Puzzles to test mathematical skills, set by Anita Straker. Solutions below More brainteasers on www.tes.co.ukteacherbrainteasers
Postman
The postman delivered 18 letters to each street. In Jamaica Road, each house got one more letter than before. In Cherry Close, each house got two more letters than the one before. In Shepherd’s Way, each house got three more letters than the one before.
How many letters did each house get?
Number puzzle
The product of two numbers that differ by 10 is 1225. What are they?
1225
Postman (Ages 6 to 9) The four houses in Jamaica Road got 3, 4, 5 and 6 letters. The three houses in Cherry Close got 4, 6 and 8 letters. The three houses in Shepherd’s Way got 3, 6 and 9 letters.
SOLUTIONS Number Puzzle (Ages 14 to 16) 5C50 + 5 and 5C50 - 5
A quick look at the factors of 1225 should be enough to convince you that the two numbers are not integers. Solving x (x - 101225 will give the solution but an easier solution without using the quadratic formula can be found by solving (a + 5) (a-51225, or a2 = 1250.
