It is done thus: ---

3241. Practical Puzzle

It is required to name the quotient of five or three lines of figures - each line consisting of five or more figures - only seeing the first line, before the other lines are even put down. Any person may write down the first line of figures for you. How do you find the quotient?

Answer. - When the first line of figures is set down, subtract 2 from the last right-hand figure, and place it before the first figure of the line, and that is the quotient for five lines. For example, suppose the figures given are 86,214, the quotient will be 286,212. You may allow any person to put down the two first and the fourth lines, but you must always set down the third and fifth lines, and in doing so always make up 9 with the line above, as in the following example:

Therefore in the annexed 86,214 diagram you will see that 42,680 you have made 9 in the 57,319 third and fifth lines with 62,854 the lines above them. If 37,145 the person desired to put -------- down the figure, should

Qt. 286,212 set a 1 or 0 for the last figure, you must say we will have another figure, and another, and so on until he sets down something above 1 or 2.

In solving the puzzle 67,856 with three lines, you sub-47,218 tract 1 from the last figure, 52,781 and place it before the first -------- figure, and make up the

Qt 167,855 third line yourself to 9.

For example: 67,856 is given, and the quotient will be 167,355, as shown in the above diagram.