September Puzzlers
(Sept. 2, 2010) These should give your brain a work out. First correct answers e-mailed to me wins you a Humboldt Mud at Old Town Coffee and Chocolates — with me along for company. (Be still, my heart!)
Four Triangles: Arrange six wooden matches, without breaking, so they form four triangles, each side of which is equal to the length of a match. (Hints at end of column.)
Chess Board:
Part 1: Here’s a regular chess board except that its opposite corners are missing. Can you cover the board with 31 rectangular blocks, each the size of two squares? [SEE FIGURE A]
Part 2: And here’s a 5 x 5 chessboard. Starting on the square marked with a dot, can an ant walk through each square once and only once (no diagonal moves, no leaving the board)? [SEE FIGURE B]
Chain Reaction: A jeweler charges $1 to cut a link and reweld it. You have four chains, each of three links. What’s the least it will it cost to make them into a closed loop of 12 links? [SEE FIGURE C]
Hole in the Sphere: What’s the volume remaining in a sphere that has a 2-inch-long hole drilled through its center? You may be thinking that I haven’t given you sufficient information. Trust me, I have — which could save you a lot of calculation. (The volume of a sphere is 4/3 r^3)
Largest Number: What’s the largest number you can express with three integers?
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Today
Winter Classic Table Tennis Tournament
sports / 11:30 a.m. Arcata Community Center, 321 Community Parkway. Compete in 12 and under, beginners, intermediate, advanced or seniors groupings. Prizes for winners. $10/$5 kids 12 and under. 601-5447.
Audubon Society Field Trip
outdoors / 9 a.m. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta. Meet at Refuge Visitor Center off Hookton Road. Leisurely, two- to three-hour trip intended for people wanting to learn birds of Humboldt Bay area. 822-3613.
Open Celtic Music Session
music / 3 p.m. Cafe Veritas/Mosgo's, 180 Westwood Center, Arcata. Informal monthly gathering of musicians playing Irish and other Celtic music. Hosted by Seabury Gould. seaburygould.com. 845-8167.
Nonviolence Action Camp
etc. / 10 a.m. Chinmaya Mission near Piercy. Weekend-long direct action orientation features workshops, role playing, seminars, ceremonies and field trips. Bring food, bedding, warm clothes, signs, banners, bikes, drums, acoustic instruments. Pre-register. saverichardsongrove.org. 932-5898.
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