Dear Readers,
In this Blog Post # 28, I cannot help remembering that the age difference between my father in Scotland and me is 28 years: 83-55=28. There was also practically the same age difference between my wonderful mother and me. We were a family of 6 with my parents, my brother, two sisters and myself.
It’s a mathematical curiosity that 6 and 28 are the only two “perfect” numbers less than a hundred. They are called “perfect” because they exactly equal the sum of all their lower, proper factors: 6=1+2+3 and 28=1+2+4+7+14.
Though love between people is not perfect, it’s always good to keep trying peacefully to make it ever better, and that aspect of Christmas can continue all year round. My late father-in-law in China, Professor Yimin Zeng, used to say and use the following golden advice (translated here from Mandarin to English): “Let big problems be little, and let little problems vanish away as nothing.” He lived a very happy and peaceful life.
My late father-in-law, Professor Yimin Zeng, in China.
God’s love for all of us truly is perfect, and that is why He gave us the gift of Jesus. Let’s accept the real meaning of God’s gift, and have a wonderful, happy Christmas.
THE 28-PUZZLE
I’m thinking of a particular three-digit whole number in which all the digits are equal. Let’s represent the number by LLL. Your fun challenge is to find the number, given that LLL+LLL+Lx28=1000. (Everything is of course in base ten, as normal!)
LOOK AT THE ROOKS!
- Why is 1 Kc3?? a losing blunder?
- A type of “Helpmate” in 2 moves! Can you find an even worse path in which White chooses a different starting move in the position above, and, after a particular reply from Black, White deliberately plays the worst possible move which then allows Black to deliver checkmate right away!?
CHRISTMAS JOKE!
Why should you dress up as Santa Claus in a big room this Christmas?
You shouldn’t do it in a small space, as you might be Claustrophobic!
CELEBRATING WITH EVELYN & MISCHA
Evelyn and Mischa–two dear friends who really put 110% into all the good that they do–will soon be celebrating a total of 110 years between them. You may well enjoy trying the following super-fun brainteasers that have already been sent by e-mail to invited guests, in advance of Evelyn & Mischa’s special party.
CHRISTMAS BRAINTEASERS!
- What is special about the words
EVELYN AND MISCHA’S FEAST
FAST SMILES CANDY HEAVEN!?
- Can you find a ten-digit positive whole number, with all its digits different, such that the number is a whole multiple of 110?
- In puzzle 2, can you find the biggest possible number that works?
- In puzzle 2, can you find the smallest possible number that works?
Keep to base ten!!
ANSWERS TO ALL THE PUZZLES IN TODAY’S BLOG POST #28 WILL BE GIVEN IN BLOG POST #29 IN THE NEW YEAR. IN THE MEANTIME, I AGAIN WISH YOU ALL A WONDERFUL, HAPPY CHRISTMAS xxx
As it’s now just 4 days until Christmas, I’ll finish again with this powerful yet peaceful picture, & 2 new links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6amUoRj6co
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw_4Gmgli5k
Please enjoy 2 new music videos via the links; duration 5mins 24sec. & 4mins 32sec. The latter link is to some beautiful music by Chopin, performed by world-famous master cellist, Mischa Maisky.
Though I am not skilled on any musical instrument, I’ll dare to sign off now with these words containing a wee joke: In the New Year, I’ll be Bach!
Paul Motwani 
Very Best Festive wishes to all the family Paul. Have a great 2018 🙂
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Dear Ray,
Many thanks indeed for your very kind message. I wish you a wonderful time this Christmas, and also for the New Year and beyond.
With thanks again,
Paul.
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