Once upon a time, in a temple, there were three deities: Truth, Lie, and Wisdom. The Truth Deity always told the truth. The Lie Deity always told the lie. The Wisdom Deity sometimes told the truth, sometimes told the lie. Unfortunately, those three deities looked exactly the same, so no one could distinguish them. One day, a sage came by and he differentiated them by the following trick: He asked the deity sitting on the left: "Who is the middle deity?"- "Truth", said the deity. He asked the deity sitting in the middle: "Who are you?"- "Wisdom", replied the deity. He asked the deity sitting on the right: "Who is the middle deities?"- "Lie", the deity answered.
How could the sage distinguish the three deities?
Think about what each deity would say about the middle deity, considering their nature: Truth would tell the truth, Lie would lie, and Wisdom would give a mixed answer...
The left deity is Wisdom; the middle one is Lie, and the right one is Truth. Explain: The left deity (L) said that the middle one (M) is Truth; therefore, L cannot be Truth (because there cannot be two Truth Deities!). M said he was Wisdom; therefore, he cannot be Truth. Thus, R is Truth. According to him, M is Lie and as a result, L is Wisdom.
Anna was watching TV in her house when she heard someone knocking on her door. When the woman opened the door, she saw a suspicious-looking man who claimed to be her neighbor. The man became nervous and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought this was my house. I must have confused the houses,". Anna didn't believe it was just a mistake, and she called the police, saying that this man was a robber. How did Anna know?
Here's a hint: Think about the circumstances under which Anna was when the man knocked on the door...
If the man really thought that it was his house, he wouldn't have knocked on the door; he would've tried to open it with his keys. Knocking on the door is a technique used by criminals who want to break in and steal stuff.
Jade works at a luxury store in the city. One day, a woman came up to her and decided to purchase a $1,000 purse. This customer gave Jade two bills and didn't even need change, but Jade refused to sell the item to the woman and called the police. Why?
The woman's payment method was quite... unusual.
The purse costs $1,000, but the woman gave Jade only two bills and didn't need any change. This means that the two bills were worth $500 each, and those bills don't exist.
A boy is five feet tall and records his height by hammering a nail in a tree and carving his hame. Five years later he returns to the same tree and finds that it has grown on average 16 inches per year.
How high now, is the nail from the ground?
Think about what's changing and what's not...
It is still five feet tall because only the top of the tree grows. The trunk only gets bigger by circumference.
The day before yesterday, Chris was 7 years old. Next year, she'll turn 10.
How is this possible?
Think about the timing of birthdays and the way we phrase dates...
Today is Jan. 1st. Yesterday, December 31, was Chris's 8th birthday. On December 30, she was still 7. This year she will turn 9, and next year, she'll turn 10.
A king decided to let a prisoner try to escape the prison with his life. The king placed 2 marbles in a jar that was glued to a table. One of the marbles was supposed to be black, and one was supposed to be blue. If the prisoner could pick the blue marble, he would escape the prison with his life. If he picked the black marble, he would be executed. However, the king was very mean, and he wickedly placed 2 black marbles in the jars and no blue marbles. The prisoner witnessed the king only putting 2 black marbles in the jars. If the jar was not see-through and the jar was glued to the table and the prisoner was mute so he could not say anything, how did he escape with his life?
The prisoner used his other senses to his advantage...
The prisoner grabbed one of the marbles from the jar and concealed it in his hand. He then swallowed it, and picked up the other marble and showed everyone. The marble was black, and since the other marble was swallowed, it was assumed to be the blue one. So the mean king had to set him free
Jim was examining an angle measuring 14 and 1/2 degrees, using his magnifying glass that magnifies everything two times. Under the glass, how large would that angle measure?
Think about what happens to the angle when it's magnified, not just the number...
14 and 1/2 degrees. Explanation, angles remain constant when magnified. A square has 4-90 degree corners, if you zoom in (magnify) a square, it's still a square.
An officer wishing to arrange his men in a solid square found by his first arrangement that he had 39 men left over. He then started increasing the number of men on a side by one, but found that 50 additional men would be needed to complete a new square.
How many men did the officer have?
Think about the differences between consecutive perfect squares...
The officer had 1975 men. When he formed a square measuring 44 by 44, he had 39 men over. When he tried to form a square 45 x 45, he was 50 men short.
A man told his son that he would give him $1000 if he could accomplish the following task. The father gave his son ten envelopes and a thousand dollars, all in one dollar bills. He told his son, "Place the money in the envelopes in such a manner that no matter what number of dollars I ask for, you can give me one or more of the envelopes, containing the exact amount I asked for without having to open any of the envelopes. If you can do this, you will keep the $1000." When the father asked for a sum of money, the son was able to give him envelopes containing the exact amount of money asked for. How did the son distribute the money among the ten envelopes?
