Page:Cyclopedia of Puzzles by Samuel Loyd.pdf/15



Elementary Lessons in Algebra

If all of those little boy 5 were seated on one arm Lin of the saw, how many girls would it require on the other end to keep the balance even?

A teeter truer illustration gives a clearer idea of the algebraic meaning of the two sides of an equation than could be acquired from months of hard study. Let us illustrate the first principle of algebra which tells us thatlike quantities added or subtracted from both sides of the balance do not change the equilibrium. We will solve the puzzle by the principle of cancellation. There are five boys on one arm of the balance and three on the other, so we cancel off three from each end Then as there are three girls on one end and six on the other, we will cancel off three from both sides so as to leave two bays balancing with three girls. Startling as it may look, we fold that two of those little boys weigh the same as three girls, so if the eight little boys were placed on one arm of the see-saw it would require twelve of the fat girls to balance them! You see to make the picture deceptive the little boys were filled with lead.

Why is a game of tennis like a party of children? There is always a racket.

What sweetmeat is like a person proposed for some office? The candied date (candidate).

Why is a sick Hebrew like an emerald?

Because he is a Jew ill.

Why is the printer like the postman?

Because he distributes letters.

What Is the difference between sun-bonnet and,a Sunday bonnet?

A day A difference.

A Charade.

A Charade

Cipher Answer—5, 1, 18, 14, 5. 19, 20,

A Puzzle.

Express with four letters a sentence of four words containing fourteen letters.

Answer.-I O U O.

Why are unprotected grates like insolent beggars?

Because they are destitute offenders.

A Charade

Cipher Answer. -1, 21, 3, 20, 9, 15. 14. 5. 5. 18.

A Rebus

Cipher Answer.-3, 1, 14, 4, 12, 5, 19, 20, 9, 3, II.

To show how little the patrons of the turf know about the theory of odds as practiced at the race track, let readers seek a solution to the following elementary problem: If the odds are 7 to 3 against Apple Pie and 6 to 5 against Bumble Bee, what should be the odds against the famous running horse Cucumber?