Conundrums, Riddles and Puzzles / Containing one thousand of the latest and best conundrums, gathered from every conceivable source, and comprising many that are entirely new and original

by Dean Rivers

Method.—The three digits composing this remainder will be the numbers thought of: and the order in which they were thought of will be the order of hundreds, tens, and units.

If a man had a triangular lot of land, the largest side being 136 rods, and each of the other sides 68 rods; what would be the value of the grass on it at the rate of $10 an acre?

Remark.—The “catch” in this is that the sides given will form no triangle.

Says A to B: “Give me four weights and I can weigh any number of pounds not exceeding 40.” Required the weights and the method of weighing.

Answer.—The weights are 1, 3, 9, and 27 pounds. In weighing we must put one or more in both scales, or some in one scale and some in another: thus, 7 lbs. = 9 lbs. + 1 lb. - 3 lbs.

Three men traveling with their wives came to a river which they wished to cross. There was but one boat and but two could cross at one time; and since the husbands were jealous no woman could be with a man unless her own husband was present. In what manner did they get across the river?

Method.—Let the persons be denoted A, B, and C, and Mrs. A, Mrs. B, and Mrs. C. First Mr. A and Mrs. A go over; then A comes back and Mrs. B and Mrs. C go over; then Mrs. A comes back and Mr. B and Mr. C go over; then Mr. B and Mrs. B return and Mr. A and Mr. B go over; then Mrs. C returns and Mrs. A and Mrs. B go over; then Mr. C returns and takes his wife, Mrs. C, over.

A man having a fox, a goose, and some corn came to a river which it was necessary to cross. He could, however, take only one across at a time, and if he left the goose and corn while he took the fox over, the goose would eat the corn; but if he left the fox and goose, the fox would kill the goose. How shall he get them all safely over?

Method.—First he takes the goose over, then returns and takes the fox over, then brings the goose back and takes the corn over, and then returns and takes the goose over again.

How may the 9 digits be arranged in a rectangular form so that the sum of any row, whether horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, shall equal 15?