Think about the powers of 2...
The contents or the ten envelopes (in dollar bills) should be as follows: $1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 489. The first nine numbers are in geometrical progression, and their sum, deducted from 1,000, gives the contents of the tenth envelope.
Two camels were facing in opposite directions. One was facing due East and one was facing due West. They were in the desert so there was no reflection. How can they manage to see each other without walking around or turning around or moving their heads?
Think about the camels' positions relative to each other, rather than their directions...
The two camels were facing each other the entire time. Hence facing in opposite directions.
There is a brother and a sister. The boy wants to visit his father in jail, and the sister wants to visit her mother in the hospital. But they both are not allowed in the jail or hospital. All they have is a gun. What do they do?
Think about the situation where they are not allowed to visit their parents, but they have a gun... Perhaps they're not old enough to visit their parents alone?
The boy shoots the girl, and then the boy goes to jail for attempted murder and the girl goes to the hospital due to her injuries.
You're an FBI agent and you are assigned to the case of a murder. A man named Julious Jill was murdered by someone in the house. At least that's what people say. You are to interview everyone who was in the house on Sunday at 6:30 pm. You interview the kids first you ask them "What were you doing on Sunday at 6:30" The kids said we were playing with our toys. You interview the wife and you ask the same thing. The wife says she was cleaning the kids' room because the maid said she was going out with friends. So Mts. Jill said she would clean. Next, you ask the maid what she was doing the maid says she was getting the mail. Who murdered Mr. Jill?
Hint: Pay close attention to the maid's alibi...
The maid: the maid said she was getting the mail on a Sunday the mail doesn't come on Sundays and she lied to Mrs. Jill about going out with friends.
You are on an island in the middle of a lake. The lake is in a remote part of the country and there has never been a bridge connecting the island to the mainland. Every day a tractor and wagon gives hay rides around the island. Puzzled as to how the tractor had gotten onto the island, you ask around and find out that the tractor was not transported to the island by boat or by air. Nor was it built on the island. Explain how the tractor got there?
Think about the seasons...
It was driven over in winter, when the lake was frozen.
What's the only thing you know for sure is going to happen?
Think about something that is universally true, and is always going to occur, no matter what... It's not a specific event, but rather a general certainty...
I always follow you around, everywhere you go at night. I look very bright to people, but I can make the sun dark. I can be in many different forms and shapes. What am I?
Think about something that is always with you at night, but its presence can also affect the daytime...
My life is often a volume of grief, your help is needed to turn a new leaf. Stiff is my spine and my body is pale, but I'm always ready to tell a tale.
What am I?
Think about an object that's often associated with stories and information, but can also be a symbol of sadness or mourning...
I can deliver but cannot walk, I can say things but have no mouth, I am small but can contain big things. What am I?
Think about something that can "deliver" a message or an object, but doesn't have the physical ability to walk or move on its own. It can also "say" things, but not through a physical mouth. And despite being small, it can hold or contain things that are much larger than itself...
There was a green house. Inside the green house there was a white house Inside the white house there was a red house. Inside the red house there were lots of babies What am I?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a yard, and consider the colors mentioned in the riddle...
People often cut into me, and although I can be very sharp, I never cut them back. Most people like me, but even if you hate me, just saying my name will make you smile. What am I?
Think about something you often find on a table, and its name has a peculiar effect on people's faces...
I have one eye but I still can't see. I can surf all day without the sea. I let you know what your friends have to say and I will wake you up every day. What I'm I?
Think about something you might find on your bedside table or nightstand...
I can be small as a mouse or as big as a whale, But no matter how big, I'm no burden to scales. You can fight me for practice, but you'll never win. I follow bright people, but I'm always dim. If you're needing a partner, I'm as keen to dance. But I know no move that doesn't copy your stance. What am I?
Think about something that can be found in various sizes, is often associated with competition or practice, and has a tendency to mimic or follow others...
I cannot be felt, seen or touched; Yet I can be found in everybody; My existence is always in debate, Yet I have my own style of music.
What Am I?
"Think about something that is abstract, yet has a profound impact on individuals, and has been a topic of discussion and creativity throughout history..."
I'll take you. I'll take two, once I'm taken by you. You lose. I'm chance, a devil of a dance, climbing a tree, the very next branch. I'm unforgiving, fast-lane living, quite a soul gripping. For once I have you, I won’t leave your mind. And I'm not at all kind. I'll break your home, the bank I'll comb, until you're left with nothing, all alone. The highs and the lows, the deception, and woes, why'd you bet your own toes? I’m greedy, if I’m to be believed, I'm a need that will crush you until you cannot breathe. What am I?
