Find the four digit number in which the first digit is one fourth of the last digit, the second digit is 6 times the first digit, and the third digit is the second digit plus 3. What is it?
Think about a simple multiplication table to crack the code...
1694.
If you go to the movies and you're paying, is it cheaper to take one friend to the movies twice, or two friends to the movies at the same time?
Think about the number of tickets you need to buy in each scenario...
It's cheaper to take two friends at the same time. In this case, you would only be buying three tickets, whereas if you take the same friend twice you are buying four tickets.
In a stable there are men and horses. In all, there are 22 heads and 72 feet. How many men and how many horses are in the stable?
Think about the number of feet each man and horse has...
14 horses and 8 men. 14x4 plus 8x2 = 72 feet.
Something very extraordinary happened on the 6th of May, 1978 at 12:34 a.m. What was it?
"Look at the clock and think about the date..."
At that moment, the time and day could be written as: 12:34, 5/6/78.
When my father was 31 I was 8. Now he is twice as old as me. How old am I?
Think about how many years have passed since your father was 31...
The difference in age is 23 years, so I must be 23 if my father is twice as old as me.
What two whole, postive numbers have the same answer when multiplied together as when added together?
Think about a special number that, when added to 1, becomes a perfect square...
2 and 2.
What is the most useful instrument in a mathematics teacher's tool kit?
Think about something that helps you "measure up" to math problems...
Multi-pilers!
Take two numbers, such that the square of the first, plus the square of the second, shall equal 8; while the first, plus the product of the first and second, shall equal 6. What are the two numbers?
Think algebraically, and consider the fact that the two numbers are likely to be small integers...
2 and 2.
What do mathematics teachers like to eat?
Think about a type of food that is often measured or divided in a specific way...
Pi.
What happened to the plant in the math classroom?
"Think about a mathematical operation that can be applied to a number, but also has a surprising connection to a plant's well-being..."
It grew square roots, of course.
What do you call two math friends?
Think about a common phrase used to describe a close relationship, and see if you can "add" a math twist to it!
Algebros!!
What three whole, positive numbers have the same answer when multiplied together as when added together?
Think about numbers that are "close together" and have a special relationship...
1, 2 and 3. 1 x 2 x 3 = 1 + 2 + 3 = 6.
Peter is 4 and his little brother is 2, half is age. How older will Peter's little brother be when he is 100?
Think about what "half is age" really means...
98 because there's only 2 year difference.
Take eight small sticks, four of which are half the length of the other four. How can you make three equal squares out of the sticks?
Think about how you can use the longer sticks as the "outlines" of the squares, and the shorter sticks to "divide" them...
Use the longer four sticks to be sharing sides between the squares and at the end their should be three intertwined squares.
What did one math book say to another?
Think about a common phrase people use to express solidarity or friendship, and see if you can "add" a mathematical twist to it!
I have so many problems.
What is the next number in the series? 7,645 5,764 4,576...
"Look for a pattern in the digits, not the numbers themselves..."
6,457. The last digit is moved to the front to make the next number.
If three cats catch three mice in three minutes, how many cats would be needed to catch 100 mice in 100 minutes?
Think about the rate at which the cats catch mice, rather than the absolute number of mice or minutes.
The same three cats would do. Since these three cats are averaging one mouse per minute, given 100 minutes, the cats could catch 100 mice.
What arithmetic symbol can be put between 2 and 3 so that the resulting number is greater than 2 but less than 3?
Think about a symbol that doesn't change the numerical value, but rather the way the numbers are interpreted...
A decimal point. 2.3 is greater than 2 and less than 3.
Why is the obtuse angle always cranky?
Think about the angle's "perspective" in life...
Because it is never right!
What number do you get when you multiply all the numbers on a telephone's number pad?
Think about the numbers that are NOT on a standard telephone's number pad...
0, anything multiplied by 0 will equal zero.
A man is walking down a road with a basket of eggs. As he is walking he meets someone who buys one-half of his eggs plus one-half of an egg. He walks a little further and meets another person who buys one-half of his eggs plus one-half of an egg. After proceeding further he meets another person who buys one-half of his eggs plus one half an egg. At this point he has sold all of his eggs, and he never broke an egg. How many eggs did the man have to start with?
Think about the pattern of egg sales: each time, the man sells half of his remaining eggs, plus a fraction of an egg...
7 eggs. The first person bought one half of his eggs plus one half an egg (3 1/2 + 1/2 = 4 eggs) This left him 3 eggs. The second person bought one-half of his eggs plus one half an egg, (1 1/2 + 1/2 = 2 eggs) leaving the man 1 egg. The last person bought one-half of his eggs plus one-half an egg, (1/2 + 1/2 = 1 egg) leaving no eggs.
What number do you get when you multiply all of the numbers on a telephone's number pad?
Think about the numbers on a standard telephone keypad... and consider the concept of "multiplication by zero".
Zero. Anything multiplied by zero will equal zero.
A new medical building containing 100 offices had just been completed. Mark was hired to paint the numbers 1 to 100 on the doors. How many times will Mark have to paint the number nine?
Think about the numbers that contain the digit 9...
The answer is 20! 9, 19, 29, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99.
What table has not a leg to stand on?
Think about a type of "table" that you might find in a book or a document...
The multiplication table or periodic table of elements.
I am a number but I am countless, I am compared with other things but nothing compares to me. What am I?
Think about a concept that is often quantified, yet its true value is impossible to measure, and it's often used as a benchmark for other things, but it's truly one-of-a-kind...
Infinity.........
If seven people meet each other and each shakes hands only once with each of the others, how many handshakes will there have been?
Think about pairs of people, not individual handshakes!
Twenty one. Most people would think there were 42 handshakes. The first person shakes the hand of 6 others, the second person shakes the hand of 5 remaining people, the third person shakes the hand of 4 remaining people, the fourth person shakes the hand of 3 remaining people, the 5th person shakes the hand of 2 remaining people and the sixth person shakes the hand of 1 remaining person. 6+5+4+3+2+1=21
If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field?
Think about the word "combined"... it's not just about adding numbers together!
One. He Combined them into one.
James ordered a fishing rod, priced at $3.56. Unfortunately, James is an Eskimo who lives in a very remote part of Greenland and the import rules there forbid any package longer than 4 feet to be imported. The fishing rod was 4 feet and 1 inch, just a little too long, so how can the fishing rod be mailed to James without breaking the rules? Ideally, James would like the fishing rod to arrive in one piece!
Think outside the box (or package)! Consider the orientation of the fishing rod during shipping...
Insert the fishing rod into a box which measures 4 feet on all sides, the fishing rod will fit within the diagonal of the box with room to spare.
Does a ton of feathers or a ton of bricks weigh more?
Think about the word "ton"... it's a unit of measurement, but it's also a word that means a large quantity of something. Does the question want you to compare the weight or the quantity?
They both weigh a ton.
Taking that internship in a remote mountain lab might not have been the best idea. Pulling that lever with the skull symbol just to see what it did probably wasn't so smart either. But now is not the time for regrets because you need to get away from these mutant zombies...fast. Can you use math to get you and your friends over the bridge before the zombies arrive? Alex Gendler shows how.
Think about the concept of "rate" and how it can be used to solve a problem involving time, distance, and speed.
At first it might seem like no matter what you do, you're just a minute or two short of time, but there is a way. The key is to minimize the time wasted by the two slowest people by having them cross together. And because you'll need to make a couple of return trips with the lantern, you'll want to have the fastest people available to do so. So, you and the lab assistant quickly run across with the lantern, though you have to slow down a bit to match her pace. After two minutes, both of you are across, and you, as the quickest, run back with the lantern. Only three minutes have passed. So far, so good. Now comes the hard part. The professor and the janitor take the lantern and cross together. This takes them ten minutes since the janitor has to slow down for the old professor who keeps muttering that he probably shouldn't have given the zombies night vision. By the time they're across, there are only four minutes left, and you're still stuck on the wrong side of the bridge. But remember, the lab assistant has been waiting on the other side, and she's the second fastest of the group. So she grabs the lantern from the professor and runs back across to you. Now with only two minutes left, the two of you make the final crossing. As you step on the far side of the gorge, you cut the ropes and collapse the bridge behind you, just in the nick of time.
What are three ways you can add 4 odd numbers and get ten?
Think outside the box... or in this case, think about the numbers themselves.
1+1+3+5=10 1+1+1+7=10 1+3+3+3=10
I am a two-digit number. All my digits are even. No two digits are the same. None of my digits are prime numbers. I am not a multiple of ten. My tens digit is bigger than my other numbers. If you followed all the previous steps, there should be three options remaining the number is the option where if you add all the digits it's exactly in the middle (in how big the number is) of all the other options with their digits added together. What number am I?
Hint: Focus on the last sentence of the riddle, which mentions the sum of the digits being in the middle of the other options. Think about how you can use this information to narrow down the possibilities and find the correct answer.
If you followed all the steps apart from the last one there will be three options remaining: 64, 84, and 86. You then had to add up the digits, 64=6+4=10, 84=8+4=12, and 86=8+6=14. Finally, you then had to take up the middle biggest number (12) and put it back as it was before the digits were added together and your answer should be 84.
How can you cut a cheese round into 8 pieces with only three cuts?
Think vertically!
First you cut the cylinder lengthwise. With the two pieces stacked end to end, you cut the cheese into quarters with two cuts. The result is three cuts and 8 pieces of cheese. See the image below for three cuts needed to divide a cheese round into eight pieces.
Adored by few, Feared and hated by many. Mistress of the entire universal reason, Master in the art of numbers. Some may have solved many of your mysteries, But there still much of them to find. What are they?
"Think about a field of study that's not always popular, but is essential to understanding the world around us..."
Mathematics.
I am a three-digit number. All of my digits are prime. One of the numbers is even. Each of my numbers are used only once. The total of my first and last digits equals 10. The total of my first two digits equals 5.
Think about the properties of prime numbers... Which prime number is even?
This one is fairly easy if you use elimination if you follow all the first 5 steps you get three options: 525, 327, and 723 but if you followed the last step you would reach your answer. The answer was 327.
A bottle costs a dollar more than a cork. Together they cost 110 cents. How much does the bottle cost and how much does the cork cost?
Think about it this way: if the bottle costs a dollar more than the cork, and together they cost less than a dollar...
The right answer is that the bottle costs 105 cents, and the cork costs 5 cents.
If someone says to you, "I'll bet you $1 that if you give me $2, I will give you $3 in return", would this be a good bet for you to accept?
Think about the transaction, not the bet.
No. This is a situation where you lose even if you win. Assuming the other person is being wise, they would take your $2 and say, "I lose", and give you $1 in return. You win the bet, but you're out $1.
A professional fisherman caught 30 fish during a 5-day tournament. Each day, he caught three more fish than the day before. How many fish did the fisherman catch on the first day?
Think about a pattern of increasing numbers, where each number is 3 more than the previous one. Can you find the first number in that pattern that adds up to 30 when summed over 5 days?
He didn't catch any fish the first day, but he caught 3 on the second day, 6 on the third day, 9 on the fourth day and 12 on the fifth day.
The distance from the Earth to the Sun is about 100 million miles. The speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, and light takes eight minutes to reach the Earth from the Sun. Let's say the Sun rose at 6am this morning, and that by some freak of physics the speed of light is suddenly doubled to 372,000 miles a second. What time will the Sun rise tomorrow?
Think about what the speed of light has to do with the Sun rising...
6am again. After all, what diffrence does the speed of light make to the answer? It's irrelevant- only the speed of the roation of the Earth matters here.
What symbol can be put between 2 and 3 to make the result greater than 2 but less than 3?
Think about a symbol that can "divide" the numbers, rather than a mathematical operation...
A decimal point
What two whole, positive numbers have the same answer when multiplied together as when one is divided by the other?
Think about a simple fraction where the numerator and denominator are both whole, positive numbers...
Any number and 1.
What weighs more: 100 pounds of feathers or 1500 ounces of bricks?
Think about the unit of measurement...
100 pounds of feathers weigh more than 1500 ounces of bricks because 100 pounds is equal to 1600 ounces, which is greater than 1500 ounces.
In a pond, there are some flowers with some bees hovering over them. If both the following statements are true: 1. If each bee lands on a flower, one bee doesn't get a flower. 2. If two bees share each flower, there is one flower left out. How many flowers and bees are there?
Think about the concept of "odd" and "even" numbers in relation to the bees and flowers...
4 bees and 3 flowers.
Emily wants to become a professional chef, but the cooking school she wants to apply to only accepts applicants over 17. Here's what you know about Emily's siblings' ages: 1) Emily's brother Patrick's age is two times that of Emily, and; 2) Emily's sister Nicole's age is one-half of that of Patrick. Nicole turned 17 this year. Using this information, can Emily apply to the cooking school this year?
