Wei Hwa's Puzzle Challenges

Those with a Google homepage may have noticed a section called "Wei-Hwa's Puzzle Challenges." The first came out on Friday:

Using the numbers 3, 3, 8, 8 (in any order), make a mathematical expression that equals 24. You can use only addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (and parentheses), but in any order you wish. Note that you have to use all four numbers; otherwise 3 times 8 would be valid -- and that wouldn't be much of a puzzle, would it? Stumped? Look in comments for the solution.

Tags: Wei-Hwa, puzzle

[comments 4]

But Dave, you're not a geek!

...so people often reassure me. But sometimes I do geek-like things, like qualify for Google Code Jam Europe. Booyah!

(For those annoyed to have missed it, you can still take part in similar competitions at Topcoder.com. If you sign up, please refer "nimisis". Thanks.)

Related: Google Code Jam, TopCoder

[remarks 1]

A couple of useful links for eBay addicts; Hammersnipe, which lets you choose an item you want and will automatically bid on it for you just a few seconds before the auction ends. Saves time and effort! Then there's Typoferret which searches for items with somewhat dubious spellings. The logic being that a misspelled item equals a cheap item, as potential bidders haven't been able to find them!

Watch World Cup highlights

The BBC have a free video archive of previous World Cup football matches. Re-live 30 40 years of hurt and watch past greats like Pele, Maradona and Mark Lawrenson.

Tags: World Cup, football

[comments 1]

Booyah!

They've let me loose on the roads! Yep, passed my driving test on Thursday. Here's the route I took. Was given two minor faults (although I did almost run over someone just 5 minutes before the test).

Related: driving test