Mathematical Puzzles
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1976 is the year I was emancipated (aka graduated) from high school, and this issue of The Old Farmer's Almanac (OFA) happens to be from that year. For as long as I can remember, the OFA has included a set of Mathematical Puzzles in its annual publication. They range in difficulty from 1 (very easy) to 5 (sometimes quite difficult). Having been a faithful buyer and reader of the OFA for as long as I can remember, I have spent many hours toiling with some of the more challenging examples. In fact, there were a lot which I never did figure out and needed to look up the answers in the back (come to think of it, I experienced the same dilemma with my college engineering textbooks). Because quite a few of the Mathematical Puzzles are worthy of an engineer's cerebration, contemplation, and deliberation, all I have will be eventually posted here on RF Cafe. Enjoy! Old and New Mathematical Puzzles Blanton C. Wiggin, Editor People are getting smarter! Or the puzzles easier! So many good, new and thoughtful answers were received that it was necessary to work out a point system to make judging as objective as possible. We are pleased to announce that Robert Stegner, Deerfield, Illinois, 93 points, was the winner of the $15 for the best set of four answers. A close second was Robert DeBonte, Lafayette, Indiana, 92, while Richard Collier, Guilderland, New York, (last year's winner) was third at 91. Congratulations to everyone who sent correct answers. We hope you will find these puzzles for 1976 equally challenging. There are the usual fifteen easy-to-hard puzzles, some new, some old. No calculus, "higher math," or special knowledge needed. We will award one prize of $15 for the best set of solutions to puzzles 12 through 15 received before March 1, 1976. The answers to these four are omitted here.
Posted October 2, 2020 |
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