Think about the age chain: Nicole → Patrick → Emily. If Nicole is 17, what can you say about Patrick's age, and then about Emily's age?
No, she cannot. If Nicole is 17, and her age is one-half of that of Patrick, then Patrick must be two times Nicole's age. Therefore, Patrick is 34. If Patrick is 34, and his age is two times that of Emily, then Emily must be one-half of Patrick's age. Therefore, Emily is 17. Emily and Nicole are of the same age because they are twins. However, the cooking school only accepts applicants "over 17", not "17 and over". Therefore, Emily cannot apply to the cooking school this year.
Two friends-Nora and Ashley-were going home after doing their weekly grocery shopping. Ashley began to complain about how heavy her bags were, and Nora responded, "If you gave me one of your bags, I'd have double the number of bags you have! And if I gave you one of mine, we'd have the same number of bags!". How many bags does each friend have?
Think about the number of bags Nora has in terms of Ashley's bags, and pay attention to the phrase "double the number of bags you have"...
Nora has seven bags, while Ashley has just five bags.
What is half of two plus two?
Think about the order of operations...
The ambiguity of this riddle means that the answer could be either two or three. But the real answer is three because you have to follow the order of operations (half of two is one, and one plus two is three).
How many days are there in 4 years?
Think beyond just counting days in a year... consider the extra days that come every 4 years.
1461, because one of the years is a leap year. 365 x 4= 1460 + 1= 1461
Ms. Dell is a math teacher at a high school. She always gives her students summer homework. One year, her students are SO tired of summer homework, and they want her to stop giving it to them. Ms. Dell promises a riddle to the students; whoever gets it right will not get summer homework. The riddle went like this: Add me to myself, and multiply me by four. Divide me by eight, and you will have me once more. What number am I? All of her students gave different answers, but nobody received any summer homework. How is that possible?
Think about the answer being a word, not a number.
All numbers work with Ms. Dell's riddle! ((x + x) * 4) / 8 will always equal x.
Which number would be bigger: the product of all of the numbers on your calculator, or the SUM of those numbers?
Think about the number 0...
The sum would be bigger because multiplying any number by zero always results in zero. Yes, you have to include zero; it is also a number on your calculator.
A + A + A = 18 A + B + B = 10 B + CC + CC = 14 A + B x C = ? What is the value of each letter, and what number should replace the question mark?
Pay attention to the alphabetical order of the letters and think about a common sequence where each letter corresponds to a number...
A = 6, B = 2, C = 3, and the number that should replace the question mark is 12.
I have a certain number of candies, X. If I divide them into groups of three, then two candies will be left. If I divide them into groups of five, then three candies will be left. And if I divide them into groups of seven, then two candies will be left. How many candies do I have?
Think about the remainders as a pattern: 2, 3, 2... Does this pattern remind you of a specific type of number?
I have 23 candies.
Four friends-Chloe, Evelyn, Francesca, and Grace-went out for lunch. Someone asked them about their ages, and this is what they said: "Evelyn is three times older than Francesca. But three years ago, Francesca was a year younger than Chloe is now. And Grace is two times older than Francesca,". Can you rank the girls in order of their ages?
Think about the relationships between the girls' ages in terms of simple equations, and try to find a common link between them. Focus on Francesca's age, as it seems to be the central piece of the puzzle.
From oldest to youngest, the order is as follows: Evelyn, Grace, Francesca, and Chloe. Evelyn is three times older than Francesca, and Grace is two times older than Francesca. Evelyn is older than Grace because multiplying a number by three will result in a greater number than multiplying the number by two. Both of them are older than Francesca, but if it was three years ago that Francesca was a year younger than Chloe is now, then Francesca is two years older than Chloe. Therefore, Evelyn is the oldest, followed by Grace, then Francesca, and then Chloe.
The only thing you can use for this riddle is your brain! Add 1,000 to 40. Now, add 1,000. Then, add 30. Add 1,000 again. Now, add 20. Add 1,000 once more. Now, add 10. What is your answer?
Think about the pattern of additions and how the numbers being added are related to each other...
Is it 5,000? Sorry, but that's wrong! The right answer is 4,100. Four 1,000s do add up to 4,000…but 40 + 30 + 20 + 10 is 100, not 1,000. And 4,000 + 100 is not 5,000; it's 4,100; therefore, the correct answer is 4,100.
Nicholas loves to collect pairs of shoes. All of his pairs of shoes are blue, except for three; all of them are white, except for three; all of them are brown, except for three; finally, all of them are beige, except for three. How many pairs of shoes does Nicholas have?
Think about what it means for all of Nicholas' shoes to be a certain color, except for three... Does it mean he has exactly three shoes of a different color, or could it be more?
Nicholas has four pairs of shoes. Let's say that x is the number of pairs of shoes Nicholas has. x - 3 should be the term we need to use because the phrase "(color) except for three" means that three pairs of shoes in his collection are NOT of that color. And we should use this term four times because four colors are mentioned in the riddle. 4(x - 3) should be equal to x because once again, x represents the number of pairs of shoes. Here is the algebra: 4 (x - 3) = x 4x - 12 = x -12 = -3x 4 = x Therefore, there are four pairs of shoes in Nicholas' collection: one blue, one white, one brown, and one beige.
A triangle has sides of 13, 18 and 31 inches. What is the triangle's area?
Think Pythagoras!
Zero. The two shorter sides of a triangle, when added together (13+18=31), must be greater than the third or longest side (31) for it to be a triangle by definition. Therefore, the result would be two parallel lines with an area of 0.
Place three piles of matches on a table, one with 11 matches, the second with 7, and the third with 6. You are to move matches so that each pile holds 8 matches. You may add to any pile only as many matches as it already contains. All the matches must come from one other pile. For example, if a pile holds 6 matches, you may add 6 to it, no more or less. You have three moves. How can you do it?
Think about the "balance" of matches between the piles...
First pile to second; second to third; third to first: Pile Initial number First move Second move Third move First 11 11-7=4 4 4+4=8 Second 7 7+7=14 14-6=8 8 Third 6 6 6+6=12 12-4=8
The head of a whale is six feet long; his tail is as long as his head and half his body, and his body is half of his whole length. How long is the whale?
"Think of the whale's body as a fraction of its whole length, and use that to help you find the length of the head, tail, and ultimately, the entire whale."
Forty-eight feet.
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.
King Tut died 120 years after King Eros was born. Their combined age when they died was 100 years. King Eros died in the year 40 B.C. In what year was King Tut born?
Think about working backwards in time...
King Tut was born in 20 B.C. There were 120 years between the birth of King Eros and the death of King Tut, but since their ages amounted to only 100 years, there must have been 20 years when neither existed. This would be a period between the death of King Eros, 40 B.C., and the birth of King Tut, 20 B.C.
At a children's party, 10 kids had juice, 8 kids had cake, and 6 kids had juice and cake. How many kids were there at the party?
Think about overlapping sets!
Tweleve kids. Six kids had juice and cake, leaving two out of the cake eaters that didn't have juice. As there were ten juicers, there must be twelve kids in total.
What is the smallest whole number that is equal to seven times the sum of its digits?
Think about the maximum number of digits a number can have to still be a plausible solution...
The answer to this math riddle is 21. You probably just guessed to answer this math riddle, which is fine, but you can also work it out algebraically. The two-digit number ab stands for 10a + b since the first digit represents 10s and the second represents units. If 10a + b = 7(a + b), then 10a + b = 7a + 7b, and so 3a = 6b, or, more simply, a = 2b. That is, the second digit must be twice the first. The smallest such number is 21.
Robert and David played several golf matches against each other in a week. They played for a pizza at each match, but no pizzas were purchased until the end of the week. If at any time Robert and David had the same number of wins, those pizzas were canceled. Robert won four matches (but no pizzas), and David won three pizzas. How many rounds of golf were played?
Think about the sequence of wins and how the "cancellation" rule affects the outcome. Consider when Robert's wins are "wasted" and how David can still win pizzas despite Robert's wins.
Eleven, David won 7 matches, 4 to cancel out Robert's 4 wins, and 3 more to win the pizzas.
There are two numbers whose product added to the sum of their squares is 109, and the difference of whose squares is 24. What are the two numbers?
Think algebraically, and consider the two numbers as x and y. You'll need to form two equations based on the given conditions, and then solve for x and y. Focus on the difference of whose squares being 24, as this might help you find a crucial relationship between x and y.
5 and 7. (5)² = 25(7)² = 49(5x7)+25+49=10949-25=24
Can you combine plus signs and five 2's to get 28? Can you combine plus signs and eight 8's to get 1,000?
Think creatively about the different ways you can use the plus signs to group the numbers, and consider the mathematical operations you can perform beyond just simple addition.
22+2+2+2=28; 888+88+8+8+8=1,000
There is a certain club which is for men only. There are 600 men who belong to this club and 5% of these men wear one earring. Of the other 95% membership, half wear two earrings and the other half wear none. How many earrings are being worn in this club?
Focus on the 5% who wear one earring, and think about how the remaining 95% can be divided into two equal groups...
Six hundred. We know that 5%, or 30 of the men are wearing one earring. Of the other 95%, or 570, we know that half are wearing two earrings and the other half none. This is the same as if they all wore one.
Two schoolgirls were traveling from the city to a dacha (summer cottage) on an electric train. "I notice," one of the girls said "that the dacha trains coming in the opposite direction pass us every 5 minutes. What do you think-how many dacha trains arrive in the city in an hour, given equal speeds in both directions?" "Twelve, of course," the other girl answered, "because 60 divided by 5 equals 12." The first girl did not agree. What do you think?
Think about the question from the perspective of the dacha trains, not the girls on the train...
If the girls had been on a standing train, the first girl's calculations would have been correct, but their train was moving. It took 5 minutes to meet a second train, but then it took the second train 5 more minutes to reach where the girls met the first train. So the time between trains is 10 minutes, not 5, and only 6 trains per hour arrive in the city.
Eight years ago, Bill was eight times the age of his son Bill Jr. Today, if you add their ages together, they add up to 52. How old are Bill and his son?
Think about the relationship between Bill's age and his son's age 8 years ago, and how that relationship has changed over time...
Bill is 40, and Bill Jr. is 12.
Janie's friends were chipping in to buy her a wedding shower present. At first, 10 friends chipped in, but 2 of them dropped out. Each of the 8 had to chip in another dollar to bring the amount back up. How much money did they plan to collect?
Think about it this way: If 8 people had to chip in an extra dollar each to reach the original amount, how much would 10 people have had to chip in if they hadn't dropped out?
$40 (10 at $4, or 8 at $5).
A nonstop train leaves Moscow for Leningrad at 60 mph. Another nonstop train leaves Leningrad for Moscow at 40 mph. How far apart are the trains 1 hour before they pass each other?
Think about the relative speed of the two trains!
100 miles (60+40)
Three matches are sitting on a table. Without adding another make for three matches four. You are not allowed to break any of the matches. How can this be done?
Think Roman numerals...
Shape the 3 matches into a roman numeral four.
Place three matches on a table. Tell a friend to add two more matches to make eight. How can this be done?
Think about the Roman numeral system...
Add two matches to make a roman numeral eight.
One-fourth of the population of a newly discovered planet has 4 legs while the rest have two legs. There are 60 legs in total. What is the population of the newly discovered planet?
Think about the total number of legs: if one-fourth of the population has 4 legs, that means the rest (three-fourths) have 2 legs. Can you set up an equation using "L" for the total population and "4L/4" for the number of 4-legged creatures?
4 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10 legs and 4 inhabitants. Repeat this six times to use up all 60 legs and you end up with 24 total inhabitants.
A man ordered a length of rope by telephone from his nearest hardware shop. But when he went to collect the rope, he found that the assistant had miswritten the order by interchanging feet and inches. As a result of this, the rope was only 30 percent of the length that the man wanted. What length did he want and what length did he get?
Think about the relationship between feet and inches, and how swapping them would affect the length...
The man ordered 9 feet 2 inches of rope, and got 2 feet 9 inches.
Three point one four, one five nine two six five, three five eight nine... What am I?
Think about a famous mathematical constant that is often memorized to many decimal places...
Pi - π.
A boy has as many sisters as brothers, but each sister has only half as many sisters as brothers. How many brothers and sisters are there in the family?
Think about the symmetry of the statement...
Four brothers and three sisters.
What is significant about 3661 seconds past midnight on 1st January 2001?
Think about the way we represent time and dates in digital format...
The time and date will be 01:01:01 on 01/01/01.
If two's company and three's a crowd, what are four and five?
