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Arithmetic-maze
In the following Arithmetic-maze, go to the START box and proceed through the maze, following instructions as provided, until you get to the FINISH box. What number did you finish with?
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Last month's solutions
Puzzle 1
You have three darts with each go to score 42. Aim at this target and work out how many different ways there are to make the score. Assume each dart scores and once three numbers have been used, the same three combinations cannot be used again in any order. How many combinations are there to score 42?
Solutions:
0 + 21 + 21 = 42
4 + 18 + 20 = 42
10 + 12 + 20 = 42
10 + 14 + 18 = 42
12 + 12 + 18 = 42
12 + 15 + 15 = 42
14 + 14 + 14 = 42
Puzzle 2
You have 25 sticks standing upright in a circle, numbered 1 to 25 clockwise. Starting with stick 1 and then rotating in a counter-clockwise direction around the circle, knock over every third stick in each rotation of the circle (i.e., 24, 21, 18, etc). Keep rotating around and around the circle knocking over every third stick standing until only one stick remains standing. What will be the number of the last stick standing?
Solution:
Sticks in the Circle: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
After 1st CCW complete pass around: 1, 25, 23, 22, 20, 19, 17, 16,14, 13, 11, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 2
After 2nd CCW complete pass around: 1, 23, 22, 19, 17, 14, 13, 10, 8, 5, 4
After 3rd CCW complete pass around: 1, 23, 19, 17, 13, 10, 5, 4
After 4th CCW complete pass around: 23, 19, 13, 10, 4
After 5th CCW complete pass around: 23, 13, 10
After 6th CCW complete pass around: 23, 13
After 7th CCW complete pass around: #13 (or Last Stick Standing)
Puzzle 3
Four playing cards, one in each suit, lie face down on a table. They are a three, four, five and six.
- The cards on either side of the four are black.
- The club is to the right of the three.
- The spade is to the left of the heart.
- The sum of the first two cards equals the sum of the last two cards.
Can you determine the cards’ suits and their order?
Solution:
| Clue | Position 1 | Position 2 | Position 3 | Position 4 |
| The cards on either side of the four are black. This means either A | Spade/Club | 4 | Spade/Club | |
| or B is correct | Spade/Club | 4 | Spade/Club | |
| The club is to the right of the three (A above is correct) | 3 | 5/6 Spade/Club | 4 | 5/6 Spade/Club |
| The spade is to the left of the heart | 3 Diamond | 5/6 Spade | 4 Heart | 5/6 Club |
| The sum of the first two cards equals the sum of the last two cards | 3 Diamond | 6 Spade | 4 Heart | 5 Club |
Mr. Burgin,
Thanks to your creative puzzles, I so look forward to the first of each month in which I get to tackle a new Maths challenge! Thank you for always producing the very best, and for captivating my brain with the ingenious fun of Maths puzzles!
Cheers,
Kim B.