This Month’s Contest: Common Prefix
What four-letter word can be placed in front of the following words to create new words?
SMOKE
GRAIN
LAND
WIND
SHED
WORK
Please email your solution to John Kador at [email protected] using the subject line “Common Prefix.” Deadline is May 5, 2014. One entrant with the correct answer (or a creative alternative) will receive a signed copy of John Kador’s How to Ace the Brainteaser Job Interview. Good luck to all.
Brainteaser #2: Card Game
A broker and an intern are playing a game using a standard, well-shuffled deck of cards. The rules are simple. The intern turns over two cards at a time. If both cards are black, they go on the intern’s pile. If both cards are red, they go on the broker’s pile. If they are of different colors, both cards are discarded. The game is played until all 52 cards are exposed. The winner is the player with the most cards. If there is a tie, it is regarded as a win for the broker.
If the intern and broker play 100 games, what percentage of games will the intern win?
Solution below.
Solution to previous puzzler: Ten Cities
To recap: What do these 10 U.S. cities have in common: Austin, Texas; El Paso, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; Las Vegas; Albuquerque, N.M.; Tucson, Ariz.; Fresno, Calif.; Virginia Beach, Va.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Omaha, Neb.?
We received over 50 responses, some offering very creative answers. The intended solution is that this list represents the 10 most populous U.S. cities without nearby access to a professional football, baseball, hockey or basketball franchise (NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA). The winner for this Puzzler is Regina (Reggie) Pratt, client relations with Kiplinger Wealth Advisors in Strongsville, Ohio.
Congratulations to Reggie Pratt and thanks to all for playing. Good luck with the new Puzzler.
Solution to card game: Zero. The broker wins one hundred percent of the games. The intern doesn’t have a chance. There is only one outcome: Every game is a tie. At the end of every game, each side always has 26 cards, and the broker wins all ties.
