If the US divided by China, and Australia plus New Zealand both equal 10, name a country that if subtracted from the European Union gives the same result?
Clues given during the week: Stripes, Stars.
Answer: This one left readers, quite literally, seeing stars. The question is, of course, about the number of them in the national flags: US (50) / China (5); Australia (6) + New Zealand (4); and EU (12) – Any country with countries with 2 stars on their flag; all equal 10. Suggestions sent in included: Curacao, Nepal, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, Syria. Special mention to John Bowen who replied on Monday, before any clues were issued and Jose Padron for his excellent flags illustration (below).
So, it is well done, in order of reply to: John Bowen, rubber industry consultant, Bromsgrove, Worcs, UK; Stephan Paischer, head of product management special products, Semperit AG Holding, Vienna, Austria; Michele Girardi, Scame Mastaf Spa, Suisio, Italy; Daniel Willrich, redakteur, büro Köln, AutoRäderReifen-Gummibereifung, Köln, Germany; David Mann, key account manager, SPC Rubber Compounding, UK; Andrew Knox, Rubbond International, Ohé en Laak, The Netherlands; France Veillette: chef environnement, Usine de Joliette, Bridgestone Canada Inc., Canada; Jose Padron, material development specialist, Waterville TG Inc. Waterville, Québec, Canada; Mehmet Koral, C&C Endüstriyel Danışmanlık, Eğitim ve Mümessillik Ltd, Göztepe, Istanbul, Turkey.
New teaser on Monday