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4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:57 am
by SalisburyClaret
4 word type teasers...
What English word has three consecutive double letters?
What English word retains the same pronunciation, even after you take away four of its five letters?
Name an English word of more than two letters that both begins and ends with the letters ‘HE’ (in that order)
What’s unusual about this paragraph?
How quickly can you find what’s so odd about it. It looks so ordinary and plain, that you might think nothing’s wrong with it. In fact, nothing is wrong with it! It is curious though. Study it. Think about it. You still may not find anything. But if you work at it a bit, you could just find out.
Good Luck!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:59 am
by claretonthecoast1882
1 - Bookkeeper
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 11:59 am
by claretonthecoast1882
3 - Headache
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:01 pm
by MACCA
Bookkeeper or Bookkeeping
Q
Hehe
Not got that much time
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:02 pm
by Herts Clarets
2. Q?
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:05 pm
by MACCA
What word containing more than 5 letters spells the same word if written backwards/in reverse order
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:05 pm
by eastanglianclaret
4. No letter E ?
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:06 pm
by BB1Claret
4. Does not contain letter e
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:10 pm
by SalisburyClaret
BB1Claret wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:06 pm
4. Does not contain letter e
Very good!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:11 pm
by SalisburyClaret
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:11 pm
by SalisburyClaret
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:12 pm
by SalisburyClaret
MACCA wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:01 pm
Bookkeeper or Bookkeeping
Q
Hehe
Not got that much time
Both right
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:12 pm
by SalisburyClaret
One of 2 possible answers!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:13 pm
by SalisburyClaret
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:17 pm
by RMutt
3. Heartache, also.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:18 pm
by claretonthecoast1882
Slight case of cheating
I am putting some invoices away that I have just paid and it says bookkeeping on the front of the box I keep them in
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:24 pm
by SalisburyClaret
RMutt wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:17 pm
3. Heartache, also.
Correct!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:29 pm
by SalisburyClaret
MACCA wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:05 pm
What word containing more than 5 letters spells the same word if written backwards/in reverse order
Racecar
Rotator
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:42 pm
by MACCA
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:44 pm
by StuffyClaret
Q2. What about H (aitch)
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:06 pm
by minnieclaret
I cheated for the longest palindrome as you can see.
- 92C9D426-2EAC-45A6-8538-6FC94C3A101D.jpeg (53.69 KiB) Viewed 2570 times
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:08 pm
by SalisburyClaret
StuffyClaret wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 12:44 pm
Q2. What about H (aitch)
Can see where you’re going but as you indicate the correct spelling is ‘aitch’ and if you take 4 letters away it doesn’t work
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:17 pm
by RMutt
Surely StuffClarets’ answer works in the same way? Take away,a,i,t and c and you are left with h(aitch) and they sound the same.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:19 pm
by RMutt
Sorry, StuffyClarets, and the same way as the Q answer.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:56 pm
by beeholeclaret
No3. Is giving me a headache!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:02 pm
by Devils_Advocate
No2. Reach
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:06 pm
by SalisburyClaret
RMutt wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:17 pm
Surely StuffClarets’ answer works in the same way? Take away,a,i,t and c and you are left with h(aitch) and they sound the same.
So in the end it went to VAR and they said -
Ok - as it’s Christmas!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:31 pm
by Bosscat
SalisburyClaret wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 1:08 pm
Can see where you’re going but as you indicate the correct spelling is ‘aitch’ and if you take 4 letters away it doesn’t work
Does if you take away the 1st four letters of Aitch you are left with H pronounced exactly the same isn't it
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:39 pm
by RMutt
SalisburyClaret wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:06 pm
So in the end it went to VAR and they said -
Ok - as it’s Christmas!
Great, an early present for StuffyClaret and I’m generally not in favour of VAR!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:43 pm
by SalisburyClaret
RMutt wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:39 pm
Great, an early present for StuffyClaret and I’m generally not in favour of VAR!
Might be all we get from it this season
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:52 pm
by RMutt
My mate set me this one the other day. I can’t work it out. Not English but Maths. Twelve balls identical in every way. Except one is a different weight to the others. It could be heavier or lighter. You have a set of balance scales but you can only use them three times in order to work out which ball is different in weight.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:54 pm
by minnieclaret
RMutt wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:52 pm
My mate set me this one the other day. I can’t work it out. Not English but Maths. Twelve balls identical in every way. Except one is a different weight to the others. It could be heavier or lighter. You have a set of balance scales but you can only use them three times in order to work out which ball is different in weight.
We used to catch lads with that at the snooker. Long time ago so I’ll have to think it through but it is doable.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:57 pm
by duncandisorderly
RMutt wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:52 pm
My mate set me this one the other day. I can’t work it out. Not English but Maths. Twelve balls identical in every way. Except one is a different weight to the others. It could be heavier or lighter. You have a set of balance scales but you can only use them three times in order to work out which ball is different in weight.
6 per side - one side will be heavier
then 3 per side - one side will be heavier
finally 1 per side - if they balance then the one not on the scales is heaviest, otherwise the heavier of the two is heaviest.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:00 pm
by Whitgord
Ok but what if the odd ball is lighter than the rest?
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:04 pm
by RMutt
duncandisorderly wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:57 pm
6 per side - one side will be heavier
then 3 per side - one side will be heavier
finally 1 per side - if they balance then the one not on the scales is heaviest, otherwise the heavier of the two is heaviest.
