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TagMicro Softies

multiple-brown-medicine-bottles-filled-with-yellow-pills-are-1058272294-stockpack-adobe_stock
Multiple brown medicine bottles filled with yellow pills are arranged in a row on a reflective surface, creating a visually appealing composition
Type
post
Robert J. Marks
Date
April 7, 2025
Categorized
Logic
Tagged

Monday Micro Softy 21: Finding More of the Deadly Fentanyl Pills

The solution to last week's deadly pills puzzle can be found, as we'll see, by numbering the bottles. But this week we make the challenge tougher…
Robert J. Marks
April 7, 2025
5
Logic
In this week’s challenge, you don’t know how many pill bottles, if any, have been laced with fentanyl. Can you still discover the truth with a single weighing? Read More ›
set-of-metal-washers-in-the-foreground-stockpack-adobe-stock-295865857-stockpack-adobe_stock
Set of metal washers in the foreground
Type
post
Robert J. Marks
Date
February 24, 2025
Categorized
Logic
Tagged

Micro Softy 15: What Happens to the Hole in a Hot Washer?

When a washer ring is heated, does the hole in the center get bigger or smaller?
Robert J. Marks
February 24, 2025
2
Logic
The answer to last week’s Micro Softy turns on the question of what form of currency Claire gave the blind ticket seller. Did you guess it right? Read More ›
leather-dice-cup-and-dice-on-the-table-rolling-all-sixes-wit-840329549-stockpack-adobe_stock
Leather dice cup and dice on the table, rolling all sixes with 5 dice representing gambling and luck
Type
post
Robert J. Marks
Date
January 20, 2025
Categorized
Creativity, Probability
Tagged
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The Monday Micro Softy 10: The Monte Hall Problem

In this case, it comes down to: How badly do you want a goat in your life?
Robert J. Marks
January 20, 2025
6
Creativity, Probability
Probability problems typically come down to analyzing the choices carefully and picking the most promising one. Read More ›
a-vintage-rustic-barber-shop-sign-hangs-prominently-outside-1014152694-stockpack-adobe_stock
A vintage, rustic barber shop sign hangs prominently outside an establishment on a quaint street, evoking a nostalgic atmosphere from a bygone era
Type
post
Robert J. Marks
Date
January 6, 2025
Categorized
Mathematics
Tagged
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Monday Micro Softy 8: Who’s the Better Barber?

There are only two barbers to choose from and the choice may not be as easy as it looks. Also, here's the answer to Who's the Champ?
Robert J. Marks
January 6, 2025
5
Mathematics
Micro Softy 7 is an illustration of Simpson’s Paradox, which says that averaging averages doesn’t always work. Read More ›
baseball-player-hitting-ball-with-bat-in-close-up-stockpack-289408349-stockpack-adobe_stock
Baseball player hitting ball with bat in close up
Type
post
Robert J. Marks
Date
December 30, 2024
Categorized
Mathematics, Probability
Tagged

Monday Micro Softy 7:  Who’s the Champ?

A single number does not always determine which player is better
Robert J. Marks
December 30, 2024
4
Mathematics, Probability
And here’s the answer to why young Clay’s arithmetic didn’t make sense at first to Claude — but then Claude realized that the boy was right. Read More ›
mathematic-or-education-concept-stockpack-adobe-stock-113511505-stockpack-adobe_stock
Mathematic or education concept
Type
post
Robert J. Marks
Date
December 23, 2024
Categorized
Mathematics, Probability
Tagged

Monday Micro Softy 6: Bad Adding?

It looked to Claude like young Clay’s numbers didn’t add up but he seemed confident. What did he know that his father at first didn’t?
Robert J. Marks
December 23, 2024
4
Mathematics, Probability
And here’s the answer to the probability question: What are the chances that Claude and Chloe’s younger child is also a boy? Read More ›
white-pickup-truck-driving-down-dusty-dirt-road-with-fall-le-183998657-stockpack-adobe_stock
White pickup truck driving down dusty dirt road with fall leaves and dust behind
Type
post
Robert J. Marks
Date
December 16, 2024
Categorized
Creativity
Tagged

Micro Softy 5: The Puzzle of Claude and Chloe’s Two Kids

Also, here’s the answer to the puzzle of how, twelve years earlier, Claude escaped the trap Clifton Clowers set for him, so he could marry Chloe
Robert J. Marks
December 16, 2024
4
Creativity
Puzzle: We learn that one of Claude and Chloe's two children is a boy. With a 50–50 ratio, what chance is there that the other child is a boy too? Read More ›
manhole-drain-cover-on-streets-of-lower-manhattan-stockpack-62965341-stockpack-adobe_stock
Manhole drain cover on streets of lower Manhattan
Type
post
Robert J. Marks
Date
November 18, 2024
Categorized
Business and Finance, Logic
Tagged
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Microsoft: What Did You Need To Work There in the Early Days?

They asked questions that were not about the details of computer technology. The questions made you think. Hard.
Robert J. Marks
November 18, 2024
3
Business and Finance, Logic
For example. they would ask questions like, why are manhole covers round? Read More ›