Earlier today I set these puzzles by Lewis Carroll, who as well as writing books like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, was also a prolific puzzle setter.
1. The Chelsea Pensioners
If 70 per cent have lost an eye, 75 per cent an ear, 80 per cent an arm, 85 per cent a leg: what percentage, at least, must have lost all four.
Solution 10
This was how Carroll solved it: “Adding the wounds together we get 70 + 75 + 80 + 85 = 310, among 100 men; which gives 3 to each, and 4 to 10 men. Therefore the least percentage is 10.” That’s not how I solved it, but each to his own!
2. Apples appear
Dreaming of apples on a wall,
And dreaming often, dear,
I dreamed that, if I counted all
- How many would appear?
Solution Ten
Okay, so this was a bit of a trick one. Often = of ten.
3. Russian sons
A Russian had three sons. The first was named Rab and became a lawyer. The second was named Ymra and became a soldier. The third son became a sailor. What was his name?
Solution Yvan
This is my favourite. Rab is “bar” reversed, and that’s where lawyers work. Ymra is “army” reversed, and that’s where soldiers work. And “Yvan” reversed is where sailors work.
4. Word ways
a) Find a bird with the letters ‘gp’ as its nucleus.
b) Find a fruit with the letters ‘emo’ as its nucleus.
Solution a) magpie, b) lemon
5. Doublets
Also known as a “word ladder”, the doublet is a now familiar puzzle that Carroll invented. You are given two words, and you must get from one to the other in a sequence of words that differ in only one letter. Thus to get from HEAD to TAIL, you could proceed HEAD, HEAL, TEAL, TELL, TALL, TAIL
a) Prove RAVEN to be MISER (3 links)
b) Change OAT to RYE (3)
c) Evolve MAN from APE (5)
d) Place BEANS on SHELF (7)
Solutions
a) RAVEN riven risen riser MISER
b) OAT rat rot roe RYE
c) APE are ere err ear mar MAN
d) BEANS beams seams shams shame shale shall shell SHELF
I hope you enjoyed the puzzles, I’ll be back in two weeks.
All today’s puzzles are taken from Lewis Carroll’s Guide for Insomniacs, a book of Carrollian miscellany curated by superfan Gyles Brandreth.
You can buy the book at the Guardian bookstore, or at other online sellers.
I’ve been setting a puzzle here on alternate Mondays since 2015. I’m always on the look-out for great puzzles. If you would like to suggest one, email me.