Think about a common phrase or idiom that involves numbers...
Four and five is nine.
I am a place, in a state. I am an answer to a math problem. The math problem is: To get a cube, you multiply something by 6. What do you multiply by?
Think about a word that can be a location, and also a numerical value that, when multiplied by 6, gives you a cube...
You Times Square!
How can you measure nine minutes with have two hourglasses, one four minute and one seven minute?
Think about how you can use the two hourglasses in a sequence, rather than simultaneously, to measure out the desired time...
Turn over both hourglasses at once. When the four-minute hourglass runs out, turn it over. When the seven-minute hourglass runs out, turn it over. When the four-minute timer runs out this time (eight minutes have elapsed), the seven-minute hourglass has been running for one minute. Now turn over the seven minute timer back over. When the timer runs out, nine minutes have elapsed.
Tara has $29.00 dollars. She bought 4 coloring books that cost $3.00 each, 4 boxes of Crayola crayons that cost $2.00 each. She spends the rest of her money on markers. How much money did she spend on markers?
Think about how much money Tara had left after buying the coloring books and crayons...
She spent $9.00 on markers.
A 300 ft. train is traveling 300 ft. per minute must travel through a 300 ft. long tunnel. How long will it take the train to travel through the tunnel?
Think about the total distance the train needs to cover, not just the length of the tunnel...
Two minutes. It takes the front of the train one minute and the rest of the train will take two minutes to clear the tunnel.
Tom volunteered to be the chief organizer for the world's tether ball championships. There were 657 contestants from around the world. The tournament was set up whereby the winner would advance and the loser would be eliminated. Since there was an odd number of participants, the initial pairing leaves one player out. That player gets a bye and automatically advances to the next round. How many matches will Tom have to schedule to determine the tether ball champion?
Think about how many matches are needed to eliminate half of the contestants, and then how many matches are needed to eliminate half of the remaining contestants, and so on...
656 matches will be needed.
A frog fell into a 12-foot-deep well. He could jump 3 feet, but every time he jumped 3 feet, he fell back 2 feet. How many times did he have to jump to get out of the well?
Think about the pattern of the frog's progress: up 3, down 2, up 3, down 2... Focus on the net progress the frog makes with each jump.
10. On the tenth jump he cleared the edge of the well and thus did not fall back two feet.
You have 14 brown socks, 14 blue socks and 14 black socks in your sock drawer. How many socks must you remove (without looking to be sure) to have a matched pair?
Think about the worst-case scenario: what if you keep pulling out socks of different colors? How many socks would you need to pull out to guarantee that the next one matches one you already have?
Four. You will have a pair of one color or another.
There is a creature which could double its size every day. So, if the creature is put in a tank then it will fill the tank in 10 days. How many days would it take for the creature to fill 1/2 and 1/4 of the tank?
Think about it backwards... If the creature fills the entire tank in 10 days, what would happen on the 9th day?
9 days to fill 1/2 and 8 days to fill 1/4 of the tank. If the creature fills the tank in 10 days and it doubles every day, on the ninth day it would fill 1/2 the tank. Thus on the 8th day it will fill 1/4 of tank.
David is throwing Robert a surprise birthday party but he has to stay within his budget. He spent half of his money plus $2.00 on the cake. Half of what he had left plus $2.00 was spent on balloons and streamers. Then he spent half of what he had left plus $1.00 on candy. Now he is out of money, how much did he start with?
Think backwards! Start with the last transaction and work your way up to find the initial amount.
This one is best solved working backwards, the last part David spent half of what was left plus $1.00 on candy and then was out of money. That means he must have spent $2.00 on Candy as $1.00 was half of what he had using the same logic backwards: $2.00 on candy $6.00 on Balloons and Streamers $12.00 on the cake Total of $20.00.
A certain number has three digits. The sum of the three digits equals 36 times this number. Seven times the left digit plus 9 is equal to 5 times the sum of the two other digits. 8 times the second digit minus 9 is equal to the sum of the first and third. What is the number?
Think about the relationships between the digits, and how the multiplication and addition operations can help you isolate and solve for each digit individually. Pay close attention to the left digit, as it plays a crucial role in unlocking the solution.
This one is fairly easy - 324 is the answer.
Why are 1999 ten pound notes worth more than 1993 ten pound notes?
Think about the faces that appear on the notes...
Because there are more of them!
Two hours ago it was as long after one o'clock in the afternoon as it was before one o'clock in the morning. What time is it now?
Think about the symmetry of time around 1 o'clock...
It would be 9:00 pm. There are 12 hours between 1:00 pm and 1:00 am and half of that is six hours. Half-way between would be 7 o'clock. Two hours later it would be 9:00 o'clock.
Farmer Brown came to town with some watermelons. He sold half of them plus half a melon, and found that he had one whole melon left. How many melons did he take to town?
Think about the concept of "half a melon" and how it relates to the number of melons the farmer had initially...
Three melons!
If place 1 cake of soap on a pan of a scale and 3/4 cake of soap and a 3/4-pound weight on the other, the pans balance. How much does a cake of soap weigh?
Think about what "balances" means in this context...
Since 1/4 cake weighs 3/4 pound, and entire cake weighs 3 pounds.
You and your friend are trapped in a space prison on an alien planet. The alien warden decides to give you and your friend a chance at freedom. He states that your friend shall be allowed to temporarily leave your cell and try to escape through an electric gate guarded by a 3-number passcode. If your friend answers incorrectly or says anything but the final answer, your friend will be thrown back in the prison. A computer will then tell your friend 4 clues if requested. If this passcode is properly answered, you and your friend shall be freed. You are then blindfolded and your friend leaves. You hear your friend walk down one of the numbered hallways to the gate. Your friend asks for the first clue. A voice answers, "The numbers are in ascending order so that the number is greater than or equal to the number before it." Your friend asks for the second clue. The voice says, "The product of the 3 numbers is 36." Your friend asks for the third clue. The voice says, "The sum of the numbers is the number of the hallway you entered." Your friend pauses for a moment and thinks. Your friend then asks for the fourth and final clue. The voice says, "The largest number only appears once in the code." You hear a beep. You hear your cell door swing open. You are free! What was the code?
Here's a hint: Think about the hallway your friend walked down... what could the sum of the numbers possibly be?
2,2,9
What is the 4 digit number in which the first digit is one-fifth of the last, and the second and third digits are the last digit multiplied by 3?
Think about a number where the last digit is a multiple of 5...
1155.
A hundred stones are placed, in a straight line, a yard distant from each other. How many yards must a person walk, who undertakes to pick them up, and place them in a basket stationed one yard from the first stone?
Think about the journey, not the destination. Focus on the total distance traveled, not the number of trips made.
In solving this question it is clear that to pick up the first stone and put it into the basket, the person must walk two yards, one in going for the stone and another in returning with it; that for the second stone he must walk four yards, and so on increasing by two as far as the hundredth, when he must walk two hundred yards, so that the sum total will be the product of 202 multiplied by 50, or 10,100 yards. If any one does not see why we multiply 202 by 50 in getting the answer, we refer him to his arithmetic.
A half is a third of it. What is it?
Think about a word that refers to a unit of time...
1 1/2.
A woman went into a bank to cash an insurance refund check. By mistake the teller gave her dollars for cents and cents for dollars. She put the money in her purse but accidentally dropped a nickel on the floor. When she got home, she found that she had exactly twice the amount of the check she had cashed. She didn't have any money in her wallet before going to the bank. What was the exact amount of that check?
Think about the mistake the teller made: dollars for cents and cents for dollars. This means the woman received 100 times more cents than she should have, and 1/100th of the dollars she should have. Now, consider how the dropped nickel affects the final amount...
The amount must have been $31.63. She received $63.31. After she dropped a nickel there would remain the sum of $63.26, which is twice the amount of the check.
How many pluses should we put between the digits of 987,654,321 to get a total of 99, and where?
Think about the largest possible sum you can get by adding two numbers together...
(6) 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 43 + 21= 99 (7) 9 + 8 + 7 + 65 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1= 99
When completed in 1889 the Eiffel Tower was something of a sensation. Designed by the French engineer Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel its height is 492 feet plus half its own height. How high is the Eiffel tower?
Think algebraically...
984 feet.
Walking home one day, you take a short cut along the train tracks. The tracks cross a narrow bridge over a deep gorge. At the point you are 3/8 of the way across the bridge, you hear the train whistle somewhere behind you. You charge across the bridge, and jump off the track as the train is about to run you down. As it happens, if you had gone the other way, you would have reached safety just before being run over as well. If you can run ten miles per hour, how fast is the train moving?
Pay attention to the fact that you would have reached safety in both directions, and think about what that means about the relative speeds of you and the train.
The train is moving at 40 miles per hour. Imagine that a friend is walking with you. When the train whistle blows, you head away from the train, he heads toward it. When he reaches safety, you will be 6/8 (or 3/4)of the way across the bridge, and the train will have just reached the bridge. For the train to cross 4/4 of the bridge in the time you cross the remaining 1/4, the train must be moving four times your speed.
Joe has ten coins totaling $1.19. From these coins, he cannot make exact change for a dollar, half-dollar, quarter, dime, or nickel. What are the coins?
Think about the smallest denomination of coins that Joe could have to make it impossible to create exact change for a nickel (5 cents)...
A half-dollar, a quarter, four dimes, and four pennies.
Twelve flags stand equidistant along the track at the stadium. The runners start at the first flag. A runner reaches the eighth flag 8 seconds after he starts. If he runs at an even speed, how many seconds does he need altogether to reach the twelfth flag?
Think about the distance covered by the runner in 8 seconds and how it relates to the total distance to the 12th flag...
Not 12 seconds. There are 7 segments from the first flag tot the eighth, and 11 from the first to the twelfth. He runs each segment in 8/7 seconds; therefore, 11 segments take 88/7= 12 4/7 seconds.
If 10 bags of jelly beans and 6 licorice sticks cost $1, and 10 licorice sticks and 6 jelly bean bags cost 92 cents. How much does one licorice stick cost?
Think about the ratio of jelly beans to licorice sticks in each scenario, and how that ratio relates to the cost.
5 cents while Jelly bean bags cost 7 cents.
Given two 2s, "plus" can be changed to "times" without changing the results: 2 + 2= 2 x 2. The solution with three numbers is easy too: 1 + 2 + 3= 1 x 2 x 3. What is the answer for 4 numbers and for 5 numbers?
Think about rearranging numbers to create a mathematical balance...
Solution for 4 numbers: 1 + 1 + 2 + 4= 1 x 1 x 2 x 4. Solution for 5 numbers: 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 5= 1 x 1 x 1 x 2 x 4 1 + 1 + 1 + 3 + 3= 1 x 1 x 1 x 2 x 4 1 + 1 +2 + 2 + 2= 1 x 1 x 2 x 2 x 2
My only timepiece is a wall clock. One day I forgot to wind it and it stopped. I went to visit a friend whos watch is always correct, stayed awhile, and then went home. There I made a simple calculation and set the clock right. How did I do this even though I had no watch on me to tell how long it took me to return from my friend's house?
Think about what you can observe at your friend's house, besides their correct watch...
Before I left, I wound the wall clock. When I returned, the change in time equaled how long it took to go to my friends house and return, plus the time I spent there. But I knew the latter because I looked at my friends watch when I arrived and left. Subtracting the time of the visit from the time I was absent from my house, and dividing by 2, I obtained the time it took me to return home. I added this time to what my friend watch showed when I left, and set the sum on my wall clock.
A girl is twice as old as her brother and half as old as her father. In 50 years, her brother will be half as old as his father. How old is the daughter now?
Think about the relationships between their ages now and in 50 years, and how the brother's age will catch up to the father's age...
50 years old.
If a stopper and a bottle cost $2.10 and the bottle costs $2.00 more than the stopper. Then what does the stopper cost?
Think about it like this: if the bottle costs $2.00 more than the stopper, that means the stopper's cost is being added to $2.00 to get the bottle's cost. Now, how can you set up an equation to represent this relationship?
Five Cents.
Lazy Larry agreed to work on a job for his brother-in-law for thirty hours at eight dollars an hour, on the condition that he would forfeit ten dollars per hour for every hour that he idled. At the end of the thirty hours Larry wasn't owed any money and didn't owe his brother-in-law any money either. How many hours did Larry work and how many hours did he idle?
Think about the "break-even" point: if Larry didn't work at all, how much would he owe his brother-in-law?
Lazy Larry worked 16-2/3 hours and idled 13-1/3 hours. 16-2/3 hours, at $8.00 an hour amounts to the same amount as 13-1/3 hours at $10.00 per hour.
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.
