The Cannonball Puzzle : Detlef Palm

Today, I have a puzzle for you. It won’t fix the economy, it won’t stop wars, it does not prevent Covid infections, it may not help to reform the United Nations and does not prevent corruption. It just takes your mind into different directions.

Recently, we were cycling through the Rhine valley, which many foreigners associate with castles. 

For example, this is Schloss Drachenburg (Dragon’s Castle).

This is Schloss Neuwied. The cannonballs at the entrance were stacked in equilateral triangular pyramids, as shown in the next image.

I am sure that with some patience you manage to figure out how many cannonballs are in this pile.

And when you are at it, you may try an answer for a pyramid with 17 or 31 cannonballs at the base (instead of 6, as shown).

When you are done puzzling, you may read past Insights from Outside the Bubble dealing with the darker side of UN reform and UNICEF.

Detlef can be contacted via detlefpalm55@gmail.com