by Louis Sachar
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Chapter 9
After School
Everybody went home except for Joy and Sue. Sue was still trying to figure out how to add apples and oranges, and Joy was working on the special true/false problem Mrs. Jewls had given her. She was talking to herself.
“If one is true, then two is true. But if two is true, then one is false. But if one is false, then two is false. But if two is false, then one is true. But if one is true then two is — Aaaaaaaaaa!” she suddenly screamed.
Sue looked up at her.
“Let’s get out of here,” said Joy.
Sue smiled. She hadn’t made any friends yet at Wayside, and she was glad that Joy was talking to her. “Good idea,” she said.
“We could go to my house and eat ice cream and draw pictures,” Joy suggested.
“Okay,” said Sue.
“And there’s a movie about turtles on television at three-thirty,” Joy added.
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Hints
All of the problems in this book can be figured out logically. However, if you’re stuck, here are some more hints to help you.
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Problem 3: s = 1.
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Problem 4: p = 0.
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Problem 5: s = 9.
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Problem 6: o does not equal 0.
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Problem 7: r = 0.
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Problem 8: s = 1.
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Problem 9: y = 1.
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Problem 10: d = 9.
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Problem 11: i = 9.
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Problem 12: o is an even number.
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Problem 17: m = 5.
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Problem 18: m = 7.
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Problem 20: h = 1; e = 5.
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Problem 21: s = 1; o = 7.
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Problem 22: e = 6.
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Problem 23: s = 4.
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Problem 24: w = 8; s = 2.
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Problem 29: The best way to figure out this problem is to figure out who was the person who got all the answers correct. Remember that nobody missed all five. Also, notice that Paul and Bebe never gave the same answer. Therefore Paul could not have gotten them all right, because if he did, then Bebe would have gotten them all wrong. Similarly Bebe couldn’t have gotten them all right, because then Paul would have missed them all. Check out what the results would be if Todd, Sharie, or Jason got them all right.
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Problem 30: Nancy only missed one answer. The easiest way to figure out the problem is to figure out which answer Nancy missed.
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Problem 31: Deedee missed question 3.
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Problem 32: Compare Joe’s answers to Maurecia’s. They are all the same except for the last two. Since Joe got a better grade than Maurecia, what are the correct answers to problems 4 and 5? Now compare Allison’s answers to Stephen’s.
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Problem 33: Compare Dameon’s answers to D.J.’s. They are identical except for question 1. Since Dameon got a better grade than D.J., Dameon’s answer for question 1 must be correct. Now compare Terrence’s to Rondi’s. Rondi got a better grade than Terrence, but Terrence got the first question right, and Rondi missed it.
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Problem 34: Who got all five correct?
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Problem 35: No two people answered the same question correctly. Therefore the answer to question 1 can’t be John Kennedy. The answer to question 2 can’t be George Washington. Three can’t be Jimmy Carter. Four has to be Abe Lincoln. Five can’t be Abe Lincoln.
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Problem 36: Todd correctly answered question 1.
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Problem 37: Miss Mush has a big head.
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Problem 38: Mr. Pepperadder eats a lot.
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Problem 48: 1 is false.
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Problem 49: 3 is false.
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Problem 50: 1 is false.
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Problem 51: 5 is false.
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Problem 52: 1 is true.
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Problem 53: If 1 is true, what is the answer to statement number 5? If 1 is false, what is the answer to statement number 5?
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Problem 54: If 7 is true, what is the answer to statement number 4? If 7 is false, what is the answer to statement number 4?
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Problem 55: 1 is false.
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Answers
The answers begin on the following page. However, it is strongly recommended that you don’t look at them. There is a tremendous feeling of satisfaction and pleasure in solving a problem yourself, but if you look up the answer in the back of the book, all you ever feel is, “So what. The answer is three. Big deal!” And once you look up an answer you can’t ever un-look it up. You’ll never be able to solve the problem yourself, for the rest of your life.
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This is your last chance to change your mind! The answers begin on the next page.
If you do look up an answer, at least be careful not to accidentally look at any of the other answers. This is hard to do because you have to look at several other problem numbers until you find the problem number that you are looking for. And no matter how hard you try not to look at the other answers, or cover them up with your hand, they always seem to jump out at you. That’s another good reason why you shouldn’t look.
Chapter 1
Spelling
Problem 1 Answer:
e = 7;llf = 1;gl = 2;llo = 4.
Problem 2 Answer:
a = 7;lle = 8;llg = 9;llp = 1.
Problem 3 Answer:
a = 4;lle = 8;llr = 2;lls = 1;llw = 6.
Problem 4 Answer:
o = 5;llp = 0;llt = 2.
Problem 5 Answer:
e = 1;llh = 8;lll = 0;lls = 9.
Problem 6 Answer:
m = 7;llo = 5;llp = 8;lly = 1.
Problem 7 Answer:
a = 7;llr = 0;lls = 8;llt = 9;llu = 5;lly = 1.
Problem 8 Answer:
a = 6;lle = 2;lls = 1.
