52 Arithmetic & Algebraic ProblemsMeanwhile the mouse, overhearing the conversation, was working madly at
enlarging a hole, and just succeeded in escaping as the cat leapt into the
correct barrel.
"I knew you would lose it," said the dog. "Your education has been sadly
neglected. A certain amount of arithmetic is necessary to every cat, as it is to
every dog. Bless me! Even some snakes are adders!"
Which was the five hundredth barrel? Can you find a quick way of arriving
at the answer without making the actual count?- ARMY FIGURES
A certain division in an army was composed of a little over twenty thousand
men, made up of five brigades. It was known that one-third of the first
brigade, two-sevenths of the second brigade, seven-twelfths of the third, nine-
thirteenths of the fourth, and fifteen-twenty-seconds of the fifth brigade hap-
pened in every case to be the same number of men. Can you discover how
many men there were in every brigade?
- A CRITICAL VOTE
A meeting of the Amalgamated Society of Itinerant Askers (better known as
the "Tramps' Union") was held to decide whether the members should strike
for reduced hours and larger donations. It was arranged that during the count
those in favor of the motion should remain standing, and those who voted
against should sit down.
"Gentlemen," said the chairman in due course, "I have the pleasure to an-
nounce that the motion is carried by a majority equal to exactly a quarter of
the opposition." (Loud cheers.)
"Excuse me, guv'nor," shouted a man at the back, "but some of us over
here couldn't sit down."
"Why not?"
" 'Cause there ain't enough chairs."
"Then perhaps those who wanted to sit down but couldn't will hold up their
hands .... I find there are a dozen of you, so the motion is lost by a majority
of one." (Hisses and disorder.)
How many members voted at that meeting?