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Number Puzzle

Tuesday’s Twister #8 – Venn in Ten

March 3rd, 2015 by John Lehet

Given a number and a two-set Venn diagram, you have to select the area of the Venn diagram where the number should go. Try to place ten numbers as quickly as possible. After each number is correctly placed, a new number and set definitions are displayed. When you’ve completed 10 numbers, you will be told the number correct, the number of misses and the time it took.

Numbers are in the range of 1 to 50 and set definitions include Even Numbers, Odd Numbers, Multiples of 3, 4, 5 or 7, Numbers Less Than 10, Numbers Greater Than 40 and Numbers in the 20’s. So only basic number familiarity is required.

Here’s a quick overview of two-set Venn diagrams (using the diagram below as a reference). There are four areas:

  • 1. Not in A and Not in B (this is the blue area)
  • 2. In A and In B (this is the yellow area in the middle – the football shape)
  • 3. In A and NOT in B (this is the yellow area on the left)
  • 4. In B and NOT in A (this is the yellow area on the right)

Just select “Click to Start” to give it a try.  It’s fast paced and can be addictive.  Try to beat your best time and good luck.

As always, I hope you enjoyed these Venn diagram puzzles.  Please pass them onto others who may enjoy them and please click LIKE below if you like them!

Tuesday’s Twister #7 – More Hex Codes

February 17th, 2015 by John Lehet

Some of us think that holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” – Hermann Hesse

Today’s puzzles are Hex Codes.  I introduced some Hex Codes during the Holiday Puzzles back in December. Each puzzle is a collection of adjacent hexagons that follow a pattern.  In today’s puzzles, each hexagon contains either a number or is empty.  The objective is for you to fill in empty hexagons with the correct number that follows the given pattern.  You must determine the pattern that each puzzle exhibits in order to correctly complete each puzzle.  The hexagons may vary in color which may be of importance (hint, hint, nudge, nudge).  Some of the puzzles may use addition or subtraction, while others may utilize some other connection (like adjacent hexagons or the color) between certain attributes.  That’s all for you to figure out.

Below are two Hex Code puzzles for you to try.  All you need to do is to figure out the pattern in each puzzle and then use it to fill in the empty hexagons.  The puzzles are different codes so the colors have different meaning within each puzzle.  Best of luck!

Puzzle 1
HexCodeImages-1

Puzzle 2
HexCodeImages-2


As always, I hope you enjoyed these puzzles.  Please pass them onto others who may enjoy them and please click LIKE below if you like them!

Tuesday’s Twister #6 – Number Riddles

February 3rd, 2015 by John Lehet
"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." - Winston Churchill

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” – Winston Churchill

Riddles have always been one of my favorite types of puzzles.  Riddles are easily said and understood, but solving them is another issue.  Riddles come in all shapes and sizes.  There are true riddles, rhyming riddles, associative riddles, metaphoric riddles and joke riddles just to name a few.

Today’s twister is a series of riddles, all with a number theme.  Three of the following riddles are original and one is borrowed.  In either case I think that the following selection of four riddles will challenge everyone that gives them a try.  Remember, stick with it – the fun of riddles is figuring them out, not having them answered for you!

 

1.
What occurs twice in a week but never in a day?

 

2.
I’m closest number to the number 9
But not when looking at a number line
As a smile it to a frown
You need only turn me upside down


What number am I?

 

3.

Either Add 1 to me
or Subtract 1 from me
and a palindrome you’ll see

What number am I?

 

4.

What number is twice the number of letters in it?



Good Luck and pass these riddles onto others who may enjoy them! And remember to LIKE US below!

Tuesday’s Twister #4 – What Goes Where?

January 20th, 2015 by John Lehet

Failure happens all the time. It happens everyday in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” – Mia Hamm

Today’s puzzle is another original puzzle from my puzzle book, What Goes Where Puzzles.  It’s all about number sense.  For this puzzle, you need to  understand even and odd numbers, as well as addition (the sum of numbers).  I developed these puzzles to assist children in developing their number sense.

The puzzles are pretty straightforward.  You need to put the numbers 1 through 9 into the empty circles using the hints provided.  It’s important to use the numbers (1 through 9) once and only once.  Once you have filled in each circle with a number from 1 through 9, check by reviewing each hint to ensure your answers match.

Today’s puzzle is puzzle #8 from my book.  I selected it because it is appropriate for all ages. 
I love these puzzles, as they develop number sense while encouraging reading, understanding and following directions.  I wrote a book of 100 What Goes Where Puzzles available on Amazon.com – please take a look and pass this onto others. 

Good Luck and pass the puzzles onto others who may enjoy them!

