Tag: puzzles

PoSWW 37: Squaring the Circles

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May 2, 2023

9:29 am

13 Comments on PoSWW 37: Squaring the Circles

PoSWW

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This one comes courtesy of Mystery Fred. The diagram above is for a Circle Gaps Brainteaser, and appeared online last week as part of Double Helix, CSIRO‘s science magazine for kids. The text for the brainteaser (as if it matters) is as follows:

What is the area of the orange star in the centre? The blue circles each have an area of 3 square centimetres, and the big square has sides that are 4 centimetres long.

A comment on the post makes it clear that the choices of sidelength and area were purposefully made.

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NotCH 6: Not Abbott’s and Not Costello’s Mulsification

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June 26, 2022

5:06 pm

2 Comments on NotCH 6: Not Abbott’s and Not Costello’s Mulsification

NotCH

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We have the bigger projects (AC, ITE, SD) in the works, plus an FOI appeal to do, plus 2000 words for a lefty magazine due in a couple weeks. We’re kinda busy. But, we’ll try to keep the general posts ticking along. This one is some fun, plus some history and a couple of puzzles.

One of the all-time great maths scenes is Abbott and Costello’s famous bit, where Lou Costello proves that 7 x 13 = 28:

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Puzzling Souls

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December 18, 2021

3:06 pm

19 Comments on Puzzling Souls

Puzzles

We’re a little out of steam right now. Some big posts are planned, but it’s difficult to gather our strength to write them. In the meantime, we’ll keep things going with a few light and easy posts.

A while back we posted some (still unanswered) puzzles by Tony Gardiner, as well as the excellent article by Tony from which they came. Exploring Gardiner’s writing a little further, we stumbled upon a hilarious problem, from long ago. Continue reading “Puzzling Souls” →

NotCH 2: A Digits Puzzle

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September 1, 2021

1:22 pm

20 Comments on NotCH 2: A Digits Puzzle

NotCH

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OK, hands up who thought there was ever gonna be a second NotCH?

We’re not really a puzzle sort of guy, and base ten puzzles in particular tend to bore us. So, this is unlikely to be a regular thing. Still, the following question came up in some non-puzzle reading (upon which we plan to post very soon), and it struck us as interesting, for a couple reasons. And, a request to you smart loudmouths who comment frequently:

Please don’t give the game away until non-regular commenters have had time to think and/or comment. 

Start by writing out a few terms of the standard doubling sequence:

1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, etc.  Continue reading “NotCH 2: A Digits Puzzle” →

NotCH 1: Maths Masters Quizzes

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August 23, 2021

4:53 pm

6 Comments on NotCH 1: Maths Masters Quizzes

NotCH

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More or less by accident, this post is the beginning of a new series: Not Crap Here.

A couple of people have suggested that we could occasionally include Dr. Jekyll material on this blog. You know, helpful stuff. It’s a decent idea, if our current thoughts weren’t so influenced by misanthropic disgust and murderous rage. Still, we’ve received two specific requests for the same old Jekyll material,* and which entailed some digging. Having finally dug, we’ve decided to post the material here, for whomever is interested. Whether or not there will ever be a NotCH 2 is anybody’s guess.

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