in [Fig. 16], the piece of paper will be divided into four parts that will fit together into a square.
Fig. 15.—The ten rows.
Fig. 16.—Solution to cabalistic sign puzzle.
6. The Dangerous Anarchists
The simplest method of rearranging the prisoners was as follows (as there was only one vacant cell at any time the numbers designate which prisoner was moved therein)—1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 6, 5, 3, 1, 2, 6, 5, 3, 1, 2, 4, 8, 7, 1, 2, 4, 8, 7, 4, 5, 6.
7. Catching the Donkey
According to the rules of the game, the donkey moves first, and the following is one of the shortest methods by which the man can catch him. It will doubtless amuse you to find other, and probably quicker ways of cornering Ned.
| Donkey | to | 3 |
| Man | „ | 36 |
| Don. | „ | 21 |
| Man | „ | 30 |
| Don. | „ | 3 |
| Man | „ | 8 |
| Don. | „ | 4 |
| Man | „ | 7 |
| Don. | „ | 5 |
| Man | „ | 12 |
When the man has driven the ass into the corner at 5, of course there is no more chance of escape, and Ned has to submit to the bridle with resignation.
8. Like to Like
Moving two men at a time, the four moves are:—
| 2 | and | 3 | moved to | spaces | 9 | and | 10 |
| 5 | „ | 6 | „ | „ | 2 | „ | 3 |
| 8 | „ | 9 | „ | „ | 5 | „ | 6 |
| 1 | „ | 2 | „ | „ | 8 | „ | 9 |
The counters will then appear as in [Fig. 17].
Fig. 17.—Solution to “Like to like” puzzle.
9. The Broken Chain
To repair the chain the jeweler had recourse to a very simple device. Breaking the three links of one of the pieces he used them to join the remaining four pieces, thus restoring it to the original length.
10. The Diamond Cross
The owner of the diamond cross thought she had been very clever in counting the stones as she did, but her cunning overreached itself, for the jeweler had only to remove the diamonds of the extremities of the cross-piece, and shift this latter up one point, as in [Fig. 18], to make his theft almost unnoticeable. You will find the diamonds count nine, even though two stones have been removed.
Fig. 18.—Solution to diamond cross puzzle.
Fig. 19.—Solution to the quarrelsome railways puzzle.
Fig. 20.—Solution to miter puzzle.
11. The Quarrelsome Railways
After much surveying and discussion, the railways laid their lines as shown in [Fig. 19].
12. The Other Railway Problem
The following is the simplest method by which the engine could transpose the cars G, H.
I pushes G into F, and returns and pushes H up to G. The two cars are then coupled together, drawn down to C and pushed over to A. G is then uncoupled, and I takes H back to F and leaves it there. I then returns to G, pulls it back to E and leaves it there. I then returns to H by way of C, and draws it down to D, thus completing the task.
13. The Miter
A glance at [Fig. 20] will show how the miter can be divided into four similar parts.