Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/364 - Cupid's Arithmetic

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $364$

Cupid's Arithmetic

Dora Crackham one morning produced a slip of paper bearing the jumble of figures shown in our diagram.

She said that a young mathematician had this poser presented to him by his betrothed when she was in a playful mood.

"What am I to do with it?" asked George.

"Just interpret its meaning," she replied. "If it is properly regarded it should not be difficult to decipher."

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Unclassified Problems: $364$. -- Cupid's Arithmetic
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Unclassified Puzzles: $535$. Cupid's Arithmetic