Math Is Fun Forum

bilalbadawi

Member

Registered: 2011-02-26

Posts: 4

Lots of maths puzzles

Hello all,

I just created a website posting maths/logical puzzles. These puzzles can be very tricky and were a fun thing for me to find. I want to share them with the community. This forum could be used to discuss the solutions/ideas. I will be adding new puzzles from time to time. Check it out:

FreeThinkingForAll Maths Puzzles

enjoy and give me your feedback!
Bilal

Last edited by bilalbadawi (2011-02-28 11:37:02)

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Lots of maths puzzles

Hi bilalbadawi;

Nice problems, some of them I have seen before. I will not say which in case they pop up over here. Anyway, I like what you have done and are doing very much.

As a dear maths professor once taught me, "the aim of an exercise is to think about it, not to solve it"

That statement sure made me think. When working the motto is the exact opposite. "Do not think about the problem just solve it!" I was thinking how can can anyone ever reconcile these two thoughts?

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

bilalbadawi

Member

Registered: 2011-02-26

Posts: 4

Re: Lots of maths puzzles

Thanks Bobby. Some of the problems are classics indeed, but it is good to have all nice puzzles gathered in one place.
I think that the two paradigms are complementary: mathematics, brainteasers and puzzles are an essential ingredient in the thought honing process of a human being. They teach us how to structure our thought and construct scenarios from simple incremental steps. This is why, when lifting these "brain weights" the aim is to lift the weights(thinking) and not know how much the weight weighs(know the solution). However, when encountering problems in real life, the aim is to get things done. If the problem has been solved before, do not think much about it and be philosophical, just find your way through. When encountering a new problem which hasn't been solved before, this is where ingenuity and creativity kicks in and this is where your maths education pays off.

my 2 cents,
Bilal

bobbym

bumpkin

From: Bumpkinland

Registered: 2009-04-12

Posts: 109,606

Re: Lots of maths puzzles

Hi Bilal;

No argument there. I am glad to see that people are beginning to understand that math is all about problem solving. I had to live through an entire era of the arcane theorem provers.

---

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

FERMAT'S

Member

Registered: 2011-01-17

Posts: 29

Re: Lots of maths puzzles

WoOoOoW
tHaNk YoU So MuCh

are there the solutions ?

byronjordan

Member

Registered: 2011-01-30

Posts: 14

Re: Lots of maths puzzles

"2-Hell VS Heaven (*)" could be hard, if a person just doesn't think exactly how to word the question. Once the right question is realized, then it seems too simple.

Correct? That was a neat puzzle. It might be as easy, or as hard, for a middle school student to answer it as for a much older adult to answer it. Either way, I still thought that it was a good puzzle.

bilalbadawi

Member

Registered: 2011-02-26

Posts: 4

Re: Lots of maths puzzles

@Fermat'S: Anytime :-D. As explained in the home section, no solutions are provided. If you give enough thoughts to a puzzle and feel you are stuck, I am happy to give a hint or check your solution...
@byronjordan: It's a nice puzzle indeed and you nailed it :-) if you have knowledge of logic circuits finding the puzzle would become much easier. But you are right, if the person asked has no logic circuit knowledge, age doesn't matter... good luck with the other ones

byronjordan

Member

Registered: 2011-01-30

Posts: 14

Re: Lots of maths puzzles

Thanks. I was discussing that very problem with someone else and I think we found a more concise, but perhaps more subtle, way to explain it than the way I explained it before.

bilalbadawi

Member

Registered: 2011-02-26

Posts: 4

Re: Lots of maths puzzles

That's the solution I know. But the solution you gave is more intuitive, although longer to explain. From a pedagogical perspective, I prefer the first solution you gave. Esthetically, the second solution is better. Cheers!