Equation Analysis Tests (Ditloids)
These Shortz word puzzles are far more fun than their name suggests
Will Shortz brought us the first Equation Analysis Test. Try some of his, along with some of my own. These are great for whenever you are feeling creative.
Equation Analysis Tests are tricky as they require a broad range of knowledge: units of measurement, history, sports, movies.... the list continues. I provided some background and directions below, but the rest is up to you. I'd love to hear your own puzzles, so drop me an email at gamestrivia@suite101.com.
The tests were created by the great Will Shortz (who gives credit to Morgan Worthy from Aha! A Puzzle Approach to Creative Thinking). He introduced the puzzle to America in a 1981 issue of Games Magazine. Later, the Daily Express, a British newspaper, gave them the name ditloid after the equation 1 = DITLOID. The answer: 1 Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.
Below you will find 26 more puzzles (some are his, others my own) along with another example to get you in the zone. Here are the rest of the answers.
a. 26 = L. of the A........ 26 Letters of the Alphabet
b. 4 = Q. in a G.
c. 88 = P.K.
d. 16 = P. in a C.S. (8 B. & 8 W.)
e. 12 = D. of C.
f. 4 = Q. in a G.
g. 11 = F. the T.M. (as of 2006)
h. 8 = S. on a S.S.
i. 90 = D. in a R.A.
j. 5 = D. in a Z.C.
k. 18 = H. on a G.C.
l. 12 = S. of the Z.
m. 5 = M.L.B.T. in C.
n. 101 = D.
o. 6 = W. of H. the E.
p. 16 = O. in a P.
q. 2,000 = C. for D.V.
r. 12 = S. for a P.S.
s. 13 = O.C.
t. 4 = H. of the A.
u. 2 = H. on a C. (3 with the S.H.)
v. 1 = D. at a T.
w. 12 = B. on a T.
x. 20 = M. in a H.P.
y. 9 = L. of a C.
z. 7 = D.S.
The solution page.