There are 4 borthers 3 of them want to buy a television which is 30 pounds. Each of them pay 10 pound each they give the money to the fourth brother and asked him to go into town and buy the television. When he got there the man said there was 5 pounds off so the fourth brother took the 5 pound and television and left. He decided to make some money out of this so he took 2 pounds and give the other 3 pounds to his brothers. So the 3 brothers only payed 9 pounds each. 3 times 9 is 27 were is the last pound?
Think about the fourth brother's actions and how they relate to the original amount of money...
Add 3 on to 25 = 28 then add 2
A house has 6 stories, each the same height. How many times as long is the ascent to the sixth floor as the ascent to the third?
Think about the relationship between the number of stories and the total height...
2 1/2 times (5/2, not 6/3).
Mr. Grumper grumbles about bad time-keeping trains like everybody else. On one particular morning he was justified, though. The train left on time for the one hour journey and it arrived 5 minutes late. However, Mr. Grumper's watch showed it to be 3 minutes early, so he adjusted his watch by putting it forward 3 minutes. His watch kept time during the day, and on the return journey in the evening the train started on time, according to his watch, and arrived on time, according to the station clock. If the train traveled 25 percent faster on the return journey than it did on the morning journey, was the station clock fast or slow, and by how much?
Hint: Focus on the difference between Mr. Grumper's watch and the station clock, and think about how the train's speed affects the perceived time.
The station clock is 3 minutes fast. The morning journey took 65 minutes, and the evening journey therefore took 52 minutes, and the train arrived 57 minutes after it should have left, that is, 3 minutes early.
A bird has a head 9cm long. The tail is equal to the size of the head plus a half of the size of the body. The body is the size of the head plus the tail. How long is the bird?
Think algebraically! Let the length of the head be H, the length of the tail be T, and the length of the body be B. You'll need to set up equations using the given information and then solve for H + T + B.
72cm. Th head is 9cm. The tail is 18 + 9= 27cm. The body is 9 + 18 + 9= 36cm. 9 + 27 + 36= 72cm.
A man had a bar of lead that weighed 40 lbs., and he divided it into four pieces in such a way as to allow him to weigh any number of pounds from one to forty. What are the weights of the four pieces?
Think about the binary number system and how it can be used to represent different weights...
1, 3, 9, 27, are the weights of the four pieces.
This number added to it's square, and the digits of that summation added together, bring it back to itself. What is it?
Think about a number that, when squared, produces a two-digit result, and the digits of that result have a special relationship...
3. 3 squared is 9. 3+9=12. Take the two digits of the summation and add them; 1+2=3. In short; 3-9-12-3. This can also work with the number 0 and 9.
If 6 doubloons are worth 1 1/2 ducats, how many ducats are 27 doubloons worth?
Think about setting up a proportion to relate the number of doubloons to the number of ducats...
6 3/4 ducats (27/6=4 1/2. 4 1/2 x 1 1/2= 6 3/4)
How can you insert the numbers 1-9 inclusive each only, into the calculation to arrive at the answer 100? ( - ) + + - - - = 100
Think about the different ways you can use the negative numbers to cancel each other out, and consider using multiplication to get closer to 100!
( 7 - 5 )² + 96 + 8 - 4 - 3 - 1 = 100
Two wine merchants arrive at the gates of Paris. One has 64 and the other 20 barrels of wine. Since they have not enough money to pay the custom duties, the first pays 40 francs and 5 barrels of wine. The second pays 2 barrels of wine but receives 40 francs in change. What is the value of each barrel of wine and what is the duty payable?
"Think about the total value of goods and duties paid by each merchant, and how they relate to each other..."
The value of a barrel is 120 francs and the duty is 10 francs a barrel.
It takes the town hall clock 6 seconds to strike 4 o'clock in the afternoon. How long does it take to strike midnight?
Think about the number of chimes, not the time of day...
22 Seconds.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith were walking home from the shopping mall with their purchases when Mr. Smith began to complain that his load was too heavy. Mrs. Smith turned to her husband and said, "I don't know what you're complaining about because if you gave me one of your parcels, I would have twice as many as you and if I gave you just one of mine, we would have equal loads." How many parcels was each carrying?
Think about the ratio of parcels between Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and how it changes when they exchange one parcel. The key is to find the smallest possible ratio that satisfies the conditions.
Mrs. Smith was carrying seven parcels and Mr. Smith was carrying five.
My age today is three times what it will be three years from now minus three times what my age was three years ago. How old am I?
Think about it like a math puzzle: Let your current age be "x". Then, three years from now, your age will be x+3, and three years ago, your age was x-3. Now, plug these values into the equation and see if you can solve for x!
Don't be too confused, the answer is 18 years old.
A man has nine children, born at regular intervals. The sum of their squares of their ages is equal to the square of his own age. What are the ages of the children?
Think algebraically and consider the pattern of consecutive integers...
2 - 5 - 8 - 11 - 14 - 17 - 20 - 23 - 26
Charlotte is 13 years old. Her father Montague is 40 years old. How many years ago was Charlotte's father four times as old as Charlotte?
Think about when Charlotte was a lot younger...
Four years ago. When Charlotte was 9 her father was 36, 4 times her age.
Jack had only $2, but he needed $3 for his cab fare home. He went to a pawn shop and pawned his $2 for $1.50. Jack then bumped into Don and told him that he would sell him his $2 pawn ticket for $1.50. Don agreed. Jack started out with $2 and he ended up with $3. Who is out the extra dollar and why?
Think about the pawn ticket's value and who ultimately loses out in this clever transaction.
Don is out the extra dollar. Before the pawn broker will return the $2 to the ticket holder, he will want the $1.50 which he advanced returned to him. Don will give the pawn broker the ticket and the $1.50, and the pawn broker will then return the $2.
'How much is this bag of potatoes?' asked the man. '32lb divided by half its own weight,' said the green grocer. How much did the potatoes weigh?
Think about what "half its own weight" really means...
8lbs.
When I asked her how old she was, she smiled and said cryptically: "The day before yesterday I was 22, but next year I'll be 25." What is her birthday and when was the date of our conversation?
Think about the significance of "the day before yesterday" and how it relates to the current year...
We conversed on January 1 and her birthday was on December 31. So, the day before yesterday on Dec. 30th she was 22 and he turned 23 on Dec. 31. So her next birthday, when she turns 24, would be Dec. 31 of the same year the question was asked. However, next years birthday would be the following year on Dec. 31, when she would be 25.
Edward is as old as Benjamin used to be when Edward was as old as Benjamin is now. Benjamin is 36. How old is Edward?
Think about the ages of Edward and Benjamin at different points in time...
Edward is 48.
Out of 100 ladies attending the gala,85 had a white hand bag;75 had black shoes;60 carried an umbrella;90 wore a ring; How many ladies must have had all four items?
Think about the opposite: how many ladies did NOT have all four items?
10 Divide by 3. All the ladies had three items. The remainder shows the number of ladies who had 4. 85756090______310 / 3 = 100 + 10 remainder
A man bumps into his mathematician friend on the street whom he hasn't seen in 5 years. The man asks the mathematician how old his children are. The mathematician, who always replies in riddles said, "I now have three children. The sum of their ages is equal to the number of windows on the building in front of you and the product of their ages equals 36." The friend then says "I need one more piece of information." The mathematician then replies "My youngest child has blue eyes." What are the ages of the mathematician's three children?
Pay close attention to the building in front of you...
They are 6, 6, and 1.
If you toss a die and it comes up with the number one 9 times in a row, what is the probability that it will come up with one on the next throw?
The past does not dictate the future...
One in six. A die has no memory of what it last showed.
A rubber ball is tossed off the top of a 90 foot building. Every time it bounces, it goes back up half way. How many bounces will the ball take before it stops?
Think about the ball's journey in terms of the total distance it travels, not just the height it reaches...
The answer is infinite, in a gravity free world. But of course gravity will eventually stop it.
'When Gwen is twice as old as Dean, Then I shall be just 17. But Gwendoline was 23 When Dean was twice as old as me.' Thats what Bill said. So tell us then, How old he was when Dean was ten?
"Focus on the relationships between their ages, not the exact ages themselves. Think about how the ages of Gwen, Dean, and Bill change relative to each other over time."
Eight.
What is the value of 1/2 of 2/3 of 3/4 of 4/5 of 5/6 of 6/7 of 7/8 of 8/9 of 9/10 of 1,000?
Think about the order of operations and how the fractions can be "canceled out"!
One hundred - work backwards and you will understand.
What single-digit number should go in the box with the question? 6 5 9 2 7 1 4 3 5 ? 8 0 2 8 1
Look for a pattern in the numbers, and think about how they relate to each other... it's not just about the numbers themselves, but about their positions!
The missing number is 4. Simply add the first and second rows together to get the third row value. 65, 927 + 14, 354 80, 281
How many times does the long hand of the clock pass the short hand between midnight one day and midnight the following day? As both hands are together at the starting time of midnight this does not count as a pass.
Think about the short hand's movement and how often it "gets caught" by the long hand...
21.
Find four numbers, the sum of which is 45, so that if 2 is added to the first number, 2 is subtracted from the second number, the third number is multiplied by 2 and the fourth number is divided by 2, then the four numbers so produced are all the same. What are the four numbers?
Think about how the operations (add 2, subtract 2, multiply by 2, divide by 2) affect the numbers, and how you can "balance" these effects to get the same result. Consider the relationships between the numbers, rather than their individual values.
8 + 2 = 10 12 - 2 = 10 5 x 2 = 10 20 ÷ 2 = 1045
A baseball and a bat combined cost $1.10. If the bat costs $1 more than the baseball, how much does the baseball cost?
Think about it like this: if the bat costs $1 more than the baseball, that means the bat's price is the baseball's price + $1. Now, add the baseball's price to the bat's price (which is the baseball's price + $1)...
If you said $0.10, you're wrong. The answer is $0.05 because the bat, costing $1 more than the baseball, will cost $1.05. $1.05+$0.05 is $1.10.
How can you give someone $63 using six bills, without using any one dollar bills?
Think about the largest denomination of bill that can be used to make up a significant portion of the $63...
1 - $50 bill, 1 - $5 bill , 4 - $2 bills
If seven cats kill seven rats in 7 minutes, how many would be needed to kill one hundred rats in 50 minutes?
Think about the rate at which the cats kill rats, rather than the number of cats or rats.
14.
A box of hardware contains nuts and bolts. The bolts account for 25 percent of the number of items in the box. What percentage are the bolts of the entire box?
Think about the phrase "percentage of the entire box"... it's not just about the number of bolts, but also about the space they occupy.
20 percent. For example, there are 10 bolts. Since the number of bolts is 25 percent of the number of items, there must be 40 nuts. The total number of items = 10 bolts + 40 nuts = 50. So, 10/50 = 1/5 = 20%.
Two cyclists began a training run, one starting from Moscow and the other starting from Simferopol. When the riders were 180 miles apart, a fly took an interest. Starting on one cyclists shoulder, the fly flew ahead to meet the other cyclist. After reaching him the fly then turned around and yet back. The restless fly continued to shuttleback and fourth until the pair met; then settled on the nose of one rider. The flys speed was 30 mph. Each cyclist speed was 15 mph. How many miles did the fly travel?
Here's a hint: Focus on the relative speed between the fly and the cyclists, rather than their individual speeds. Think about how the fly's shuttling back and forth affects the overall distance it travels.
The cyclists took 6 hours to meet. The fly traveled 6*30=180 miles.
Using only brackets, parentheses, and these signs +,-, X, /. How can you express 100 with 5 1's and express 100 three ways with five 5's?
Think outside the box... or should I say, inside the brackets!
111-11=100 (5 x 5 x 5)-(5 x 5)=100; (5+5+5+5)x 5=100;(5 x 5)(5-(5/5)=100.
(A) Use two digits to make the smallest possible positive integer. (B) Five 3s can express 37: 37=33+3+3/3 Find another way to do it. (C) Use six identical digits to make 100. (Several solutions are possible.) (D) Use five 4s to make 55. (E) Use four 9s to make 20.
(A) 1 X 1; 1/1;2/2;ect....;1-0;2-1;and many others. (B) 37=333/3X3; 37=3 X 3 X 3 + 3/.3 (C) 99 + 99/99; 55+55- 5- 5; (666-66)/6 (D) 44 + 44/4=55. (E) 9 + 99/9=20.
The title of the problem tells you how to approach these four questions. (A). A bus leaves Moscow for Tula at noon. An hour later a cyclist leaves Tula for mosco, moving slower than the bus. When the bus and cyclist meet, which one of the two will be farther from Moscow? (B). Which is worth more: a pound of $10 gold peices or half a pound of $20 gold pieces? (C). At six o'clock the wall clock struck 6 times. Checking with my watch, I noticed the time between the first and last strokes was 30 seconds. How long will the clock take to strike 12 at midnight? (D). Three swallows fly outward from a point. When will they all be on the same plane in space? Now check the answers. Did you fall into any of the traps which lurk in these simple problems?
