Most of our puzzlers require no significant mathematical backgound whatsoever, but they do require objective logical thinking and a certain amount of perserverance. Many of them are completely original, with solutions hard to come by anywhere else. Thus, they share a certain kinship with TC in that one cannot simply look up the problem and change the numbers. Some of them require only reading comprehension, others require a bit of insight, still others require nothing but common sense, while virtually none of them require a knowledge of higher mathematics.
Although we ask only for answers, we have the harder task of providing solutions. It goes without saying that if we make an error, then everyone is welcome to point it out, even if it is as much as a year later, for the accuracy of our solutioins must withstand the test of time. Thus, as is the case with our CHESS GEMS solutions,. there is no time limit when it comes to correctness.
PUZZLER #96
1/x of the chess playing community of a certain state plays postal
orthochess exclusively, and 1/y of that community plays postal TC
exclusively, where x and y are integers. If the total number of exclusive
postal chess players is 1/133 of the chess community, and the difference
between the number of exclusive postal TC players is a maximum, what
fraction of the chess playing population of this state plays postal orthochess
exclusively and what fraction plays postal TC exclusively?
Puzzler #96 solution
PUZZLER #97
On average, how many cards must be turned up from a thoroughly
shuffled deck of 52 playing card in order to produce either a king or a
queen?
Puzzler #97 solution
PUZZLER #98
The professions of Arthur, Bob, Charles, and Dennis are accountant,
botanist, chemist, and detective, but not necessarily in the order given.
Charles is 41 years old, while Dennis is 36. The accountant is
three years older than the botanist, and Arthur is one year younger than
Bob. The chemist is more than five years older than the detective.
Arthur, who does not know an anther from a stigma, hates to travel,
and never left New Jersey; while Bob, the chemist's brother-in-law, frequently
plays OTB chess with him at his home in Connecticut. List their occupations
and ages.
Puzzler #98 solution