You're being tempted by a sly and cunning foe... Think about something that can be gambled with, and can lead to a downward spiral of losses and troubles.
I can come alone or in a chain. Both are special in their own way. My appearance can be unexpected or expected. What am I?
Think about something that can be a singular, unique event, but also a series of connected events, and how its occurrence can be either surprising or anticipated...
My family is known to be crazy;
I'm good when I'm alone and when spread I am amazing;
It's a matter of taste;
I'm good for your health, bad for your waist.
What am I?
Think about a type of food that's often associated with family gatherings and celebrations, but can also be enjoyed on its own...
I am, in truth, a yellow fork From tables in the sky By inadvertent fingers dropped The awful cutlery. Of mansions never quite disclosed And never quite concealed The apparatus of the dark To ignorance revealed. What am I?
"Think about something that's often associated with the sky, and can be seen as a dark or ominous presence, but is also something that can be found on tables..."
I am not found on any ground, But always in the air; Though charged each cloud with thunder loud, You can not find me there. Now, if from France you choose to dance Your way just into Spain, I there am seen, and near the queen, In hail, in mist, and rain.
What am I?
Look for something that is often associated with weather, but isn't a physical entity that can be found on the ground or in a specific location...
I walked through a field of wheat,
I picked up something good to eat,
It was white and had no bone,
In twenty-one days it walked alone.
What did I pick up?
Think about something that grows in a field of wheat, is white, and has no bone... and can surprisingly move on its own after a certain period of time!
Lynn likes grapes but not potatoes. She likes squash but not lettuce, and she likes peas but not onions. Following the same rule, will she like pumpkins or apples?
Think about the color of the food...
Pumpkins. Lynn only likes things that grow on vines.
As an April Fool's joke, a prankster, who works in an assisted living facility, created a flyer and distributed one to each room of the facility. Here is what the flyer announced: Attention!!! All residents!!! Several creatures have recently been spotted in hallways and day areas of this facility. The primary creature seen is reported to be warm-blooded, is between 60 and 72 inches in length, and has three legs and three feet. There have even been rarer sightings of several of these life forms having six legs and six feet. Anyone sighting either of these two creatures should immediately notify the receptionist for instructions. What do you suppose the living organisms were to which the prankster was referring in his April Fool's flyers?
Think about the typical residents of an assisted living facility and what they might use to get around...
The "creatures" to which the prankster was referring, were the residents who used canes and walkers. Each cane acted as a resident's third leg, with a foot at the base of each cane. The rarer "creatures" were the residents using four-legged walkers with a foot at the bottom of each leg. These sums were added to each resident's physical two legs and two feet which accounted for the description of the "life forms" in the flyers.
I have a heart that never beats, I have a home but I never sleep. I can take a man's house and build another, And I love to play games with my many brothers. I am a king among fools. Who am I?
Think about a game where strategy and power are key, and a piece that can capture others and control the board...
Mr. Steve lives in a mansion. He is very rich. He's so rich that he has a maid, a cook, a butler, and a lifeguard. Yesterday, Mr. Steve was found dead. The chief detective was coming from Sunday church to investigate. The police were already there. They caught 6 suspects. The maid, the butler, the cook, the lifeguard, the postman, and Mrs. Steve. The maid said she was dusting. The butler said he was playing a board game with Mr. Steve's sons. The cook said he was making dinner. The lifeguard said he was watching Mr. Steve's daughter swim in the pool. The postman said he was delivering mail. Mrs. Steve said she was watching TV. Who is lying? You only have one chance because if you choose incorrectly, you accuse the wrong person and the true killer gets away.
Here's a hint: Think about the circumstances of Mr. Steve's death and the activities each suspect claims to have been doing at the time. Ask yourself: Who is the one person who couldn't have been doing what they claim, given the fact that Mr. Steve was found dead?
The postman was lying. If the chief detective was coming from church, then you know that the post office doesn't deliver mail on Sunday.
Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat?
Think about the names...
Repeat! Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat? Repeat! Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat? Repeat! Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat? Repeat! Pete and Repeat were on a boat. Pete fell out, who was left on the boat? Repeat! Ex
A masked man is being hunted by the authorities for his vigilante activities, in which he helps and protects innocent people. His modus operandi is to seek out injustices caused by corrupt and evil people, stop these people from completing their wicked plans, and to deliver his own personal letter to these villains --- something to remind them of his visit. Who is this masked man, and what is the personal letter he delivers?
Think of a classic literary character who is known for seeking justice and leaving a calling card at the scene of their interventions...
The masked man is Zorro, and the personal letter he delivers to the villains he thwarts ----- is the letter "Z".