"Read the title of the problem carefully... it's more than just a title."
(A). Neither (B). A pound of metal is always more than half a pound of the same metal. (C). Six strokes took 30 seconds, therefore 12 strokes will take 60 seconds. But when the clock struck six, there were only 5 intervals between strokes, and each interval was 30/5=6 seconds. Between the first and twelfth strokes there will be 11 intervals of 6 seconds each, therefore 12 strokes will take 66 seconds. (D). There is always a plane that contains any 3 points
Three pirates, One Eye, Long John, and Peg Leg, were gambling with pieces of gold. All the winnings were piled up on the table. One Eye said, 'I have won 1/2' and took a large handful or two. Long John said, 'I have won 1/3' and took a handful. Peg Leg said, ' I have won 1/6' and took a small handful. One Eye said, ' I have taken too much' and returned a half. Long John said, 'I have taken too much' and returned a third. Peg Leg said, 'I have taken too much and returned a sixth. The money on the table was then shared out equally and they had 42 pieces each. One Eye said, 'I have now 1/2 of the total originally.' Long John said, ' I now have 1/3 of the originally.' Peg Leg said, 'I have now 1/6 of the originally.' How much was on the table originally?
282 Pieces.
As I traveled up and down our great glorious country, I found myself in a place where the tempature goes up sharply in the day and down at night. This had an effect on my watch, I noticed it was 1/2 a minute faster at nightfall, but at dawn it had lost 1/3 minute, making it only 1/6 minute fast. One morning- May 1- my watch showed the right time. By what date was it 5 minutes faster?
In 24 hours the watch gained 1/2-1/3= 1/6 minute. It would seem it would be 5 minutes fast in 5 X 6= 30 days; that is,the morning of May 31. But already on the morning of May 28 the was 27/6= 4 1/2 minutes fast. At the close of the day the watch gained 1/2 minute more, so it was 5 minutes fast on may 28.
An alarm clock runs 4 minutes slow every hour. It was set right 3 1/2 hours ago. Now another clock which is correct shows noon. In how many minutes, to the nearest minutes, to the nearest minute, will the alarm clock show noon?
Hint: Think about how many hours have passed since the alarm clock was set right, and how many minutes it will be slow by that time...
In 3 1/2 hours the alarm clock has become 14 minutes slow. At noon the alarm clock will fall behind approximently an additional minute. Its hands will show noon in 15 minutes.
What number squared = 12345678987654321?
Think about a number that, when multiplied by itself, would result in a sequence of digits that is symmetrical around the middle...
111,111,111
A watchmaker was telephoned urgently to make a house call to replace the broken hands on a clock. He was sik so he sent his apprentice. The apprentice was thorough. When he finished inspecting the clock it was dark. Assuming his work was done, he attached the new hands and set the clock by his pocket watch. It was sic o'clock, so he set the big hand at the 12 and the little hand at the 6. The apprectice returned, but soon the telephone rang. He picked up to his angry client: "You didn't do the job right. The clock shows the wrong time." Surprised he hurried back. He found the clock showing not much past eight. He handed is watch to the client and showed her that her clock was not even one second late. The client had to agree. Early the nect morning, the client telephoned to say the clock has apparently gone berserk, hands were moving around the clock at will. The apprentice again rushed over, the clock showed a little past seven. After checking his watch he yelled: "You are making fun of me! Your clock shows the right time!" Have you figured out whats going on?
Here's a hint: Think about the type of clock the apprentice was fixing, and how it might be different from a typical clock.
As the problem says the apprentice mixed up the hands so that the minute hand was short and the hour hand was long. The first time the apprentice returned to the client was about 2 hours and 10 minutes after he had set the clock at six.The long had moved olny from twelve to a little past two. The little made two whole circles and an additional 10 minutes. Thus the clock showed the correct time. The next day around 7:o5 a.m.he came a second time,13 hours and 15 minutes after he had set the clock for six. The long had, acting as the hour hand,covered 13 hours to reach 1. The short hand made 13 full circles and 5 minutes, reaching 7, So the clock showed the correct time again.
Can you divide the watch face with 2 straight lines so that the sums of the sums of the numbers in each part are equal?
Think about the symmetry of the watch face and the numbers that are diagonally opposite each other...
The sum of the numbers on the watch face is 78. If the two lines cross, there must be 4 equal parts, but 78 is not divisible by 4. Then the lines do not cross, giving three parts with the sum of 26 each. Once you see the pairs on the face that add to 13(12+1,11+2, and so far) the answer will be easy to find.
A hunter met two shepherds, one of whom had three loaves and the other, five loaves. All the loaves were the same size. The three men agreed to share the eight loaves equally between them. After they had eaten, the hunter gave the shepherds eight bronze coins as payment for his meal. How should the two shepherds fairly divide this money?
Think about the value of each loaf in terms of bronze coins...
The shepherd who had three loaves should get one coin and the shepherd who had five loaves should get seven coins. If there were eight loaves and three men, each man ate two and two-thirds loaves. So the first shepherd gave the hunter one-third of a loaf and the second shepherd gave the hunter two and one-third loaves. The shepherd who gave one-third of a loaf should get one coin and the one who gave seven-thirds of a loaf should get seven coins.
You have accidently left out the plug and are attempting to fill the bath with both taps full on. The hot tap takes 6 minutes to fill the bath. The cold tap takes 2 minutes and the water empties through the plug hole in 4 minutes. In how many minutes will the bath be filled?
Think about the net effect of the hot and cold taps combined, and how that compares to the rate at which the water is draining out...
2 minutes and 24 seconds.
How many cats are in a small room if in each of the four corners a cat is sitting, and opposite each cat there sit three cats, and a each cat's tail another is sitting?
Think about the phrase "opposite each cat" very carefully...
Four cats, each near a tail of a cat in an adjacent corner.
A soccer fan, upset by the defeat of his favorite team, slept restlessly. In his dream a goalkeeper was practicing in a large unfurnished room, tossing a soccer ball against the wall and then catching it. But the goalkeeper grew smaller and smaller and then changed into a ping-pong ball while the soccer ball was swelled up into a huge cast-iron ball. The iron ball circled round madly, trying to crush the ping-pong ball, how did the ping-pong find safety whithout leaving the floor?
Think about the physics of a bouncing ball...
If the ping-pong ball rolls flush against the wall, the cast-iron ball cannot crush it. Those who know geometry can determine that if the diameter of a large ball is at least 5.83 (3+2(square root of 2) times as large as the diameter of a little ball, then the little ball will be safe if it hugs the wall. A cast-iron ball that is larger than a soccer ball is more than 4.83 times as large in diameter as a ping-pong ball.
When the celebrated German mathematician Karl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) was nine he was asked to add all the integers from 1 through 100. He quickly added 1 to 100, 2 to 99, and so on for 50 pairs of numbers each adding to 101. Answer: 50 X 101=5,050. What is the sum of all the digits in integers from 1 through 1,000,000,000? (That's all the digits in all the numbers, not all the numbers themselves.)
Hint: Think about the pattern of digits in each place value (ones, tens, hundreds, etc.) as you count up to 1,000,000,000. You might find it helpful to break it down into smaller ranges, like 1-100, 101-1000, and so on.
The numbers can be grouped by pairs: 999,999,999 and 0; 999,999,998 and 1' 999,999,997 and 2; and so on.... There are half a billion pairs, and the sum of the digits in each pair is 81. The digits in the unpaired number, 1,000,000,000, add to 1. Then: (500,000,000 X 81) + 1= 40,500,000,001.
A boy presses a side of a blue pencil to a side of a yellow pencil, holding both pencils vertically. One inch of the pressed side of the blue pencil, measuring from its lower end, is smeared with paint. The yellow pencil is held steady while the boy slides the blue pencil down 1 inch, continueing to press it against the yellow one. He returns the blue pencil to its former position, then again it slides down 1 inch. He continues until he has lowered the blue pencil 5 times and raised it 5 times- 10 moves in all. Supposed that during this time the paint neither dries nor diminishes in quantity. How many inches of each pencil will be sneared with paint after the tenth move?
Think about the pattern of paint transfer between the two pencils with each move...
At the start, 1inch of the yellow pencil gets smeared with wet paint. As the blue pencil is moved downward, a second inch of the blue pencils smears a second inch of the yellow pencil. Each pair of down and up movesof the blue pencil smears 1 more inch of each pencil. 5 pairs of moves will smear 5 inches. This together with the initial inch, makes 6 inches for each pencil.
0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 How can you use the digits above once each only to compose two fractions which when added together equal 1?
Think about placing the digits in a way that creates a "heavy" fraction and a "light" fraction, where the heavy one is close to 1 and the light one is close to 0...
35/70 + 148/296 = 1
A mother has three sick children. She has a 24-ounce bottle of medicine and needs to give each child eight ounces of the medicine. She is unable to get to the store and has only three clean containers, which measure 5, 11 and 13 ounces. The electricity is out and she has no way of heating water to wash the containers and doesn't want to spread germs. How can she divide the medicine to give each child an equal portion without having any two children drink from the same container?
Think about filling and emptying the containers in a specific sequence to achieve the desired outcome. Focus on the 11-ounce container and how it can be used to "split" the medicine in a way that allows each child to receive 8 ounces.
Fill the 5 oz. and 11 oz. Containers from the 24 oz. container. This leaves 8 oz. in the 24 oz. bottle. Next empty the 11 oz. bottle by pouring the contents into the 13 oz. bottle. Fill the 13 oz. bottle from the 5 oz. container (with 2 oz.) and put the remaining 3 oz. in the 11 oz. bottle. This leaves the 5 oz. container empty. Now pour 5 oz. from the 13 oz. bottle into the 5 oz. bottle leaving 8 oz. in the 13 oz. bottle. Finally pour the 5 oz. bottle contents into the 11 oz. bottle giving 8 oz. in this container.
You go to the doctor because you're ill and he prescribes you with 3 pills and tells you to take them every half hour. How long do the pills last you?
Think about the timing of when you take the pills, and how that affects the duration...
An hour because the first pill doesn't take 30 min. to take.
There are 100 light bulbs lined up in a row in a long room. Each bulb has its own switch and is currently switched off. The room has an entry door and an exit door. There are 100 people lined up outside the entry door. Each bulb is numbered consecutively from 1 to 100. So is each person. Person No. 1 enters the room, switches on every bulb, and exits. Person No. 2 enters and flips the switch on every second bulb (turning off bulbs 2, 4, 6, ...). Person No. 3 enters and flips the switch on every third bulb (changing the state on bulbs 3, 6, 9, ...). This continues until all 100 people have passed through the room. What is the final state of bulb No. 64? And how many of the light bulbs are illuminated after the 100th person has passed through the room?
Hint: Think about the factors of the bulb numbers and how they relate to the people's actions.
First think who will operate each bulb, obviously person #2 will do all the even numbers, and say person #10 will operate all the bulbs that end in a zero. So who would operate for example bulb 48: Persons numbered: 1 & 48, 2 & 24, 3 & 16, 4 & 12, 6 & 8 ........ That is all the factors (numbers by which 48 is divisible) will be in pairs. This means that for every person who switches a bulb on there will be someone to switch it off. This willl result in the bulb being back at it's original state. So why aren't all the bulbs off? Think of bulb 36:- The factors are: 1 & 36, 2 & 13, 6 & 6 Well in this case whilst all the factors are in pairs the number 6 is paired with it's self. Clearly the sixth person will only flick the bulb once and so the pairs don't cancel. This is true of all the square numbers. There are 10 square numbers between 1 and 100 (1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81 & 100) hence 10 bulbs remain on.
You are given a set of scales and 12 marbles. The scales are of the old balance variety. That is, a small dish hangs from each end of a rod that is balanced in the middle. The device enables you to conclude either that the contents of the dishes weigh the same or that the dish that falls lower has heavier contents than the other. The 12 marbles appear to be identical. In fact, 11 of them are identical, and one is of different weight. Your task is to identify the unusual marble and discard it. You are allowed to use the scales three times if you wish, but no more. Note that the unusual marble may be heavier or lighter than the others. How can you identify it and determine whether it is heavy or light?
Here's a hint: For your first weighing, try to create a situation where you're comparing a group of marbles against another group of the same size. Think about how you can use this weighing to divide the 12 marbles into three groups of 4, and what information you can gain from this weighing...
