Three-E-Mail Puzzles

Scott, Paul, Australian Mathematics Teacher

I receive e-mails from many people, but from time to time I get sent a mathematical offering. This is usually from people who know of my interest in such things, and who want an answer! These puzzles are usually nicely dressed up, and fun to solve. See what you think!

Puzzle 1

A little something to wake up your brain:

What is the sum in the second row?

  [        [        [        o       = 11
  o        Y        o        U       = ?
  U        Y        U        U       = 11
  o        o        o        [       = 9
 = 8      = 21     = 8      = 7

This is a mathematical challenge, and it's been said that:

* if you're an engineer, you should be able to solve it in (under) three minutes;

* if you're an architect, in three hours;

* if you're a …

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Publication information: Article title: Three-E-Mail Puzzles. Contributors: Scott, Paul - Author. Journal title: Australian Mathematics Teacher. Volume: 67. Issue: 2 Publication date: Summer 2011. Page number: 4+. © 2008 The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2011 Gale Group.

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