Dear Readers,
Not only at Christmas time, but every beautiful day, our world is still blessed by so many of God’s miracles that the word myriad is appropriate in recognising how countless they are.
Since the end of August, I have been particularly grateful for witnessing amazing concerts at Musica Mundi School in Waterloo, Belgium, where I love being the Mathematics teacher for the terrific students.
Three days ago, I had the pleasure of giving a “Magic Maths Show” for everyone’s enjoyment at the school. One of the early puzzles is shown in the following picture, here for you to enjoy trying too!
THE E PUZZLE
Solutions will be given further down.
THE ELVES NOËL JOKE
Why did the elves just write NOË at Christmas time…?
It’s because they heard Santa singing, “No L, no L!”
The show also included a wee dose of chess for enthusiasts such as Alexandra, the youngest student at the school.
If we change the last letter of MYRIAD from a D to an M, we get the name MYRIAM. I am thinking of a friend of my wife and myself, and her birthday is coming soon.
MYRIAM’S BIRTHDAY PUZZLE
When exactly in January is Myriam’s birthday? It is this number of days from now: the total number of letters in MERRY CHRISTMAS, FRIENDS!
TWO SOLUTIONS TO THE E PUZZLE
MYRIAM’S BIRTHDAY
Myriam’s birthday is coming on 13 January, in 21 days from now.
Before then, I wish you all a wonderful, happy Christmas and New Year soon xxx
Paul Motwani 