Number the marbles from 1 to 12. For the first weighing put marbles 1,2,3 and 4 on one side and marbles 5,6,7 and 8 on the other. The marbles will either they balance or not. If they balance, then the different marble is in group 9,10,11,12. Thus, we would put 1 and 2 on one side and 9 and 10 on the other. If these balance then the different marble is either 11 or 12. Weigh marble 1 against 11. If they balance, the different marble is number 12. If they do not balance, then 11 is the different marble. If 1 and 2 vs 9 and 10 do not balance, then the different marble is either 9 or 10. Again, weigh 1 against 9. If they balance, the different marble is number 10, otherwise, it is number 9. That was the easy part. What if the first weighing 1,2,3,4 vs 5,6,7,8 does not balance? Then any one of these marbles could be a different marble. Now, in order to proceed, keep track of which side is heavy for each of the following weighings. Suppose that 5,6,7 and 8 is the heavy side. We now weigh 1,5 and 6 against 2,7 and 8. If they balance, then the different marble is either 3 or 4. Weigh 4 against 9, a known good marble. If they balance then the different marble is 3 or 4. Then, if 1,5 and 6 vs 2,7 and 8 do not balance, and 2,7,8 is the heavy side, then either 7 or 8 is a different, heavy marble, or 1 is a different, light marble. For the third weighing, weigh 7 against 8. Whichever side is heavy is the different marble. If they balance, then 1 is the different marble. Should the weighing of 1,5 and 6 vs 2,7 and 8 show 1,5,6 to be the heavy side, then either 5 or 6 is a different heavy marble or 2 is a light different marble. Weigh 5 against 6. The heavier one is the different marble. If they balance, then 2 is a different light marble.
If it is 1,800 kilometers to America, 1,200 kilometers to Japan, 2,400 kilometers to New Zealand, and 1,400 kilometers to Brazil- How far is Morocco?
Think about the location of the countries mentioned... Are they all in the same direction from Morocco?
The answer is 1,700 kilometers, as vowels in the countries' names are worth 300 kilometers and the consonats are worth 200 kilometers.
You have two container, a 5 gallon and a 3 gallon container. How do you measure out 4 gallons?
Think about filling and emptying the containers in a specific sequence...
Fill up the 3 gallon container and pour the 3 gallons into the 5 gallon container.Then, fill the 3 gallon container back up, and pour it into the 5 gallon container.The 3 gallon container will have 1 gallon left. Empty the 5 gallon container.Pour the remining 1 gallon into the 5 gallon container.Then fill the 3 gallon container back up and pour it into the 5 gallon container.Thus, you have 4 gallons.
A woman is walking down a street night at a constant pace. As she passes the street light, she notices that her shadow becomes longer. Does the top of her shadow move faster, slower or the same when the shadow is longer as when it is shorter?
This point maintains a constant speed, independent of the lenght of the shadow.
An item is made from lead blanks in a lathe shop. Each blank suffices for 1 item. Lead shavings accumulated for making 6 items can be melted and made into a blank. How many items can be made from 36 blanks?
From 36 blanks there are 36 items made. The lead shavings are enough to make 6 blanks. Which make 6 more items. But don't stop here. The new shavings are good for 1 more item. Total: 43.
Jenna wrote all the numbers from 300 to 400 on a piece of paper. How many times did she write the digit 3?
Jenna wrote it 120 times.
What is 1/2 of 1/4 of 2/9 of 3/7 of 84?
Follow the order of operations (PEMDAS) and work from the inside out!
The answer is 1. 3/7 of 84 = 36 2/9 of 36 = 8 1/4 of 8 = 2 1/2 of 2 = 1
Jack has 8 bricks 7 of them weights the same amount and one is slightly heavier. Using a balance scale, how can Jack find the heavier brick in two weighings?
Think about dividing the bricks into three groups of 2, 2, and 4...
First he split them in to piles of 3, 3, and 2 bricks. Then he weighs both groups of 3 with each other. If they balance he knows the brick is one of the 2 unweighed bricks and he can weigh them to find the heaver one. If the the stacks of 3 bricks do not balance, he will weigh 2 of the 3 bricks. If they balance he will know the brick left unweighed is heavier, or if they do not balance, he will find the heavier one.
Two travelers spend from 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock walking along a level road, up a hill, and back again. Their pace is 4 mph on the level, 3 mph uphill, and 6 mph downhill. How far do they walk and at what time do they reach the top of the hill?
"Think about the symmetry of their journey..."
24 miles half past three.
Robert and David were preparing to have a water balloon fight. "No Fair" cried Robert, "You have 3 times as many as I do!" David said "Fine!" and gave Robert 10 more balloons. "Still not fair!" argued Robert, "You still have twice as many as I do." How many more balloons must David give Robert for them to have the same number?
Think about the ratios of balloons between Robert and David before and after David gives Robert 10 more balloons...
David must give Robert another 20 water balloons, giving them each 60. Robert started with 30 water balloons and David with 90.
What number, when added separately, to 100 and 164 can make each a perfect square?
Think about the factors of perfect squares...
The answer is 125. 125+100=225 and 125+164=289. The square root of 225 is 15 and the square root of 289 is 17.
A car's odometer shows 72927 miles, a palindromic number. What are the minimum miles you would need to travel to form another?
Think about the properties of palindromic numbers and how you can manipulate the current odometer reading to create another one...
110 miles. (73037)
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.
I'm found in socks, scarves, and mittens. I'm found in the paws of playful kittens. What am I?
Think about something that is often associated with warmth, softness, and coziness...
Yarn.
Which three letters can frighten a thief away?
Think about a common warning sign that might be found in a place where thieves might strike...
I C U (I See You!).
What did one math book say to the other math book?
Do you want to hear my problems?
I may be simple, I may be complex; I may have a name, but no gender or sex; I am often a question, or statement as a setup; I tend to have an answer, 'til you find it I won't let up. What am I?
A riddle.
Lily is a lilypad in a small pond. Lilly doubles her size each day, On the 20th day she covers the whole pond. On what day was Lily half the size of the pond?
Think backwards!
Day 19, it's not 10 because on day 20 she doubled from day 19, so 19 must be half the size of the pond.
A farmer in California owns a beautiful pear tree. He supplies the fruit to a nearby grocery store. The store owner has called the farmer to see how much fruit is available for him to purchase. The farmer knows that the main trunk has 24 branches. Each branch has exactly 12 boughs and each bough has exactly 6 twigs. Since each twig bears one piece of fruit, how many plums will the farmer be able to deliver?
The hint is: Pay close attention to the type of fruit mentioned in the question.
None. A pear tree does not bear plums.
Tool of thief, toy of queen. Always used to be unseen. Sign of joy, sign of sorrow. Giving all likeness borrowed. What am I?
Think about something that can be used for both good and bad, and is often associated with disguise or concealment...
A mask.
A very pretty thing am I, fluttering in the pale-blue sky. Delicate, fragile on the wing, indeed I am a pretty thing. What am I?
Look up to the heavens on a sunny day...
I am a Butterfly.
There is a clothing store in Bartlesville. The owner has devised his own method of pricing items. A vest costs $20, socks cost $25, a tie costs $15 and a blouse costs $30. Using the method, how much would a pair of underwear cost?
Think about the words, not the clothes themselves...
$45. The pricing method consists of charging $5 for each letter required to spell the item.
What kind of candy would a prisoner want before he is executed?
Think about the last thing a prisoner might want to "escape" from...
A Life Saver.
What can go up and come down without moving?
Think about something that changes state or value, rather than physical location...
The temperature.
Can a man legally marry his widow's sister in the state of California?
Think about the question's wording carefully... What does it mean to be a "widow's sister"?
NO since she is a 'widow', the guy's dead!
What has holes but still holds water?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a backyard, and it's not a container!
A Sponge.
The rungs of a 10-foot ladder attached to a ship are 1 foot apart. If the water is rising at the rate of one foot an hour, how long will it take until the water covers the ladder?
Think about the situation: the ladder is attached to the ship, which means it's moving with the ship...
It will never cover the ladder because as the water rises, so will the floating ship.
What do you call a bear with no teeth?
A hint: Think about a common phrase used to describe something or someone that is gentle or harmless...
A gummy Bear.
How did the pancake hurt itself?
Think about the cooking process...
Doing backflips.
Which one of Santa's reindeer is the fastest?
Think about the names of Santa's reindeer and look for a clever play on words...
Dasher.
I have a head and a tail but no body... What am I?
Think about something you might find in your pocket or purse...
A coin.
What word contains all of the twenty six letters?
"The answer is not a word you'd find in a dictionary, but rather a reference to something you might find in a dictionary."
Alphabet.
If fish lived on land, where would they live?
Think about a type of dwelling that is often associated with water, but could also be found on land...
In Finland.
A man was found murdered on Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police questioned the wife and staff and got their alibi. The Wife said she was sleeping. The Cook was cooking breakfast. The Gardener was picking vegetables. The Maid was getting the mail. The Butler was cleaning the closet. The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?
Think about the timing and the activities mentioned... Would someone be doing a particular task at a specific time of day?
It was the Maid. She said she was getting the mail. There is no mail on Sunday!
I'm clean when I'm black, Dirty when white; Get too close, And you might sneeze. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a fireplace...
A Chalkboard.
What starts with a T, ends with a T and has T in it?
Think about something you might find in a kitchen...
A teapot.
If the day before yesterday is the 23rd, then what is the day after tomorrow?
Think about the relationship between "yesterday", "today", and "tomorrow"...
The 27th. The day before yesterday is the 23rd. Therefore, yesterday was the 24, today is the 25th, tomorrow would be the 26th and the day after tomorrow would be 27th.
What did the triangle say to the circle?
Think about a common phrase people use to express a feeling, and how the triangle's shape might relate to that phrase...
You’re pointless.
What common English verb becomes its own past tense by rearranging its letters?
Think about a verb that involves movement or action, and its past tense form is a clever anagram of its present tense form...
Eat and Ate.
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.
What runs without legs?
Think about something you might find in a house or a building, that moves or flows from one place to another, but doesn't have any physical legs to do so...
Water.
One is to three as three is to five and five is to four and four is the magic number. What is the pattern?
"Think about the number of letters in the written form of each number..."
One has three letters in the word three has five letters in it five has four letters and four has four letters in it (if you try more numbers they will always come back to the number four: so four is the magic number)
I was carried into a dark room and set on fire. I wept, and then my head was cut off. What am I?
Think about a common object often used in celebrations, and consider the steps involved in its preparation and use...
A Candle.
What flowers are kissable?
Think about a type of flower that is often associated with romance and affection...
Tulips (two-lips).
A plane crashed between the border of Canada and America. Where do you bury the survivors?
You don't bury them.
They are survivors, you don't bury them.
How do you fix a broken jack-o-lantern?
"Think outside the patch..."
With a pumpkin patch.
Never resting, never still. Moving silently from hill to hill. It does not walk, run or trot, All is cool where it is not. What is it?
Think about something that can move across the landscape without making a sound, and its presence is associated with a lack of heat or warmth...
Sunshine.
What did Adam say the day before Christmas?
Think about Adam's location and the significance of the day before Christmas...
It's Christmas, Eve!
What is the end of everything?
Think about the last letter of a word...
The letter G.
What has cities, but no houses; forests, but no trees; and water, but no fish?
Think about a type of document or representation that often depicts geographical features...
A map.
A farmer has twenty sheep, ten pigs, and ten cows. If we call the pigs cows, how many cows will he have?
Think about the question carefully... it's not asking how many animals of a certain species the farmer will have, but rather how many animals he'll have that are called "cows".
Ten Cows. We can call the pigs cows but it doesn't make them cows.
A slender body, a tiny eye, no matter what happens, I never cry. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a kitchen, often used for a specific task, and its "eye" is a small opening...
A needle.
When does a British potato change its nationality?
Think about a common process that potatoes undergo, and how that process might relate to a change in "nationality"...
When it becomes a french fries.
Why are Christmas trees bad at knitting?
Think about the physical characteristics of a Christmas tree...
Because they always drop their needles.
If a boy blows 18 bubbles, Then pops 6 eats 7 and then He pops 5 and blows 1. How many are left?
Think about the bubbles that are NOT affected by the boy's actions...
1.
If your uncle's sister is not your aunt, what relation is she to you?
Think about family members and their relationships... Your uncle's sister is someone you're very familiar with, and you might even live with them!
Your mother.
Where does a werewolf like to hide?
Think about a common, everyday place where someone might hide, but with a "hair-raising" twist!
In your claws-it.
Why is Peter Pan always flying?
Think about the last name of the character...
He Neverlands.
I am the beginning of sorrow and the end of sickness. You cannot express happiness without me, yet I am in the midst of crosses. I am always in risk, yet never in danger. You may find me in the sun, but I am never out of darkness. What am I?
