Here is an arithmetical curiosity:—

9×9 +7=88
9×98 +6=888
9×987 +5=8888
9×9876 +4=88888
9×98765 +3=888888
9×987654 +2=8888888
9×9876543 +1=88888888
9×98765432+0=888888888

No. LXXIX.—AT A DUCK POND

A farmer’s wife kept a pure strain of Aylesbury ducks for market on a square pond, with a duck-house at each corner. As trade grew brisk she found that she must enlarge her pond. An ingenious neighbour undertook to arrange this without altering the shape of the pond, and without disturbing the duck-houses. What was his plan?

[Solution]

STRANGE SUBTRACTION

It would seem impossible to subtract 69 from 55, but it can be arranged thus, with six as a remainder:—

SIXIXXL
IXXL
SIX

No. LXXX.—ALL ON THE SQUARE