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# Puzzles

## Archive

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## XYZ

Which digits $$X$$, $$Y$$ and $$Z$$ fill this sum?
$$\begin{array}{cccc} &X&Z&Y\\ +&X&Y&Z\\ \hline &Y&Z&X \end{array}$$

## Where is Evariste?

Evariste is standing in a rectangular formation, in which everyone is lined up in rows and columns. There are 175 people in all the rows in front of Evariste and 400 in the rows behind him. There are 312 in the columns to his left and 264 in the columns to his right.
In which row and column is Evariste standing?
Tags: numbers

## Bending a Straw

Two points along a drinking straw are picked at random. The straw is then bent at these points. What is the probability that the two ends meet up to make a triangle?

## Turning Squares

Each square on a chessboard contains an arrow point up, down, left or right. You start in the bottom left square. Every second you move one square in the direction shown by the arrow in your square. Just after you move, the arrow on the square you moved from rotates 90° clockwise. If an arrow would take you off the edge of the board, you stay in that square (the arrow will still rotate).
You win the game if you reach the top right square of the chessboard. Can I design a starting arrangement of arrows that will prevent you from winning?

## Elastic Numbers

Throughout this puzzle, expressions like $$AB$$ will represent the digits of a number, not $$A$$ multiplied by $$B$$.
A two-digit number $$AB$$ is called elastic if:
1. $$A$$ and $$B$$ are both non-zero.
2. The numbers $$A0B$$, $$A00B$$, $$A000B$$, ... are all divisible by $$AB$$.
There are three elastic numbers. Can you find them?

## Square Pairs

Source: Maths Jam
Can you order the integers 1 to 16 so that every pair of adjacent numbers adds to a square number?
For which other numbers $$n$$ is it possible to order the integers 1 to $$n$$ in such a way?

## Factorial Pattern

$$1\times1!=2!-1$$ $$1\times1!+2\times2!=3!-1$$ $$1\times1!+2\times2!+3\times3!=4!-1$$
Does this pattern continue?

## Placing Plates

Two players take turns placing identical plates on a square table. The player who is first to be unable to place a plate loses. Which player wins?
© Matthew Scroggs 2017