Think about the letters of the alphabet...
The letter S.
Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I?
Think about a word that changes its meaning or property when its letters are reversed...
The word Ton.
I can be long, or I can be short. I can be grown, and I can be bought. I can be painted, or left bare. I can be round, or square. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, but can also be found in a store or a house...
Your fingernails.
I have hundreds of legs but I can only lean; You make me feel dirty so you feel clean. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a bathroom, and how it's used to cleanse oneself, but in the process, it gets "dirty"...
A Broom.
What has toes but no feet or legs?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a park, and it's not a living thing...
Toma-toes.
The ages of a father and son add up to 66. The father's age is the son's age reversed. How old could they be? (3 possible solutions).
Think about the properties of reversed numbers... if a number ends in 0, its reverse will also end in 0.
51 and 15. 42 and 24. 60 and 06.
Two blondes were going to Disneyland and came to a fork in the road. One way said Highway 93 right and the other said Disneyland left. Why did the blondes go home?
Think about the typical characteristics associated with Disneyland...
Because they thought that Disneyland actually left.
How do caterpillars swim laps?
Think about the multiple meanings of a common word...
They do the butterfly.
There was a man who was born before his father, killed his mother, and married his sister. Yet, there was nothing wrong with what he had done. Why?
Think about the context in which these actions took place... it's not a typical family setting.
His father was in front of him when he was born, therefore he was born before him. His mother died while giving birth to him. Finally, he grew up to be a minister and married his sister at her ceremony.
What four-legged animal can jump higher than a house?
Think about the wording of the riddle... it's not asking about the animal's physical ability to jump, but rather...
Any. Houses can't jump.
Who always enjoys poor health?
Think about a word that's often associated with being unhealthy, but also has a different meaning that's quite positive...
A doctor.
A man was just doing his job when his suit was torn. Why did he die three minutes later?
Think about a job that requires a specific type of suit, and the consequences of that suit being torn...
He was an astronaut on a space walk, doing repairs.
A sharpshooter hung up his hat and put on a blindfold. He then walked 100 yards, turned around, and shot a bullet through his hat. The blindfold was a perfectly good one, completely blocking the man's vision. How did he manage this?
Think about the environment and the time of day...
He hung is hat on the barrel of his gun.
What did Sir Lancelot wear to bed?
Think about the legendary knight's name and its connection to a piece of clothing...
A knight gown!
What is the hardest key to turn?
Think about a key that's not used to unlock a physical door, but rather to make a change or a decision...
A don-key
A group of campers have been on vacation so long, that they've forgotten the day of the week. The following conversation ensues. Darryl: What's the day? I don't think it is Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Tracy: Well that doesn't narrow it down much. Yesterday was Sunday. Melissa: Yesterday wasn't Sunday, tomorrow is Sunday. Ben: The day after tomorrow is Saturday. Adrienne: The day before yesterday was Thursday. Susie: Tomorrow is Saturday. David: I know that the day after tomorrow is not Friday. If only one person's statement is true, what day of the week is it?
"Pay attention to the contradictions, and find the one statement that doesn't contradict any of the others."
It is Wednesday. If it was any other day of the week, more than one statement would be true. To solve the riddle, evaluate each person's statement and write down what day it could be according to the statement. David's statement indicates it could be any day of the week except for Wednesday. When you list the days that it could be according to everyone's statement, it turns out Wednesday is the day mentioned only one time. Darryl: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday Tracy: Monday Melissa: Saturday Ben: Thursday Adrienne: Saturday Susie: Friday David: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday
Two cops walked into a room with no windows and found a dead man who obviously hung himself from the ceiling, though they couldn't figure out how. There was no chair beneath him that he might have jumped off of, or a table. Just a puddle of water. How'd he do it?
Think about the season...
He stood on a block of ice until it melted.
I have holes on the top and bottom. I have holes on my left and on my right. And I have holes in the middle, yet I still hold water. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a garden or a backyard, and consider the holes being more like openings or passages rather than empty spaces.
I'm a Sponge.
When may a man's coat pocket be empty, and yet have something in it?
Think about the words and their meanings... Is the "something" in the pocket really a physical object?
When it has a hole in it.
What is the longest word in the dictionary?
Think about the question itself...
Smiles (there is a mile between the two S's)
Which President wore the largest hat?
Think about the name of the President, not his physical appearance...
The one with the largest head.
Why did the turkey cross the road?
Think beyond the classic "to get to the other side" answer... This one's related to a holiday!
To prove he wasn't chicken.
There is a clerk at the butcher shop, he is five feet ten inches tall, and he wears size 13 sneakers. He has a wife and 2 kids. What does he weigh?
"Think about the profession, not the person..."
Meat.
I am white, black and read all over. What am I?
Think about something you might find on a newsstand or in your mailbox...
Newspaper!
How do you know that a vampire loves baseball?
Think about a vampire's "bat"-titude...
Because he turns into a bat every night.
A little pool with two layers of wall around it. One white and soft and the other dark and hard, amidst a light brown grassy lawn with an outline of green grass. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a backyard or a park, and consider the words "layers of wall" very literally...
A Coconut.
There is a word in the English language in which the first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four signify a great man, and the whole word, a great woman. What is the word?
Think about titles and honorifics...
Heroine.
What is faster hot or cold?
Think about the temperature of the object, not the speed of the object.
Hot, you can easily catch a cold.
What happened to the broken-down frog?
It didn't get "hopped" up and fixed, but rather...
It got toad (towed) away.
What two whole, positive numbers have a one-digit answer when multiplied and a two-digit answer when added?
Think about the smallest possible one-digit product...
1 and 9.
You can see me in water, but I never get wet. What am I?
Reflection!
A reflection.
I'm so fast you can't see me, though everyone else can see straight through me. I won't stop until the day you die. What am I?
Think about something that is always present in your life, yet you can't perceive it directly, and it will continue to "move" or "advance" until the end of your life...
The blink of an eye.
I come in many colors and I am very thin, I am found in every country, even in your home, I am very important, you can be very creative with me, I can even help you learn. What am I?
Think about something that's often overlooked, yet it's a vital tool for self-expression, education, and communication...
Paper!
Why do skeletons go on vacations alone?
Think about what skeletons lack, and how that might make it difficult for them to travel with others...
Because they have no-body to go with.
I pass before the sun, yet make no shadow. What am I?
Think about something that moves quickly, is often associated with the sun, but doesn't block its light...
The wind.
What day would yesterday be if Thursday was four days before the day after tomorrow?
Think about the relationship between Thursday and the day after tomorrow... How many days are between them?
Friday.
Which word is the odd one out: Seventy, Brawl, Clover, Proper, Carrot, Swing, Change, Travel, Sacred, Stone?
Think about the words in terms of their parts or components...
Carrot. When the first and last letters are removed from the other words, they still spell another word.
What relation would your father's sister's sister-in-law be to you?
Think about the family ties... Your father's sister is your...
This person would be your mother.
What type of music is a mummy's favorite?
Think about the wrapping style of a mummy...
Wrap.
Where do you take a sick pirate ship?
Arrr, think about where you'd take a sick person...
To the dock!
What do you call a person who is afraid of Santa Claus?
Think about a word that's related to fear, and also sounds similar to a festive holiday term...
Claus-traophobic.
What falls down but never breaks?
Think about something that is often associated with the sky...
Nightfall.
Why was the nose so tired?
Think about what your nose does all day...
Because it had been running all day.
If a chicken says, "All chickens are liars". Is the chicken telling the truth?
Think about the paradoxical situation: if the chicken is telling the truth, then all chickens are indeed liars, but that would mean the chicken itself is a liar, which would make its statement false...
Answer: Chickens cannot talk.
What boy wizard magically grew a beard each night?
Think about a name that is also a type of hair...
Hairy Potter.
No sooner spoken than broken. What is it?
Think about something that is true only for a fleeting moment, a promise or a situation that is often compromised or shattered as soon as it's made or created...
Silence.
What do you call a snowman in the summer?
Think about the snowman's physical state and what happens to it when the weather gets warm...
Puddle.
What jack has a head but no body?
Think about something you might find in a deck...
Jack-o-lantern.
When was the latest year that is the same upside down?
Think about the symmetry of numbers...
1961.
A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?
Think about the condition of the lions...
The third. Lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead.
A mother has 6 girls and each of them has a brother. How many children are there?
Think about the phrase "each of them" very carefully...
7. Each girl has the same brother.
Why did the scarecrow win so many awards?
Think about what a scarecrow's main job is, and how that might relate to being a "winner"...
He was out-standing in his field!
It is a 5 letter word if you take away first letter it is something you get from sun, if you remove second letter you will get something to eat, if you remove third letter you get a word you use in pointing at and if you remove the fourth letter you get something to drink. What is it?
Here's a hint: The word you're looking for is a common, everyday object that you might find in a kitchen.
Wheat.
A doctor and a bus driver are both in love with the same woman, an attractive girl named Sarah. The bus driver had to go on a long bus trip that would last a week. Before he left, he gave Sarah seven apples. Why?
Think about the significance of the number of apples and how it might relate to the bus driver's absence...
An apple a day keeps the doctor away!
A woman shoots her husband. Then she holds him underwater for over 5 minutes. Finally, she hangs him. But 5 minutes later they both go out together and enjoy a wonderful dinner together. How can this be?
Think about a profession that involves developing photographs...
The woman was a photographer. She shot a picture of her husband, developed it, and hung it up to dry.
You have me today, Tomorrow you'll have more; As your time passes, I'm not easy to store; I don't take up space, But I'm only in one place; I am what you saw, But not what you see. What am I?
Think about something that is abundant in the present, but scarce in the past, and that you can't physically hold onto...
Memories.
If eleven plus two equals one, what does nine plus five equal?
Think about a clock...
11 o'clock plus 2 hours = 1 o'clock 9 o'clock plus 5 hours = 2 o'clock
What's at least 6 inches long, goes in your mouth, and is more fun if it vibrates?
A playful one! Here's a hint: Think about something you might find in a kitchen or at a party...
A toothbrush. Come on.
If two snakes marry, what will their towels say?
Hiss and Hers!
Hiss and Hers.
One day, the police found a man dead inside a hut. In his left hand, he's holding a gun. In his right hand, he has a recording. When the recording is played, the police hear the man talking about how horrible life is and how he wants it to end. The recording ends with a gunshot. The police are about to call it a suicide until you point out a very important clue. What is it?
The hut is made of...
The recording played a gunshot inside it. If the man committed suicide, he wouldn't have been able to stop the recording after he pulled the trigger.
What goes in hard, comes out soft, and you blow continuously?
Think about something you might find in a birthday party...
Bubble Gum.
You can touch me, You can break me, You should win me if you want to be mine. What am I?
Think about something that can be fragile, yet desirable to attain, and often associated with competition or achievement...
A heart.
A man was found dead next to a 13 story building. The police say it was a suicide, but you say it was a homicide (someone killed him). To prove this, you go to each floor on the building, open the window, and toss a penny out. You do this to each floor until you reach the 13th floor, open the window, and toss a penny out. How does this prove it wasn't a suicide?
Think about what you would expect to see on the ground below if the man had jumped from a certain floor...
If the man committed suicide, he would've left the window open and you wouldn't have had to open it.
I can't be bought, but I can be stolen with a glance. I'm worthless to one, but priceless to two. What am I?
"Think about something that can be taken away in an instant, yet its value is deeply rooted in relationships..."
Love.
There was a man who wanted to prove his love to his wife. So, he climbed the highest mountain, swam the deepest ocean and walked the biggest desert. What do you think his wife said?
Think about what would be a humorous, yet fitting response from the wife, considering the husband's over-the-top efforts to prove his love...
Nothing. She divorced him for never being at home.
No matter how little or how much you use me, you change me every month. What am I?
Think about something you might find in your wallet or purse, and how it relates to the passage of time...
A Calendar.
What is harder to catch the faster you run?
Think about something that's always "chasing" you, but the more you try to escape, the more it seems to stick with you...
Your breath!
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.
Which three letters can frighten a thief away?
Think about a sign you might see in a store or a home that would deter a thief...
I C U (I See You!).
What kind of running means walking?
Think about a type of "running" that is often associated with a specific place or event, rather than a physical activity.
Running out of gas!
I may be simple, I may be complex; I may have a name, but no gender or sex; I am often a question, or statement as a setup; I tend to have an answer, 'til you find it I won't let up. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a book, a classroom, or a puzzle collection...
A riddle.
A man was found murdered on Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police questioned the wife and staff and got their alibi. The Wife said she was sleeping. The Cook was cooking breakfast. The Gardener was picking vegetables. The Maid was getting the mail. The Butler was cleaning the closet. The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?
