Second Puzzle | Video

[lookprofessor]

[Luke has been having a rough go the last few weeks, and he's primarily kept to himself. But the loneliness is starting to bother him--without working with Satsuki he's felt rather like there's been nobody to spend time with at all.

As such, he's rectifying this problem the best way he knows how: a puzzle.]

At home, the Professor and I solved lots of puzzles. I know people here don't seem to like them quite as much, but they're still fun to do. So...um, I thought I'd share this one. It's easy to do without any pictures, so I thought it'd be a good one to start with.

"There are ten siblings living together. Let's say that I'm the eighth child. The oldest daughter is the second son's younger sister and the third son's older sister. The fourth son is the second daughter's older brother, and the older daughter's little brother. There are no boys between the third and fourth daughters. So--is the third-youngest child a boy or a girl?"

I've got plenty more puzzles, I keep track of all of them. And I can give you a hint if you need one, too.

[With that, the boy waits. Someone, please answer!]

Comments

[ifbymyhands]

It's a guy, 'cause it's you.

*calls him Shirley*

[youfool]

Ted began to do a mental lineage, starting from the oldest, and arranging the girls and boys. He checks his info, and then reads the beginning and ending sentences, one after the other.

"Clever trick! Eighth child, third youngest. A boy, surely."

[ifbymyhands]

I just heard something like it once, that's all.

[lookprofessor]

Ah--that's right! It's sort of a trick question, isn't it?

The answer has nothing to do with all of that chatter about who is what! The first two sentences tell the answer.

[But Luke is so happy two people have decided to solve puzzles!]

Would you like another one?

[ifbymyhands]

Sure, why not?

[lookprofessor]

A woman in a shoe store pays for a 30 pound pair of shoes with a 50 pound note.. The shoe store clerk doesn't have change, and gets some from the shop next door and gives the woman her change.

But a little while later, the shop keeper from next door comes over and says that the 50 pound note was a forgery! The shoe store clerk feels so poorly that he gives the other shop keeper 50 pounds from his own cash register.

The woman wit the fake 50 pound note and the shoes she bought are long gone. How much in pounds has the shoe store clerk lost?

[Meanwhile Luke is so excited to give puzzles. Maybe someone will be able to give him one!]

[ifbymyhands]

Uh... I haven't heard this one. But I think they just lost fifty? Or maybe eighty because the shoes count...

[symmetrophile]

Eight is plenty. They should have stopped having offspring with you.

[That is NOT THE POINT KID]

[lookprofessor]

Well...I don't actually have any brothers or sisters. Even though eight is an awful lot of kids. At least it's an even number so they can pair off?

[YOU DISTRACTED HIM KID.]

...that isn't really the point of the puzzle though.

[symmetrophile]

I'm delighted you agree.

[And for such a good reason! Pairs, indeed.]

We had exams at the academy that occasionally made use of word problems. Puzzles are a fine way to develop one's intellectual strength, as practical applications can exercise the body.

[lookprofessor]

I like doing puzzles. They remind me of being home.

[And bitty child is bitty, and he is homesick. And stressed. He looks young and tired, like he hasn't been sleeping. The boy rubs his eyes and tilts his head, tipping his blue hat just slightly askew.]

Did you figure out the answer?

[symmetrophile]

Hm? Ah, not before noticing someone else did.

[And, at that point, there was little purpose to thinking about the solution when the answer had already been revealed.]

Clever, requiring the ability to determine what parts of the problem are relevant. But puzzles won't see that you get sufficient rest.

[Seriously, Luke, you look like hell warmed over.]

[lookprofessor]

Oh...um. I'm sorry. I didn't realize you could hear their answer. I have plenty more, if you'd like.

[Luke is homesick and got caught sneaking around Satsuki's instructions. And the Professor isn't here. So he's a little skittish go on Kid tell him you're the god of death because THAT will go over super well]

...I like working on puzzles. I told you they remind me of being home and it's important to keep working on critical thinking. The Professor says it's key for success, after all.

[youfool]

"Certainly, another puzzle would do well to distract from more...visceral matters."

His night with witch hunting had made him pretty sore. And gross. Plus, Luke looked like, for some reason, he really needed to share these. Like it was his element; a piece of where he came from. We could all use more of that here.

[lookprofessor]

That is why he's sharing them, after all.

" Three people are at odds and are running for mayor in the next election. There are forty voters in town, including the the candidates. Every person may vote once. To win the election the candidate must have the majority of the votes. What is the absolute least number of votes a candidate can get to ensure that they'll win?"

[youfool]

"Hmm...a sure victory, assuming there's no ties, would require 21 votes."

[lookprofessor]

"You're close, but not quite!"

He smiles, tilting his head. "Do you want a hint? There are three candidates, not two...and it's important to remember they absolutely don't like each other, so they won't vote for each other."

[youfool]

"Goodness, such acrimonious politicians! I'm glad we don't have anything like that here. Hmmm, let me reconsider."

Considering the personalities, that means that there may as well be 37 votes, since the rest are assured. He'd try to remember to add 'one' to 37/2 = 18, and a bit. He'd try the lower rounded value's scenario: 18, plus himself makes 19. That leaves 19 other voters plus the opposition...no, the higher rounded value would be required.

"Is it 20?"

[lookprofessor]

Luke nods. "Exactly! I forgot about that too when I tried to solve his puzzle the first time."

video;

[whiteas]

Just how many puzzles have you been keeping track of?

Re: video;

[lookprofessor]

Every one I come across.

[He is TOTALLY SERIOUS TOO.]

video;

[whiteas]

And how.. many is that? Approximately.

[ She can't really blame him, she makes 5" binders for event planning. ]

Re: video;

[lookprofessor]

Hm...

Probably a thousand.

[He ponders this. Off screen, he flips through his notebook.] Maybe a bit more.

I don't have them all with me, though.

video;

[whiteas]

You should number and sort them by type of puzzle so they're easier to find.

video;

[lookprofessor]

Well...it's rather a lot. I suppose I could organize the ones I've with me now, though.