Tuesday’s Twister #3 – Number Sense – Finding Factors

January 13th, 2015 by John Lehet

“Gravity is a contributing factor in nearly 73 percent of all accidents involving falling objects.” – Dave Barry

Here’s another Number Sense puzzles that I first introduced in the December Holiday Puzzles. This puzzle deals with factors of the whole numbers.  The puzzles are geared for younger puzzlers to help them improve their number sense. There are 8 statements each corresponding to a number. You have to use the numbers 0 through 9 once and only once to fill in the correct number for each statement. You will need to use and develop your deductive problem solving skills in order to correctly place the numbers. Since there are only 8 answers and 10 numbers (0 through 9), some of the answers will require two digits.

I created an interactive puzzle that will automatically check your answers and provide feedback. I also created a pdf file that can be used in classrooms or with pencils for those so inclined. The goal is to have fun and challenge yourself.

click here for .pdf file

select Check when complete to check your answers

I hope you enjoy this puzzle. Good luck and pass it onto others who may enjoy them!  If you get stuck and would like the solutions, use the “Contact Us” button and we will reply.  Also, click “Like” below if you like it!

In order to use the interactive puzzle, you need to have adobe flash enabled.

 

Tuesday’s Twister #2 – Fibonacci’s Only

January 6th, 2015 by John Lehet

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” – Albert Einstein

Here’s a new original puzzle that goes along with many of my Holiday puzzles (Even’s Only, Odd’s Only, Prime’s Only).  In the same theme, this is another great challenge for everyone. It emphasizes combining the first five Fibonacci numbers (1,2,3,5 and 8) with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using the rules of order of operations. 

The Fibonacci numbers are a sequence of numbers in which the next number can be generated by adding the two previous numbers.  The sequence starts with two 1’s or 1,1.  The next number is 2 (or 1+1) making the sequence 1,1,2.  The next number is 3 (or 1+2) making the sequence 1,1,2,3.  Following this pattern, the sequence continues as 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21 and so on as it continues forever.

The rules of the puzzle are simple:

1. Use only the numbers 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8

2. Use each number once and only once

3. Use any of + – x / to combine the numbers

4. Use parenthesis () as desired

5. Following rules 1-4, make the numbers 0-9

For example, “10” can be made as “8 + 5 – 3 x (2 – 1)”. In this example, each number (1,2,3,5,8) was used once and only once as required. There are other ways to make “10” which would also work.

I put together a little interactive program for this puzzle. You can enter your answers for each number and then select check. Your answers will be scored and a response provided (e.g. “got it!” or “need to use 1,2,3,5 and 8″). Give it a try and let me know what you think. Click here for a pdf file.

I hope you enjoy this puzzle. Good luck and pass it onto others who may enjoy them!  If you get stuck and would like the solutions, use the “Contact Us” button and we will reply.

In order to use the interactive puzzle, you need to have adobe flash enabled.

 

Tuesday’s Twister #1 – Counting Shapes

December 30th, 2014 by John Lehet

In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” – Yogi Berra

Today is the start of a new puzzle series that I’ve named “Tuesday’s Twister”. Every Tuesday I will post a new puzzle.  I’m hoping that each Tuesday Twister that I post will be for all ages.  I’ve decided to kick things off with Counting Shapes as this was the most popular of the Holiday Puzzles.  Check out the Counting Shapes post from the 20th of December.

As with many puzzles, the concept of Counting Shapes puzzles is very straight-forward and getting an answer is very easy, but getting the correct answer is a bit more challenging.

In today’s puzzles, you will be presented with a picture which is a collection of squares. All you need to do is count how many squares are in each picture. I suggest that you take your time and count twice, as it is easy to miss a few on the first count.

Below is an interactive version with three puzzles. Enter your count in each of the three boxes and then select check. You will not be told which of the three (if any) are correct, only if all three are correct. The first puzzle is easier than the other two, but still take your time and good luck! Click here for a pdf version of the puzzle.

 

Good Luck and pass the puzzles onto others who may enjoy them! If you get stuck and would like the solutions, use the “Contact Us” button and we will reply.

In order to use the interactive puzzle, you need to have adobe flash enabled.

Here are a few hints:

the number of squares in the first puzzles is not 4; the number of squares in the second puzzle is greater than 10; and the number of squares in the third puzzle is greater than 20.

Holiday Puzzle #23 – Number Circuits

December 23rd, 2014 by John Lehet

Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Today’s puzzle is an original puzzle – Number Circuits.  Initially I named these puzzles Magic Puzzles.  However, when Mindware agreed to publish the puzzles, I agreed to change the name.  I currently have two books of different levels of difficulty available, conveniently named Number Circuits Level A (easier) and Number Circuits Level B (harder), both of which are available on Mindware.  As with many puzzles, the concept is very straight-forward and getting an answer is very easy, but getting the correct answer is a bit more challenging. 

