Last week’s puzzle was to continue the infinite series 110, 20, 12, 11, 10… The answer is that the subsequent terms are all 6. The series consists of the number 6 in binary, base 3, base 4 and so on. In all bases above 6, the number 6 is simply 6.
Now for today’s puzzle. You’ve probably heard this before, but I still love the unexpectedness of the actual question. You probably know “the” answer too. Less well known, the answer is not unique (well, geometrically; the zoology is dubious anyway).
A man goes for a walk. He goes one mile south, one mile east, one mile north and returns to his starting place. On the way he shot a bear. What color was it?
Answer next Friday. And to keep you busy, here’s another unexpected question:
You are the driver of a bus from San Francisco to San Jose. You arrive at the first stop in San Francisco and 20 people get on. In South San Francisco, 5 people get off and 8 get on. In Millbrae, nobody gets off but another 5 people get on. In Palo Alto, 15 people get off and just 3 get on. In Mountain View, 6 get on and 12 get off. Finally you arrive in San Jose. Everyone gets off. What was the bus driver’s name?