MISCELLANEOUS PUZZLES
113.—Cutting a Wood Block.
An economical carpenter had a block of wood measuring eight
inches long, by four inches wide, by three and three-quarter inches
deep. How many pieces, each measuring two and a half inches,
by one inch and a half, by one inch and a quarter, could he cut out
of it ? It is all a question of how you cut them out. Most people
would have more waste material left over than is necessary. How
many pieces could you get out of the block ?
114.—The Tramps and the Biscuits.
Four merry tramps bought, borrowed, found, or in some other
manner obtained possession of a box of biscuits, which they agreed
to divide equally amongst themselves at breakfast next morning. In
the night, while the others were fast asleep under the greenwood
tree, one man approached the box, devoured exactly a quarter of
the number of biscuits, except the odd one left over, which he threw
129
K
