Sample Issue Menu

Turntables

We dedicate this puzzle to the 50s rock ‘n’ roll group which gave us “Only You” and “The Great Pretender.” They would be The Platters®, with founding member Herb Reed still performing today. I don’t remember how many were in the original group, but we’ll let you spin 2, 3, or 4 platters below. The rules are simple enough:

1. Make a valid equation by rotating the specified number of turntables 180 degrees each in succession. (Which ones are for you to figure out.)

2. The standard order of operations applies, i.e., a group in parentheses is calculated first, followed by multiplication ahead of addition or subtraction. When the priorities are equal, work from left to right.

3. Here’s how it works. Select a turntable to rotate. Any symbols and smaller turntables wholly contained on it will rotate 180 degrees. Any symbols outside your turntable, as well as turntables wholly or partially outside it, will remain in place. In the example below, if we rotate turntable C, then B and its contents go for the ride, but turntable A, the equals sign, and the 8s, remain in place.

4. The same turntable may be rotated more than once.

So let’s all do a little doo-wop, and get the math in tune too.

Example: rotate turntables A (Step 1) then C (Step 2).

---

Try these:

Problem 1: Rotate two (2) turntables.

---

Problem 2: Rotate three (3) turntables.

---

Problem 3: Rotate two (2) turntables.