Holiday Puzzles 2014

1. (F)RIGID PACKINGS
 
Pack six 3×5 rectangles and four 2×7 rectangles into a 10×15 rectangle so that there is no overlap.

Then pack all six 3×5 rectangles and only three of the 2×7 rectangles into a 10×15 rectangle so that there is no overlap, and none of the pieces can slide.

2. (B)RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR

The flash card 52+6 shown below has the curious property that 4 of the same card placed end-to-end give an expression that evaluates to 2014:
Find the only flash card of the same length (4 digits or operations total) that has the property that 4 of them placed end-to-end evaluates to 2015.

3. (P)LOTS OF VEGETABLES

Santa's Reindeer are trying to grow Asparagus, Broccoli, and Carrots in a garden. Divide the garden into rectangular plots, each containing a single type of vegetable. Plots containing the same vegetable will be equal in area, and plots containing different vegetables will have different areas.

4. (S)MALL WORDS

Put a letter in each square so that four 3-letter words are spelled horizontally, and four 3-letter words are spelled vertically.

 

5. (S)EVEN SEAS

The Elves in Santa's workshop are making jerseys of seven U.S. and Canadian professional sports teams that have C's on them. Can you identify the teams associated with these logos?