14. A and B engage to reap a field for 90s. A could reap it in 9 days
by himself; they promised to complete it in five days; they found,
however, that they were obliged to call in C (an inferior workman) to
assist them the last two days, in consequence of which B received 3s.
9d. less than he otherwise would have done. In what time could B and
C reap the field alone?
15. A man has a triangular block of land, the largest side being 136
chains, and each of the other sides 68 chains. What is the value of
the grass on it, at the rate of £2 an acre?
A school inspector in the North of Ireland was once examining a
geography class, and asked the question:
“What is a lake?”
He was much amused when a little fellow, evidently a true gem
of the emerald isle, answered: “It’s a hole in a can, sur.”
CANVASSER--“I’ve got some signs that I’m selling to
shopkeepers all day long. Everybody buys ’em. Here’s one--“If You
Don’t See What You Want, Ask For It.”
COUNTRY SHOPKEEPER--“Think I want to be bothered with people
asking for things I ain’t got. Give me one reading “Ef Yeh Don’t See
What Yeh Want, Ask Fer Something Else.”
[Illustration]
16. The number of soldiers placed at a review is such that they could
be formed into 4 hollow squares, each 4 deep, and contain 24 men in
the front rank more than when formed into a solid square. Find the
whole number.
In the counting-house of an Irishman the following notice is
exhibited in a conspicuous place: “Persons having no business in this
office will please get it done as soon as possible and leave.”
17.
Upon a piece of cardboard draw
The three designs you see--
I should have said of each shape four--
Which when cut out will be,
If joined correctly, that which you
Are striving to unfold--
An octagon, familiar to
My friends both young and old.
[Illustration]
“I was induced to-day, by the importunity of your traveller,” wrote
an up-country store-keeper to a Brisbane firm, “to give him an order;
but, as I did it merely to get rid of him in a civil manner, and to
prevent my losing any more time, I must ask you to cancel the same.”