A TRIBUTE TO SRINIVASA RAMANUJAM (1887-1920)

BRAIN TEASERS

AND

PUZZLES

PUZZLE 1PUZZLE 1 A mule and a donkey were each carrying a A mule and a donkey were each carrying a

number of sacks of grain. The donkey number of sacks of grain. The donkey complained of his load whereupon the mule complained of his load whereupon the mule said to him, ”What’s the mater with you? If said to him, ”What’s the mater with you? If you gave me one sack, I would have twice as you gave me one sack, I would have twice as many as you; If I gave you one of my sacks, many as you; If I gave you one of my sacks, we would have equal loads. ” How many we would have equal loads. ” How many sacks was each animal carrying?sacks was each animal carrying?

PUZZLE 2PUZZLE 2 A vagrant can roll a new cigarette from A vagrant can roll a new cigarette from

seven cigarette ends. On this particular day, seven cigarette ends. On this particular day, by far his best, he managed to collect 145 by far his best, he managed to collect 145 cigarette ends. How many cigarettes will he cigarette ends. How many cigarettes will he manage to smoke in total?manage to smoke in total?

PUZZLE 3PUZZLE 3 On a man’s tombstone, it is said that one-sixth of On a man’s tombstone, it is said that one-sixth of

his life was spent in childhood and one-twelfth as his life was spent in childhood and one-twelfth as a teenager. One-seventh of his life passed a teenager. One-seventh of his life passed between the time he became an adult and the between the time he became an adult and the time he married; five years later, his son was born. time he married; five years later, his son was born. Alas, the son died four years before he did. He Alas, the son died four years before he did. He lived to be twice as old as his son did. How old was lived to be twice as old as his son did. How old was the man when his son was born? the man when his son was born?

PUZZLE 4 Two friends, Harshal and Gautam, go to a

bookshop, together with their sons Roshan and Sushant respectively. All four of them buy some buys; each book costs a whole amount in rupees.When they leave the bookshop, they notice that both fathers have spent Rs.21 more than their respective sons. Moreover, each of them paid per book the same number of rupees as books than he bought. The difference between the number of books of Harshal and Roshan is 3. How many books did Rohan buy ?

PUZZLE 5PUZZLE 5

Nitin has an electric 12-hour clock. One evening Nitin has an electric 12-hour clock. One evening there was a power cut from 11 p.m. until 11.18 there was a power cut from 11 p.m. until 11.18 p.m. After the power cut, Nitin’s clock started p.m. After the power cut, Nitin’s clock started immediately but went backwards at half its immediately but went backwards at half its normal speed. When Nitin saw the time on normal speed. When Nitin saw the time on breakfast television the next morning, it agreed breakfast television the next morning, it agreed with the time on his clock. What time was it?with the time on his clock. What time was it?

PUZZLE 6PUZZLE 6 Ishwar and Arun wanted to take a vacation. They were Ishwar and Arun wanted to take a vacation. They were

debating how they could go to their hotel in the fastest debating how they could go to their hotel in the fastest manner. Ishwar said, ”We should go by train.” But Arun manner. Ishwar said, ”We should go by train.” But Arun said, “No, the train reaches the end of the line half-way said, “No, the train reaches the end of the line half-way to the hotel – we would have to walk the rest of the way. to the hotel – we would have to walk the rest of the way. We should bike to the hotel instead.” Ishwar disagreed. We should bike to the hotel instead.” Ishwar disagreed. So, Arun biked the whole way to the hotel, while Ishwar So, Arun biked the whole way to the hotel, while Ishwar took the train for the first half of the journey and walked took the train for the first half of the journey and walked for the remainder. The speed of the train turned out to for the remainder. The speed of the train turned out to be four times that of the bike. The bike’s speed turned be four times that of the bike. The bike’s speed turned out to be twice the walking speed. Who got to the hotel out to be twice the walking speed. Who got to the hotel first?first?

PUZZLE 7

Doris has 2 clocks in his living room. One Doris has 2 clocks in his living room. One stopped in 1965 and has not been restarted stopped in 1965 and has not been restarted since. The other gains half a minute every 24 since. The other gains half a minute every 24 hours. Which of the 2 clock tell correct time hours. Which of the 2 clock tell correct time more often?more often?

PUZZLE 8

A jar has 4 amoebas in it. Amoeba splits into two( therefore doubling in size) once every second. The jar will be completely filled in 10 seconds. How long would it take to fill the jar if it had 8 amoebas in it.

CREDITS

BY THE DEVIOUS BRAINBENDERS

S.AKSHAY

T.S.VISWANATHAN

V.SURYA

R. SHASHANK