The Missing Link

Here is a fun word puzzle with various names, such as link word, chain word and so on.

All you need to do is find the one word that joins the word on the left and the word on the right to create new words or phrases in each case.

For instance, if you have something like this:

HAND ???? THING

… then the answer could be SOME to make HANDSOME and SOMETHING.

Here are three:

SHIP ??? STICK

MOUSE ???? DOOR

VIE ???? SPAN

Mental Arithmetic Pays, Literally

You can barely see a newspaper these days without having their mental calculation skills questioned. Under the guise of "mental gymnastics" to "mathematical challenge" or similar, we are presented with a series of additions to perform.

Depending on the choice of the newspaper, they can be quite easy or even impossible to realize in his head. However, there are times when math pays, or at least be able to approximate the totals.

In the supermarket today I bought six items, and the project seemed too high at £ 15.49 for them. On leaving the supermarket double checked and realized that was £ very high as they were charged twice by a battery, when I had purchased a single 2.88.

So the mental calculation, or at least approximate what the total would be in my head, I saved £ 2.88. These are the prices of what we actually purchased - what would your approach of all these as they were out there?

Magazine: £ 3.25; Battery: £ 2.88, greeting card: £ 1. 49, chocolate pastry £ 3.66,: Book £ 0.89,: 0.60 pounds

Maths Challenge Puzzle

Maths related puzzles can provide a simple and focussed challenge - performing mental arithmetic as quickly as you can without making mistakes can actually be quite good fun!

Here are three maths challenge puzzles for you, an easy, a moderate and a hard puzzle. See if you can do them within a minute. The level of these is very fair with only a gentle increase in difficulty at each stage, so none of the calculations expected are unreasonable such as calculating 37.5% of a number or squaring 34! If you want harder ones, let me know.

Sudoku variants: smileydoku

Here is a puzzle to cheer up the first day back after the bank holiday here in the UK… a smileydoku!

The rules are as per standard sudoku, except that there are three additional regions. These are marked in grey and contain nine cells, and each must contain the numbers from 1 - 9 exactly once only. So the smile is not just symbolic here - it demarcates three additional regions of the puzzle.

See how long it takes you, hopefully once finished you will still be smiling rather than frowning! It is not too difficult, but you will need to use the additional regions to help you solve the puzzle.

Lateral Thinking Puzzle

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, there was a street swindler named Shady.

Shady used to offer everyone that walked past the chance to win a priceless diamond, but only if they could guess which hand it was in. In the other hand, was a coin, choose the coin, and lose, he used to say. And everyone did lose. To add to the drama, Shady would open the chosen hand palm down over a ‘try again’ container which the unlucky loser would, each time, see the worthless coin, and their hopes of fortune, drop into.

His stand on the street was very tempting, as it was surrounded by treasure chests full of precious stones, or at least precious looking, which tempted in the eager and occasionally greedy punter who thought they could take on Shady. Only they always lost, and went away empty handed, greasing Shady’s hand with a pound coin every time. No-one took the hint from his name that Shady was less than honest, and in fact, everytime he used a little magical flair to switch the diamond for another coin, so in fact he always had two coins in his hand.

Today Our Hero walked up to the stand (call him Fred), and did what no-one else had done - won! How did he win without having to show in any way that Shady was using underhand tactics to win?

What is hanjie and how do you play it?

Hanjie puzzles have been around for a long time, but they are still unknown to many puzzle players.

You may have played hanjie under a range of names - it has been known variously as tsunami, hanjie, nonogram, griddler and probably more besides.

The aim is to work out which cells in each row and column of the grid-based puzzle must be filled in. To help decide this, at the edge of each row and column are a series of numbers that tell you how many cells are filled in that region.

For instance, it could say ‘5,2′ - this means there are five filled cells and another region of two filled cels that are consecutive. A comma denotes a gap of at least one cell between filled regions (otherwise it would be 7 if there was no gap!), but the gap can be many more than one cell.

The puzzle is solved through cross-referencing, and making gradual progress each time through with the harder puzzles.

Some things are easy to work out - for instance if all or none of the cells in a row are to be filled then you can fill them in straight off. If more than half of the cells are to be filled, then you can fill the middle cell(s).

For instance, if the row is five cells in length and you know that 3 cells are filled, then in any combination the middle cell must be filled in, therefore you can fill it in.

Likewise, you can also make progress by working out cells that are not filled too, as this can further constrain options for the various regions and columns. To mark a cell that cannot be filled may hanjie players like to put a dot in the cell.

