Problem Solving and Creativity
John [email protected] Science DepartmentMontana State UniversityMarch 18, 2007
Supply the missing words!
26 = L of the A 7 = W of the A W 1001 = A N 12 = S of the Z 54 = C in a D (with the J) 9 = P in the S S 88 = P K
Supply the missing words!
13 = S on the A F 32 = D F at which W F 8 = S on a S S 200 = D for P G in M 3 = B M (S H T R) 90 = D in a R A
Supply the missing words!
4 = Q in a G 24 = H in a D 1 = W on a U 5 = D in a Z C 57 = H V 11 = P on a F T 1000 = W that a P is W
Supply the missing words!
29 = D in F in a L Y 64 = S on a C 40 = D and N of the G F 80 = D to G A the W 2 = N it T to T 18 = H on a G C
Counterfeit Coins
A counterfeit coin weighs 11 g. A genuine coin weighs 10 g. A stack of coins contains 10 coins. There are 9 stacks containing only genuine
coins. There is 1 counterfeit stack containing only
counterfeit coins. What is the fewest number of weighings?
Lightbulb Problem
There are three lightbulbs in one room. There are three light switches in another
room. The rooms are on different floors of a
building. Can you determine how the switches and
bulbs are connected using one trip?
Why is a manhole cover round?
It can’t fall in. It rolls. It won’t damage cars. It uses the least materials.
Night Crossing
Person 1 takes 1 minute. Person 2 takes 2 minutes. Person 3 takes 5 minutes. Person 4 takes 10 minutes. There is one flashlight. At most two people can cross at once. How fast can the four people cross?
Ants
There are three ants at the three corners of a regular triangle. Each ant starts moving in a straight line toward another, randomly chosen corner.
What is the probability that none of the ants collide?
Billiard Balls
You have eight billiard balls. One of them is defective, meaning that it weighs more than the others.
How do you tell, using a balance, which ball is defective in two weighings?
Library
How would you locate a specific book in a big library?
There’s no catalog and no librarian to help you.
Money Sharing
Christina and Julia have $21 between them Christina has $20 more than Julia.
How much does each person have?