Issue#002 Puzzles were a bit challenging, especially the Crossword Puzzle. Don't worry, we got you covered with the solutions now. And from next issue, we will be making the puzzles.... NOPE. We aren't gonna make them any easier. If anything, the level will keep going higher. We want our readers to get smarter and smarter with time. No complacency for our Explorers.
Now, let us go with the solution for this month.
Puzzle 1
An absent minded bank teller switched the dollars and cents when he cashed a check for Mr. Brown, giving him dollars instead of cents, and cents instead of dollars. After buying a five-cent newspaper, Brown discovered that he had left exactly twice as much as his original check. What was the amount of the check?
Solution
Let the check be for x dollars and y cents.
Original value in cents = 100x + y.
The teller mistakenly gives y dollars and x cents = 100y + x cents.
Brown buys a 5-cent newspaper. Afterwards he has twice the original:
100y+x−5=2(100x+y)
100y + x - 5 = 2(100x + y)
100y+x−5=2(100x+y)
Expand right side:
100y+x−5=200x+2y
100y + x - 5 = 200x + 2y
100y+x−5=200x+2y
Rearrange:
100y−2y+x−200x=5
98y−199x=5
We solve integer solutions with 0 ≤ y ≤ 99.
Testing values gives a valid pair:
x=31,y=63x = 31,\quad y = 63x=31,y=63
Check:
Original check = $31.63 → 3163 cents
Teller gives = $63.31 → 6331 cents
Buys newspaper: 6331 − 5 = 6326 cents
Twice original: 2×3163 = 6326 cents ✓
Final answer:
$31.63
Puzzle 2
This was a relatively easy puzzle. Instead of one find the path, we had two paths to find without letting 2 paths cross each other.
Puzzle 3
This puzzle was taken from New Scientist July 2025 Edition. Solutions are as below.
