AMUSING ARITHMETIC. BOOK-KEEPING BLUNDERS. COMMERCIAL COMICALITIES. CURIOUS “CATCHES.”   PECULIAR PROBLEMS. PERPLEXING PARADOXES. QUAINT QUESTIONS.   QUEER QUIBBLES. SCHOOL STORIES. INTERESTING ITEMS. Tricks with Figures, Cards, Draughts, Dice, Dominoes, Etc., Etc., Etc. By JOHN SCOTT, Author of “How to Become Quick at Figures,” “Doctrine of Chance,” “Tank Calculator,” “Cyanide Vat Calculator,” &c., &c. INSTRUCTIVE and AMUSING. Copyright. Brisbane, H. J. Diddams & Co. , P

It is hoped that this little book may prove useful, not only in connection with puzzles for home amusement, but that by inducing people to consider the various difficulties met with in business and trade some at least may be led to greater success in dealing with the practical puzzles and problems of everyday life. It is the special desire of the author to produce a “sugar-coated mathematical pill,” as he feels convinced that many can more easily grasp the truth when it is put before them in a l

Wonderful Calculations. Although we are accustomed to speak in the most airy fashion of millions, billions, &c., and “rattle” off at a breath strings of figures, the fact still remains that we are unable to grasp their vastness. Man is finite—numbers are infinite! ONE MILLION Is beyond our conception. We can no more realise its immensity, than we can the tenth part of a second. It should be a pleasing fact to note that commercial calculations do not often extend beyond millions; generall

If the number 37 be multiplied by 3, or any multiple of 3 up to 27, the product is expressed by three similar digits. Thus— The products succeed each other in the order of the digits read downwards, 1, 2, 3, etc., these being multiplied by 3 (their number of places) reproduce the multiplicand of 37. If it be multiplied by multiples of 3, beyond 27, this peculiarity is continued, except that the extreme figures taken together represent the multiple of 3 that is used as a multiplier. Thus— The num

The reason why February has only 28 days, while the other months have 30 and 31 is attributable to the vanity of the Emperor Augustus. His uncle and predecessor corrected the calendar, arranging the year almost as we have it now; he gave to the year 12 months, or 365¼ days. The months were—March (the first month), April, May, June, Quintilis, Sextiles, September, October, November, December, January, and February (the latter being the last month of the year, which among the Romans had consisted

A great deal of fun can be derived from puzzles of this nature—they are endless in variety—and as they depend upon some principle in arithmetic should be easily remembered. When this last number is told, halve it, and you will arrive at the original number—8. The number of tens in the last answer gives the number thought of, viz., 9. Ask how many 9’s are in the remainder, when, of course, the reply will be 1. The secret is to bear in mind whether the first sum be odd or even. If odd first time,

Illusions of the Eye are numberless, and afford a wide field for experiment. Some people are left-eyed, others right-eyed, and very few use both eyes equally. It is impossible to tell how far they really do deceive us unless they have been tested in the proper manner. For instance, if you ask anyone to what height a bell-topper would reach if placed on the floor against the wall, nine times out of ten the height guessed will be half as much again as the real height of the hat. Everyone seems to

A school examination room might not to a casual observer seem to be a very likely place to find entertainment. However, the answers often given by pupils are sometimes excruciatingly funny, as is proved by the following:— Definitions. Function.—“When a fellow feels in a funk.” Quotation.—“The answer to a division sum.” Civil War.—“When each side gives way a little.” The Four Seasons.—“Pepper, mustard, salt and vinegar.” Alias.—“Means otherwise—he was tall, but she was alias.” Compurgation.—“When

In bringing “ The Puzzle King ” to a conclusion, the author can only express the hope that he has been successful in his endeavour to make it not only an amusing work but also a useful one. The impossibility of making a book of this nature perfect is fully recognised, and corrections or contributions will be cordially received, and the contributor liberally remunerated. All communications must be sent to 44 Pitt Street, Sydney, addressed to the author, who tenders to all readers of “ The Puzzle

Fig. 1 Fig. 1—Represents the brick and the method of cutting it. Fig. 2—Represents the face of the wall showing the area of brick when cut. It has been necessary to produce this figure on half-scale to that of Fig. 1. The Knight Move. He must cut the piece of veneer as shown by the middle figure, when he will be able to get his two ovals....