At the end of the puzzle you will reveal a simple black and white image, and a clue to this is often given at the start of the puzzle. Depending on how good the puzzle artwork is, the image may be more or less easy to recognise at the end!

Fillomino Puzzles

Fillomino is a rarely seen Japanese puzzle variant. The grid contains a range of numbers that indicate groups of cells that must be adjacent to each other. For instance a ‘3′ means there are 3 cells that form a group together, such that you can move from one cell to any other by moving just horizotally or vertically from one member to another.

Groups of the same number cannot touch either horizontally or vertically (otherwise they would not be groups of that number if you think about it), but the most interesting rule is that you often have to add new groups and work out the number(s) in these. For instance you might have to quite often add groups of size 1 - 4, but on occasion you need to go larger and sometimes surprisingly high numbers are forced uniquely through the constraint that groups containing the same number cannot touch.

Hashi Puzzle

Hashi is a puzzle that requires you to connect a series of islands with a set of bridges.

It is a fun and relatively simple (in most cases) Japanese puzzle that also goes by the name of bridges, funnily enough.

Each island contains a number and you simply need to connect the islands to each other with the stated number of bridges on each island, but no more than two bridges may connect any two islands to each other, and bridges must be horizontal or vertical and cannot cross. Finally, no island can be isolated: it must be possible to walk from any island to any other island using the bridges alone.

To play a sample bridges puzzle and get printable Hashi PDF puzzles you can play Bridges Puzzles at the Puzzle Club

By the way, there is also a fun but unrelated game with the same name on Funzola games - Hashi

Cloud Control – Online Puzzle Game

Cloud Control is a Sokoban type of puzzle game by NewsGround.

This is a precision on-line puzzle game you have to touch each blue cloud to assimilate them, then move together until the sky is yours. Don’t try to leave the screen and avoid to touch storm clouds.

You van move your cloud mass with the arrow keys, and click the arrow in the top-left to return to the level select screen. There are 15 challenging levels to complete. Happy Puzzling!

Solving Puzzles Could Lead To Dementia

Bad news for real puzzle lovers?

Thinking too hard may actually damage the brains of some older people, it is claimed.

Engaging in activities such as doing crossword puzzles, reading and listening to the radio has long been thought to delay mental decline.

But new research shows that while at first they slow the decline of thinking skills, brain work-outs actually speed up the progress of dementia once it set in.

Study author Robert Wilson, of Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago said mentally stimulating activities may enhance the brain’s ability to function relatively normally despite the build-up of lesions associated with dementia. However, once diagnosed with dementia, people with a mentally active life are likely to have more negative brain changes than others.

Dr Wilson said, as a result, those with more mentally active lifestyles may experience a faster rate of decline once dementia begins.

He added: “This reduces the overall amount of time a person may suffer from dementia.”

They found the rate of mental decline in those without dementia was heavily reduced the more mentally-active they kept. But for those with Alzheimer’s, the rate of decline was heavily increased the more mentally-active they tried to be.

Nonogram Puzzle For iPhone

Nonograms Pro is a lovely version of Nonogram puzzles (aka Griddlers) for your iPhone.

Nonograms are logic puzzles that use number clues around a grid to create an image. Each clue indicates a group of contiguous squares of like color. Between each group there is at least one empty square. The clues are already in the correct sequence. Groups of different colors may or may not have empty squares between them.

No problem if you don’t have an iPhone you can also play Nonograms Online on our online puzzle games webpage with each week a new Nonogram puzzle. Happy Puzzling!

What is hanjie and how do you play it?

Hanjie puzzles have been around for a long time, but they are still unknown to many puzzle players.

You may have played hanjie under a range of names - it has been known variously as tsunami, hanjie, nonogram, griddler and probably more besides.

The aim is to work out which cells in each row and column of the grid-based puzzle must be filled in. To help decide this, at the edge of each row and column are a series of numbers that tell you how many cells are filled in that region.

For instance, it could say ‘5,2′ - this means there are five filled cells and another region of two filled cels that are consecutive. A comma denotes a gap of at least one cell between filled regions (otherwise it would be 7 if there was no gap!), but the gap can be many more than one cell.

The puzzle is solved through cross-referencing, and making gradual progress each time through with the harder puzzles.

Some things are easy to work out - for instance if all or none of the cells in a row are to be filled then you can fill them in straight off. If more than half of the cells are to be filled, then you can fill the middle cell(s).

For instance, if the row is five cells in length and you know that 3 cells are filled, then in any combination the middle cell must be filled in, therefore you can fill it in.

Likewise, you can also make progress by working out cells that are not filled too, as this can further constrain options for the various regions and columns. To mark a cell that cannot be filled may hanjie players like to put a dot in the cell.