Below is an interactive puzzle sampler with six puzzles.  These are drag-and-drop puzzles in which you can select a number in a yellow circle (left click and hold) and drag to an empty circle (move the mouse and release left click).  The number should “snap” to the nearest empty circle (assuming it’s close enough).   Each puzzle contains directions and there is a general help button that provides further information.  Good luck!   Click here to request a pdf version of the puzzle.

Good Luck and pass the puzzles onto others who may enjoy them! Tomorrow, Wednesday the 24th, will be the last day of my Holiday Puzzles.  I promise it will be a fun puzzle that everyone will be able to try!

In order to use the interactive puzzle, you need to have adobe flash enabled.

 

Holiday Puzzle #22 – More Missing Word Puzzles

December 22nd, 2014 by John Lehet

I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” – Thomas Jefferson

Following the Monday theme for my 2014 Holiday Puzzles, today’s puzzles are yet another set of Missing Word Puzzles. I’ve received a lot of great feedback from everyone about the the Missing Work Puzzles #1, #8,  and #15. In today’s, there are a few with a Christmas theme (but not all of them).

Just like the last two Monday’s, in each puzzle, a word or words are missing, replaced by their first letter.  In order to solve each puzzle, you need to find the missing words.  Here’s an example of how they work:

Puzzle:       12 I in a F

The solution is     “12 INCHES in a FOOT

Below are ten puzzles to try

  • 1 is the LN

  • 3 WM

  • 3 G in a HT

  • 1 P in a PT

  • 3 RC

  • 5 GR

  • 2 H in every W

  • 24 H in a D

  • 12 D of C

  • 3 P in a HG

These are just fun puzzles to ponder.  They are not all original puzzles, but I still like to share them.  I think it’s fun to think of them yourself and challenge others – it’s something everyone can do.  Good Luck and pass the puzzles onto others who may enjoy them! 

Here are some clues: 2,4,5,9 – Christmas;  3,10 – sports.

Holiday Puzzle #21 – Alice in Self-Referential Land

December 21st, 2014 by John Lehet

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come the end; then stop.” – Lewis Carroll

Alice returned to wonderland to find that things were very little changed.  She ran into many of her old acquaintances along the way, discovering they too had changed very little.  However, she quickly discovered that her new adventures would have a self-referential twist.

Below are two of Alice’s encounters with the caterpillar.  In the first puzzle, the caterpillar pulls colored and numbered chips from a bag, hiding the numbers from Alice.  He provides Alice (and you) with some details about the numbers and you have to determine what they are.  In the second puzzle, Alice selects numbered cards from a deck which the caterpillar peeks at.  He again provides Alice (and you) with some details about the numbers and you have to determine what the numbers are on each card.  The following puzzles are self-referential – so beware – the numbers may change before your very eyes!


Puzzle 1


The caterpillar held a black bag containing different colored chips. On each chip, there was a number.  From the bag, the caterpillar selected four different color chips:  red, green, blue and yellow.  He looked at the number on each chip and then placed it face down in front of Alice.  Alice saw the color of each of the four chips, but could not see any of the numbers.  The caterpillar noted the following:


The number on the red chip was the number of selected chips with an odd number
The number on the green chip was the number of selected chips with an even number
The number on the blue chip was the number of selected chips with a number greater than 1
The number on the yellow chip was the number of selected chips with a number less than 2

Can you tell the sum of the four numbers on the selected chips?
Can you tell what number was on each chip?

Puzzle 2


Alice selected five cards from a deck of cards and placed them face down in front of the caterpillar. The caterpillar secretly looked at each card. After looking at the fifth card, he smiled and said “very interesting! The cards contain the numbers 1,2,3,4 or 5, either once, more than once or not at all”. He then told Alice the following:


The number on the first card is the number of odd numbers on the selected cards
The number on the second card is sum of the numbers on the first and fifth cards
The number on the third card is a number different than all of the other numbers
The number on the fourth card is the difference of the numbers on the first and fifth cards
The number on the fifth card is the number of even numbers on the selected cards


Can you tell the numbers on each of the selected cards?

I consider these puzzles to be very challenging.  Be patient and go fast slowly.  Here are links to two more self-referetial puzzles #7 (a collection of self-referential puzzles) and #14 (Who Killed Phil M. Mupp).  I am currently generating a book of original self-referential puzzles, all of which have a story behind them (much like the above).  The first chapter is devoted to Alice and her new adventures with self-referential puzzles.  I hope to have the book out early next year.  Click here to look at all of my currently available puzzle books (on Amazon).  Good Luck and pass the puzzles onto others who may enjoy them!