columbus area mensa, col-m, puzzles, 2000 november

Puzzles — by Dick Nuenke

Check out Quest for more brain exercises.

Last week, the first cryptogram was:

A REFORMER IS A MAN WHO RIDES THROUGH A SEWER IN A GLASS-BOTTOMED BOAT — JAMES J. WALKER

Correct answers came from Delmar Burkitt, Michael Coughlin, Andrzej Derdzinski, John Jackson, Bob Kaplan, Alma Litten, Julia Minturn, Carla Nuenke, Carole Perlman, Dorothy Utendorf, and Sally Yocom. As Julia correctly guessed, "Jimmy" Walker (1881-1946) was Mayor of New York City (1925-1932).

The second cryptogram was:

IT IS NOW AGAINST THE LAW TO YELL FIRESTONE IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT — JAY LENO

It proved more difficult with the two word fusions, but was correctly solved by Delmar, Andrzej, Julia, Sally, and Dorothy.

The third puzzle, the six chess players, was only answered correctly by Andrzej Derdzinski. Player B defeated player A. As Andrzej in part explained, the key was only A and B had an odd number of games played and would be involved in the first and/or last games. A loses to C in the first game and to B in the last game.

The answer to the postage puzzle (#4) is 5069 krone. Those parcel wieghts that require paying more than the exact value are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, and 23. All values over 23 can be made up exactly from combinations of 5 and 7. The extra amount to be paid is only 19 krone, which added to the sum of the digits 1 to 100 gives 5069. Correct answers came from Andrzej, Bob, and Michael.

This month's first puzzle is the cryptogram. Each letter stands for a different letter in the decoded message. This one is one of the more difficult ones conjured up.

N P X X M Y D C S H O P H, M S N L Y S Y W O Q Q Y B L D D U.
— B A P D J X P K K P

This puzzle by Martin Hollis is from the column Tantalizer in the New Scientist by permission. It's a bit different from what we've had recently. It involves "lateral thinking" about the sides of squares, i.e., going beyond the usual bounds of thinking. Take 12 matchsticks and arrange them to form 3 squares. That done, rearrange them to form first just four squares, then five squares, and finally just six squares. (Use all 12 each time; no broken sticks, and with each square at least one stick long).

This puzzle by Martin Hollis is adapted from the column Tantalizer in the New Scientist.

MacAristotle has been studying a community of farmers who inhabit a Scottish island. This is what he found:

1. All who speak Gaelic wear false teeth.

2. No one-legged numismatist has any grandchildren.

3. All church-goers are left-handed.

4. No non-swimmers grow roses.

5. Everyone who has no grandchildren plays the bagpipes.

6. No one who wears a kilt ever fails to go to church.

7. Only one-legged numismatists speak no Gaelic.

8. No left-handed inhabitant plays the bagpipes.

9. All those who can swim wear a kilt.

MacAristotle feels there is a connection between wearing false teeth and growing roses. Is there a connection, and if so what is it?

Correct answers and puzzle solvers will appear next month. Send answers by November 10th to Dick Nuenke; 1460 Kingsgate Rd.; Columbus, OH 43221 or call in (recording 24 hours) to 614-326-0452; fax to 614-292-4118; or e-mail to rnuenke@columbus.rr.com.