At the end of the puzzle you will reveal a simple black and white image, and a clue to this is often given at the start of the puzzle. Depending on how good the puzzle artwork is, the image may be more or less easy to recognise at the end!

Door Toggling Puzzle Or 100 Doors Puzzle

This is a very common interview puzzle. The problem is very simple if you understand it. So the point to note is, do not arrive at the solution so "fast”, if you are asked this puzzle in an interview and if you are not planning to show any acquaintance with this puzzle.

Problem goes like this :

There are N doors in a row numbered from 1 to N. Initially all are closed.
Then you make N passes by the N doors. In pass 1 you toggle the all the doors (1,2,3,4....)starting from the first door. In the second pass you toggle every second door(2,4,6,8,...). In the third pass you toggle all third doors(3,6,9...).Similarly you make N passes.

Question is what is the state of door k after N passes.

This is a simple but requires clear mathematical Logic.

Normally asked version has N=100.

Solve Online Puzzles to Boost IQ

Solving online puzzles can provide endless ways to boost IQ. One can dedicatedly solve the puzzles relating to logical reasoning, problem solving and mathematics on the go. These can ascertain that the IQ of an individual is boosted as he matures. These puzzles can provide a fair insight to one and all and the rightful thinking can trigger one to think in the rightful direction on the go in a seamless manner. These online puzzles are free to use and can be played endlessly on the online network in a streamlined manner. In order to make most out of online puzzles one should aim at targeting those puzzles which are either relevant to their work basics or education. This way they can get to maximize their leanings in the shorter span of time in a streamlined manner on the go.

There are best in class puzzles which can be solved by one and all in the online mode. Some of the puzzles and problems can be downloaded using standard tools and software. These solutions have provided seamless direction to the puzzle solvers across the globe in no time at all. Get going and solve Puzzles across the internet to gain endlessly.

Solving Puzzles Can Make You a Leader

The researchers have recently concluded that dedicated puzzle solving can enable one and all in becoming a leader. The sensational work proves that people with better logical reasoning and apt skills can easily make through to the top of ladder with their in-born talent on the go in a seamless manner. Typical puzzles which can turn one and all to a leader include – logical reasoning, mathematical model solving, IQ level quizzes and puzzles and business logic level puzzles. One can easily learn solving these puzzles and can attain higher confidence on the go. This can ooze out the leadership skills and qualities amongst one and all in just about no time at all. One can get to enjoy endless benefits by their best in class problem solving skills in a seamless manner at all times.

One should rely on trusted sources and information hubs while trying to crack down on the puzzles on the g. This can easily provide them dedicated source of learning and attaining the apt skills which can be used in future for making apt decisions in tough conditions and with limited or no resources. Get going and emerge out to be as the winner by solving typical puzzles on the go.

Tease Your Mind With Business Puzzles

Business puzzles can easily enable one and all in improving their IQ levels on the go in a seamless manner. Puzzle solving can lead to better reasoning power development amongst one and all. The business puzzles generally encircle upon a real business case and urge one to arrive at a logical solution for profit maximization or loss minimization. Usually this can be achieved through optimal usage of resources and levels in a seamless manner. As a result, one can get to earn from these solutions in an endless manner on just about no time at all. It is highly recommended that these should be given as problems to kids as they are maturing to young adults. They can easily work around the puzzles and understand the business needs on the go in a seamless manner at all times.

Puzzles can provide as an eye opener for one and all in just about no time at all. A typical business puzzle will help the solver in understanding the finer details of the problem and force them to optimize their solution in order to meet the business benefits in a seamless way at all times. Get going and ensure to benefit from business puzzles in an endless manner.

Fisher Price Puzzles for Kids

Kids tend to develop 90% of their brain in first five years. Fisher Price’s puzzles can help in proper mental development amongst the kids. They can get to reason as to why certain blocks need to be fitted inside the place holders for better shape. At the same time they can arrange the building blocks in a smarter manner. Depending upon the age of the child, puzzle games can be bought for the kids. Arranging blocks, picture based puzzles and at times audio based puzzles in just about no time at all. These puzzles will ensure that the overall reasoning skills amongst the little ones develop in a sequential manner. Learning can be a lot fun for the kids through Fisher Price’s puzzles on the go in just about no time at all.

Parents should ideally research about the puzzles which would be best for their kids and then act accordingly. These are indeed best in class logical puzzles which will provide your kid an extra edge against the competition. So what are you waiting for? Get going and ensure to benefit your kid through Fisher Price puzzles in a sequential manner on the go.