Wouldn’t that only work if you are looking for a heavier ball? The odd ball could be heavier or lighter.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:05 pm
by minnieclaret
RMutt wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 2:52 pm
My mate set me this one the other day. I can’t work it out. Not English but Maths. Twelve balls identical in every way. Except one is a different weight to the others. It could be heavier or lighter. You have a set of balance scales but you can only use them three times in order to work out which ball is different in weight.
This is the first half.
1.Weigh 4 balls against 4 balls. If they are balanced the ball is in the 4 untested.
2.Weigh 2 untested balls against 2 balanced balls. If they balance the ball is in the two untested.
3.Weigh 1 untested ball against 1 balanced ball. If they balance it is the remaining ball, if they don’t it is the new ball you just added to the scales.
4. If at stage 2 they didn’t balance it is one of the two just added and go to stage 3 again.
The second half is if they didn’t balance at stage 1. That will take me longer.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:06 pm
by duncandisorderly
I missed that bit...
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:21 pm
by minnieclaret
I think this is it!!
Next stage.
Remember which side went up and which down.
Remove a ball from each side and swap 2 balls from each side.
If they are still balanced the ball is one of the remaining 2. Go to stage 3 in my previous post.
If unbalanced note whether the same sides went up or down or did it reverse.
From that you know which balls you have swapped and whether they are lighter or heavier. You then weigh 1 of the 2 balls you swapped against a balanced ball.
If balanced it is the remaining ball.
If unbalanced it is the unbalanced ball on the scales.
It is far easier to get there with 12 balls available but I think I’ve got it.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:31 pm
by RMutt
Crikey, I can see now why I couldn't get it. Thanks minnieclaret. Can I ask, did someone tell you the answer originally, or did you work it out yourself?
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:59 pm
by minnieclaret
RMutt wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:31 pm
Crikey, I can see now why I couldn't get it. Thanks minnieclaret. Can I ask, did someone tell you the answer originally, or did you work it out yourself?
I’m not that bright, RMutt.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:06 pm
by Whitgord
Impressive stuff Minnie!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:14 pm
by SalisburyClaret
1 more and 2 riddles -
What common three-letter English verb becomes its own past tense by rearranging its letters?
What has a forest but no trees, cities but no people, and rivers but no water?
A farmer owns a pear tree. Her main customer calls, to ask how much fruit is available to buy. The farmer knows that the trunk has 20 branches. Each branch contains exactly 10 boughs, and each bough has exactly 5 twigs. Since each twig bears one piece of fruit, how many plums will the farmer be able to sell?
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:26 pm
by Bosscat
SalisburyClaret wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:14 pm
1 more and 2 riddles -
What common three-letter English verb becomes its own past tense by rearranging its letters?
What has a forest but no trees, cities but no people, and rivers but no water?
A farmer owns a pear tree. Her main customer calls, to ask how much fruit is available to buy. The farmer knows that the trunk has 20 branches. Each branch contains exactly 10 boughs, and each bough has exactly 5 twigs. Since each twig bears one piece of fruit, how many plums will the farmer be able to sell?
2 is a map (or atlas)
3 pears trees don't have plums as fruit
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:27 pm
by SalisburyClaret
Bosscat wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:26 pm
2 is a map (or atlas)
3 pears trees don't have plums as fruit
Spot on!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:29 pm
by Dougall
eat/Ate
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:31 pm
by minnieclaret
Whitgord wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:06 pm
Impressive stuff Minnie!
I’ve impressed mesen. The guy that showed that one retired in 1992 and I’ve never done it since. The strange things that stick in memory.
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:32 pm
by SalisburyClaret
Dougall wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:29 pm
eat/Ate
Correct!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:37 pm
by Dougall
minnieclaret wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 3:21 pm
I think this is it!!
Next stage.
Remember which side went up and which down.
Remove a ball from each side and swap 2 balls from each side.
If they are still balanced the ball is one of the remaining 2. Go to stage 3 in my previous post.
If unbalanced note whether the same sides went up or down or did it reverse.
From that you know which balls you have swapped and whether they are lighter or heavier. You then weigh 1 of the 2 balls you swapped against a balanced ball.
If balanced it is the remaining ball.
If unbalanced it is the unbalanced ball on the scales.
It is far easier to get there with 12 balls available but I think I’ve got it.
But surely you're weighing them 5 times then! (The question set a limit of 3)
The 4 balls method works, because we weren't asked whether the odd one was heavier or lighter - just which was the different one.)
Still all impressive logic, mind!!
Re: 4 Christmas Teasers...
Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 6:34 pm
by minnieclaret
Dougall wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 4:37 pm
But surely you're weighing them 5 times then! (The question set a limit of 3)
The 4 balls method works, because we weren't asked whether the odd one was heavier or lighter - just which was the different one.)
Still all impressive logic, mind!!
They are two entirely different routes to the solution.
The one higher up the thread is obvious.
The one you replied to=
1st Weigh. 4 v 4 and is unbalanced.
2nd weigh. Remove 1 from each and swap 2 from each.
3rd weigh. Dependant on outcome of previous weigh do the following,
If unbalanced note whether the same sides went up or down or did it reverse.
From that you know which balls you have swapped and whether they are lighter or heavier. You then weigh 1 of the 2 balls you swapped against a balanced ball.
If balanced it is the remaining ball.
If unbalanced it is the unbalanced ball on the scales.
