Dear Readers,
We don’t have to wait 27 days until Christmas to celebrate and accept the gift of Jesus: the promise of everlasting peace in Heaven for you, me and everybody who loves and believes in Him. If we will help to take that good news message to more people, then that makes a perfect gift.
FUN WORD PUZZLE
Make a beautiful ten-letter English word using the letters of CUE LEAP FLY.
Since the number 27 was mentioned before, I also have some fun curiosities about it for your enjoyment…
FUN WITH 27
27=3x3x3, and it’s the only positive whole number that equals three times the sum of its digits: 27=3x(2+7).
27=2+3+4+5+6+7.
27x27x27=19683 and 1+9+6+8+3=27.
MAGIC SQUARE
Your fun Math challenge is to find nine consecutive whole numbers which can be placed in the boxes shown so that the sum of the three numbers in any row or column, or along the two main diagonals, is always 27.
PRIME MATH BRAINTEASER/JOKE!
It’s true that (7+3)/2=5. Make a different true equation without ( ) or +, using only 2, 3, 5, 7, /, = and .
1 CHESS FILE MISSING, BUT IT’S CHECKMATE IN 2+7-1 WAYS!
Where could we place one white piece on the missing h-file so that White could then checkmate Black in just one move? There are different options for the piece we can choose, and sometimes also different moves that then deliver immediate checkmate. In total there are 8 solutions. Have lots of fun trying to find all 2+7-1 of them!
PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
FUN WORD PUZZLE
The letters of CUE LEAP FLY can be rearranged to make PEACEFULLY.
MAGIC SQUARE
To fully meet this particular magic square’s requirements, we have to use the numbers 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Furthermore, 9 must be placed in the centre, with the other odd numbers in the middle of the sides, and the even numbers at the corners. We can, however, shuffle the order a bit if we want. Here is an example of a correct solution.
| 12 | 5 | 10 |
| 7 | 9 | 11 |
| 8 | 13 | 6 |
PRIME MATH BRAINTEASER/JOKE!
One possible solution is 7/2=3.5, but it’s a bit naughty and sneaky because the original dot was a full stop period, and now it’s being used as a decimal point!
1 CHESS FILE MISSING, BUT IT’S CHECKMATE IN 2+7-1 WAYS!
| MISSING WHITE PIECE | LOCATION on the h-file | CHECKMATING FINISH |
| QUEEN | h8 | Nh4# |
| QUEEN | h6 | Nh4# |
| QUEEN | h6 | Qg5# |
| QUEEN | h4 | Qg5# |
| KNIGHT | h7 | Nh4# |
| KNIGHT | h5 | Nh4# |
| BISHOP | h8 | Nh4# |
| ROOK | h6 | Nh4# |
Here is a diagram to illustrate one of the winning possibilities.
1 Nh4# is a neat checkmate!
As it’s now just 3x3x3 days until Christmas, I’ll finish with this powerful yet peaceful picture & link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDuIqAYXMGw Please enjoy a beautiful video and song via the link, 7mins1sec.
Paul Motwani 