Problem 9 Answer:
o = 0;llp = 5;lly = 1.
Problem 10 Answer:
d = 9;lle = 5;lll = 7;llo = 0;lls = 2;llw = 1.
Problem 11 Answer:
c = 2;lld = 3;lle = 6;lli = 9;llp = 0;lls = 1.
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Chapter 2
Numbers
Problem 12 Answer:
e = 7; n = 6;llo = 4;llt = 9;llw = 3.
Problem 13 Answer:
A three-digit number plus a three-digit number cannot equal a five-digit number.
Problem 14 Answer:
The letters f, o, u, and r all must represent 0. Since each letter must represent a different number, the problem is impossible.
Problem 15 Answer:
If you were going to try to solve this problem, the clue would be in columns four and five. The s in column five would have to represent the number 1. The f in column four would represent the number 9, and the e in column four would have to represent the number zero.
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But if you look at column one, you’ll see that e cannot represent zero. If it did then e + o would equal o. Instead e + o = n. Therefore, since e has to equal zero, while at the same time it can’t equal zero, the problem is impossible.
Problem 16 Answer:
The
re are twelve letters in this problem. They all can’t represent a different number.
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Chapter 3
Pronouns
Problem 17 Answer:
e = 0;llh = 4;llm = 5;lls = 1;llu = 3;llw = 9.
Problem 18 Answer:
h = 1;llk = 6;llm = 7;llo = 8;llt = 9.
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Chapter 4
Paragraphs
Problem 19 Answer:
a = 5;lld = 1;llg = 2;llo = 0.
Problem 20 Answer:
e = 5;llh = 1;llr = 7;lls = 3;llt = 4;llu = 2.
Problem 21 Answer:
a = 4;llb = 0;llk = 3;llo = 7;lls = 1;lly = 2.
Problem 22 Answer:
a = 8;llb = 5;lle = 6;llr = 1;llw = 7;lly = 3;llt = 0.
Problem 23 Answer:
a = 3;llc = 1;lle = 5;lll = 2;llo = 0;lls = 4;
t = 8;lly = 9.
Problem 24 Answer:
a = 7;llc = 3;llh = 0;lli = 6;llo = 4;llr = 9;
s = 2;llt = 1;llw = 8.
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Chapter 5
Recess
Problem 25 Answer:
Even though everyone except Allison and Jason said they wanted to play basketball, everyone played freeze tag and nobody played basketball. Isn’t that funny? Myron didn’t think so. Has something like that ever happened to you?
Problem 26 Answer:
Four played basketball: Jenny, Todd, Deedee, Myron. The other seven played freeze tag.
Problem 27 Answer:
Only four played freeze tag: Maurecia, Joy, Jason, and Allison. The other seven played basketball.
Problem 28 Answer:
Sue was the last person to change her mind so she was It.
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Chapter 6
Science, Geography, etc
Problem 29 Answer:
1. eggs;ll2. evaporation;ll3. Alligator;ll4. a kangaroo;ll5. teeth.
If you are interested, here is a copy of the test:
1. Which is better for throwing, eggs or milk?
2. What does e-v-a-p-o-r-a-t-i-o-n spell?
3. Complete this sentence: “See you later,—”
4. What can jump higher, a kangaroo or a potato?
5. What do you have more of, ears or teeth?
Problem 30 Answer:
1. Mississippi;ll2. New York;ll3. Alaska;ll4. Utah;
5. Arizona;ll6. Maryland.
Problem 31 Answer:
1. can;ll2. like;ll3. May;ll4. lie;ll5. well.
Here is a copy of the test:
Choose the proper word in each of the following
sentences.
1. My mother sent me to the store to buy a (may,
can) of peas.
2. He is my friend because I (like, as) him.
3. My birthday is (May, Can) seventeenth.
4. You should never tell a (lay, lie).
5. They are in the backyard digging a (good, well).
Jenny didn’t think that question I should count because she didn’t like peas. Kathy didn’t think question 2 was fair because she didn’t have any friends and she didn’t like anybody. Deedee didn’t think question 3 was fair. “How am I supposed to know your birthday?” she asked Mrs. Jewls. So Mrs. Jewls decided to give credit for either answer on the first three questions. Then Leslie and Eric complained about that, so Mrs. Jewls gave credit for either answer on questions 4 and 5 as well.
Problem 32 Answer:
1. False; 2. False;ll3. True;ll4. False;ll5. True.
Here is copy of the test that was given:
1. What word has more letters, true or false?
2. What was the answer to question 1, true or false?
3. Which word rhymes with blue, true or false?
4. Which word rhymes with zalse, true or false?
5. Which word begins with the letter t, true or false?
Allison argued that question 4 shouldn’t count because zalse wasn’t a word. Mrs. Jewls explained that it didn’t have to be a word in order to rhyme with false. Allison agreed but pointed out that since it wasn’t a word, she didn’t know how it was pronounced. Even though it was spelled somewhat like false, it could have been pronounced like zoo. Mrs. Jewls had to admit she was right and gave her credit for question 4.
Problem 33 Answer:
The questions were asked in the following order:
1. What should you do after someone says, “Thank you” to you?
2. What should you do when you want some more peas but the peas are on the other side of the table?
3. What should you do after you burp?
4. What should you do before each meal?
5. What should you do when you meet someone new?
Terrence asked Mrs. Jewls not to count question 2 because he didn’t like peas and would never ask for them. Mrs. Jewls took another point away from Terrence because he forgot to say, “Please.”
Problem 34 Answer:
The questions were asked in the following order:
1. What animal has a very long neck?
2. What animal is fat and gray like a rhinoceros, and its name almost even sounds like rhinoceros, and it is even harder to spell than rhinoceros, but it isn’t a rhinoceros?
3. What animal has a horn or two?
4. What animal likes to swing through trees and eat bananas?
5. What animal carries his home on his back?
Problem 35 Answer:
The questions were asked in the following order:
1. What was the name of Martha Washington’s husband?
2. What was the name of Amy Carter’s father?
3. What was the name of Jackie Kennedy’s husband?
4. What was the name of Mary Todd Lincoln’s husband?
5. What was the name of Eleanor Roosevelt’s husband?
Problem 36 Answer:
The questions were asked in the following order:
1. What holiday do we celebrate on July 4th?
2. On what holiday do you give your sweetheart a valentine?
3. On what holiday was Lincoln born?
4. On what holiday do we give thanks?
5. On what holiday was Columbus born?
Bebe was very upset. She didn’t think the test was fair. “How am I supposed to learn about holidays?” she asked. “Every time there’s a holiday I have to stay home from school.”
Mrs. Jewls realized that Bebe was right. And besides, holidays are supposed to be happy times. They shouldn’t cause people to get upset. So she gave everyone an A on the test.
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Chapter 7
Lunch
Problem 37 Answer:
No, unless her head is smaller than a half an inch. Notice that the smaller her head, the higher she can reach. Is that true about everybody? Can people with small heads reach higher than people with big heads?
Problem 38 Answer:
Probably. Even though we don’t know how much taller he would be if he stood on his tiptoes, it doesn’t really matter. Presumably he has a chest and stomach, and they should easily give him enough height to reach the knob. Not only that, we know he must have a big stomach since he and Miss Mush usually eat a lot.
Problems 39–42:
This graph helps illustrate the answers to Problems 39–42.
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The broken line shows how the food would taste for how many meals are cooked. For example if 500 meals were cooked, the food would be good. If 2,000 meals were cooked it would be awful, etc.
The solid line shows how many people would want to eat the food at each level of taste. For example if the food were disgusting, only 250 people would want to eat. If it were good, then 3,000
people would want to eat, etc.
We see that the lines cross at the point where the food tastes as bad as it smells. That’s how many meals should be cooked. If they cook 1,500 meals, 1,500 people would want to eat.
In no case will more than 1,500 people ever eat. For example, if 3,000 meals are cooked, the food would be rotten, so only 500 people would want to eat. If the food was excellent, 4,500 people would want to eat, but only 100 people would be able to eat, because that’s all the food there is.
If they cook 4,500 meals, the food would be so bad that half the people would go home sick. But only 100 people will eat, so 50 people would go home sick.
As is often the case, the graph is more difficult to understand than what it is trying to explain.
Problem 39 Answer: 1,000.
Problem 40 Answer: 500.
Problem 41 Answer: 1,500.
Problem 42 Answer: 50.
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Chapter 8
True or False
Problem 43 Answer:
1. False;ll2. True.
Problem 44 Answer:
1. False;ll2. False;ll3. True.
Problem 45 Answer:
They are either both true or both false.
Problem 46 Answer:
Either the first is true and the second is false or the first is false and the second is true.
Problem 47 Answer:
It’s impossible.
Problem 48 Answer:
1. False;ll2. False;ll3. True;ll4. True;ll5. True.
Problem 49 Answer:
1. True;ll2. False;ll3. False;ll4. True;ll5. False.
Problem 50 Answer:
1. False;ll2. True;ll3. True;ll4. True;ll5. True.
Problem 51 Answer:
1. True;ll2. False;ll3. True;ll4. False;ll5. False.
Problem 52 Answer:
1. True;ll2. True;ll3. False;ll4. False;ll5. False;
6. False.
Problem 53 Answer:
1. True;ll2. False;ll3. True;ll4. True;ll5. False; 6. False;ll7. True;ll8. False;ll9. False;ll10. True.
Problem 54 Answer:
1. False;ll2. False;ll3. True;ll4. True;ll5. False; 6. True;ll7. True;ll8. False;ll9. False;ll10. False.
Problem 55 Answer:
1. False;ll2. True;ll3. True;ll4. False;ll5. True; 6. True;ll7. False;ll8. False;ll9. False;ll10. False; 11. True;ll12. True;ll13. True;ll14. True;ll15. False;ll16. True;ll17. True;ll18. False;ll19. False; 20. True.