"Think about the time of day and the activities that wouldn't make sense..."
It was the Maid. She said she was getting the mail. There is no mail on Sunday!
What starts with a T, ends with a T and has T in it?
Think about something you might find in a kitchen, and it's used for a specific purpose...
A teapot.
What flowers are kissable?
Think about a type of flower that is also a term of endearment...
Tulips (two-lips).
What has cities, but no houses; forests, but no trees; and water, but no fish?
Think about a place where you might find these features, but not in a literal sense... It's a type of representation or model, rather than a real-world location.
A map.
If your uncle's sister is not your aunt, what relation is she to you?
Think about family relationships and how they're defined... Your uncle's sister is a female relative, but not an aunt... Who could she be?
Your mother.
Two cops walked into a room with no windows and found a dead man who obviously hung himself from the ceiling, though they couldn't figure out how. There was no chair beneath him that he might have jumped off of, or a table. Just a puddle of water. How'd he do it?
Think about the puddle of water... it's not just a random detail.
He stood on a block of ice until it melted.
There is a word in the English language in which the first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four signify a great man, and the whole word, a great woman. What is the word?
Think about titles and honorifics used to address individuals...
Heroine.
A father and son were in a car accident where the father was killed. The ambulance brought the son to the hospital. He needed immediate surgery. In the operating room, a doctor came in and looked at the little boy and said I can't operate on him he is my son. Who is the doctor?
The doctor is... a family member, but not the one you're thinking of.
The Mother.
A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?
Think about the condition of the lions...
The third. Lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead.
What connects two people yet touches only one?
Think about a special occasion where two people come together, and a symbol of their union is placed on one of them...
A wedding ring.
The 22nd and 24th presidents of the United States of America had the same parents, but were not brothers. How can this be possible?
Think about a specific family relationship that is not as common as brotherhood, but still shares the same parents...
They were the same man. Grover Cleveland served two terms as president of the United States, but the terms were not consecutive.
They fill me up and you empty me, almost everyday; if you raise my arm, I work the opposite way. What am I?
Think about an object you use daily, where you add something to it, but then remove it, and its function changes when you lift a certain part of it...
A mailbox.
What can be swallowed, but can also swallow you?
Think about something that can be consumed or engulfed, but also has the power to engulf or overwhelm you in return...
Pride.
What can be touched but can't be seen?
Think about emotions or feelings that can be felt, but are invisible to the eye...
Someone's heart
First I am dried, then I am wet; The longer I swim, the more taste you get. What am I?
Tea.
What can be stolen, mistaken, or altered, yet never leaves you your entire life?
Your identity.
A woman is at her mother's funeral when suddenly she sees a man so handsome, she instantly falls in love with her. Unfortunately, she never got a chance to talk to the man. The next day, the woman kills her sister. What was the motive?
The woman was hoping to see the man again. If you got this correct on the first try, you have the mind of a psychopath.
What costs nothing but is worth everything, weighs nothing but lasts a lifetime, that one person can't own but two can share?
Love. ❤️
My voice is tender, my waist is slender and I'm often invited to play. Yet wherever I go I must take my bow or else I have nothing to say. What am I?
A violin.
I have a big mouth and I am also quite loud! I am NOT a gossip but I do get involved with everyone's dirty business. What am I?
A Vacuum Cleaner.
A husband was called by the police telling him that his wife was killed and that he should get to the crime scene as soon as possible. Shocked, the husband dropped the phone and drove to the crime scene in 20 minutes, where he was arrested and charged for murder. How did the police know it was him?
The police told him to get to the crime scene, but they didn't specify where. The husband couldn't have known where the crime scene was unless he'd been there when the wife was dead or dying.
I have four wings, but cannot fly, I never laugh and never cry; On the same spot, I'm always found, toiling away with little sound. What am I?
A Windmill.
What did the comedian say when he took off his clothes?
Haven't you ever seen a comic strip.
Lovely and round, I shine with pale light, grown in the darkness, A lady's delight. What am I?
A Pearl.
What did the two volcanos say to each other on valentine's day?
Do you lava me like I lava you!!
Until I am measured, I am not known. Yet how you miss me, when I have flown. What am I?
I am Time.
Take one out and scratch my head, I am now black but once was red. What am I?
A Match.
A certain crime is punishable if attempted but not punishable if committed. What is it?
Suicide.
I start with a "p" and ends with "o-r-n" and I'm a major player in the film industry. What am I?
Popcorn.
I am a box that holds keys without locks, yet they can unlock your soul. What am I?
A Piano.
A thousand colored folds stretch toward the sky, Atop a tender strand, Rising from the land, 'Til killed by maiden's hand, Perhaps a token of love, perhaps to say goodbye. What am I?
A flower.
Four cars come to a four-way stop, all coming from a different direction. They can't decide who got there first, so they all go forward at the same time. They do not crash into each other, but all four cars go. How is this possible?
They all made right-hand turns.
I weaken all men for hours each day. I show you strange visions while you are away. I take you by night, by day take you back, None suffer to have me, but do from my lack. What am I?
Sleep.
Ray Whitcombe is found dead in his office at his desk. The police have narrowed the suspects down to three people: Mrs. Barbara Whitcombe, Ray's wife; Mr. Jason McCubbins, Ray's business partner; and Mr. Harold Nichols, Ray's best friend. All three visited Mr. Whitcombe the day of his murder, but all three provide the police with stories of explanation as to the reason for their visit. Police found Mr. Whitcombe with his wrist watch still on his right arm, a torn up picture of his wife laying on the floor beside the trash can, and an ink pen in his right hand. On the desk, the police found a name plate, a telephone that was off the hook, and a personal calendar turned to the July 5th page with 7B91011 written on it. After examining this evidence, the police knew their suspect. Who was it?
Jason McCubbins, Ray's business partner. The calendar is the clue to solving this murder. The police realized that since Mr. Whitcombe was wearing his watch on his right arm, he must be left handed. But the pen was found in his right hand. Realizing that the number on the calendar was written in a hurry and with his opposite hand, police matched the written number with the months of the year. So the B was an 8, thereby giving us 7-8-9-10-11: July, August, September, October, November. Use the first letter of each month and it spells J-A-S-O-N.
I can be short and sometimes hot. When displayed, I rarely impress. What am I?
I am your temper.
A man was found dead in his study. He was slumped over his desk and a gun was in his hand. There was a cassette recorder on his desk. When the police entered the room and pressed the play button on the tape recorder they heard: "I can't go on. I have nothing to live for." Then there was the sound of a gunshot. How did the detective immediately know that the man had been murdered and it wasn't a suicide?
The cassette had started at the beginning of the man's utterance. Someone else had to be there to rewind the tape.
A crime has been committed at Freemont Street. The main suspect is a man named Sean Baker. It was said that a man had been walking along the pathway when he was suddenly shot in the stomach. The suspect had brown hair, blue eyes and wore a baggy Armani suit just like Sean Baker's. Sean was asked to tell the story right from the beginning. "Well," said Sean, "I was just hanging around the park when I saw this man walking along the pathway. Suddenly, a guy came up from behind him and shot him! I ran home as fast as I could." The policemen asked him to give a description of the murderer. "He had a red moustache, red hair and a baggy Armani suit on." "I think this man is telling a lie," said one of the policemen. How did he know?
How can the murderer shoot him in the stomach if he came up behind the man?
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?
A book!
The police are called to a roundhouse where a man is found dead with a knife wound to the chest. The police investigate and narrow down the suspects to three people: The maid, the wife, and the butcher. When questioned for alibis, the wife said, "I was out buying a dress with my friends, and I found my husband dead upon my return." The butcher said, "I was searching the cupboards for some vegetables to serve for lunch." The maid said, "I was in the other room, dusting the corners." The maid was then arrested. How did the police know it was her?
It was a round house, so there were no corners to dust.
What do you throw out when you want to use it but take in when you don't want to use it?
An anchor.
What has no hands but might knock on your door, and if it does you better open up?
Opportunity.
It has keys but it only opens windows, it has a screen door but you don't look through it, you look at it, and it gives you most of the answers to your questions. What is it?
A laptop.
A Panda Bear walked into a restaurant. He sat down at a table and ordered some food. When he was finished eating, he took out a gun and shot his waiter. He then left the restaurant. After the police caught up with him, they asked him why he had killed the waiter. He replied, "Look me up in the dictionary." What did the dictionary say?
When they looked up the word "Panda" in the dictionary, it stated, "Panda: Eats shoots and leaves."
In spring I am gay in handsome array; in summer more clothing I wear; when colder it grows I fling off my clothes; and in winter quite naked appear. What am I?
A Tree.
Every month someone dies, and there are five suspects. The suspects are, Jason, Lily, Nathan, Elizabeth, and Erin, and the months of the murders are July, August, September, October, and November. Who's the murderer?
Jason. J, July. A, August. S, September. O, October. N, November.
Once upon a time there was a happy family in a dome-shaped house the family consisted of a mother, a father, a chef, a maid, a brother, a sister, and a little kitty named Bubbles. The mother and father went out one night and remembered to lock the doors. When they came home the cat had sadly passed. They questioned everyone. The boy said he was playing video games with the girl, the girl also said they were playing video games. The maid said she was dusting the corners in the house and the chef said he was sharpening the knife to cut the freshly baked apple pie. Who killed bubbles?
The maid! There are no corners in a dome shaped house. Mew!
When you buy me I am costly, but the only use I have is just hanging. What am I?
Earrings.
I have a beginning, but no end and I end all things that begin. What am I?
Death.
A man was found murdered on Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police questioned the wife and staff and got these alibis: The Wife said she was sleeping. The Cook was cooking breakfast. The Gardener was picking vegetables. The Maid was getting the mail. The Butler was cleaning the closet. The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?
It was the Maid. She said she was getting the mail. There is no mail on Sunday! (next day air and email doesn't count)
Mr. Brown was killed on Sunday after noon. The wife said she was reading a book. The butler said He was taking a shower. The chef said he was making breakfast. The maid said she was folding clothes, and the gardener said he was planting tomatoes. Who did it?
The chef killed Mr. Brown because he said he was cooking breakfast but it was a Sunday afternoon.
Often held but never touched, always wet but never rusts, often bites but seldom bit, to use me well you must have wit. What am I?
Your tongue.
You walk into your house the electricity is out you see three doors that you have never seen before. You go through the one with a lion that hasn't eaten for over six months. There are another three doors you go through the one with an empty room. There's a man that says how do you want to be murdered with the gun the knife or the electric chair that will kill you in an instant. How will you survive?
The electric chair because your electricity is out.
The cost of making only the maker knows, Valueless if bought, but sometimes traded. A poor man may give one as easily as a king. When one is broken pain and deceit are assured. What is it?
Promise.
Rock and roll, rock and roll. What rocks but does not roll?
Think about something that's often associated with rocks, but isn't a rock itself...
A Rocking chair
A man was found murdered in his own house on a Sunday morning. His wife called the police. The police questioned the wife and got the following alibis: The wife said she was sleeping. The Cook said he was making breakfast. The gardener said he was picking vegetables. The maid said she was getting the post. The Butler (a personal assistant) said that he was cleaning the closet. The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?
Pay close attention to the day of the week mentioned in the riddle...
The maid. There is no post on Sunday.
A man moved into a new house and decided he was tired after the journey and turned off all the lights and went to bed. The next morning he killed 365 people, he does not sleep walk he slept like a baby. How could this be?
Think about the man's profession...
He lived in a light house.
A plane crashed and every single person on board this flight was killed, yet, there were survivors. Explain how?
Think about the word "on board"... it's not just about the people inside the plane.
The married people lived; the singles died.
Old Mr. Tilly was found dead in his study by Mr. Foster. Mr. Foster recounted his dismal discovery to the police. "I was walking by Mr. Tilly`s house when I thought I would just pop in for a visit. I noticed his study light was on and I decided to peek in from the outside to see if he was in there. There was frost on the window, so I had to wipe it away to see inside. That is when I saw his body. So I kicked in the front door to confirm my suspicions of foul play. I called the police immediately afterward." The officer immediately arrested Mr. Foster for the murder of Mr. Tilly. How did he know Mr. Foster was lying?
Here's a hint: Think about the season and the condition of the window...
Frost forms on the inside of the window, not the outside. So Mr. Foster could not have wiped it off to discover Mr. Tilly`s body.
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.
A very famous chemist was found murdered in his kitchen today. The police have narrowed it down to six suspects. They know it was a two-man job. Their names are Felice, Maxwell, Archibald, Nicolas, Jordan, and Xavier. A note was also found with the body: '26-3-58/28-27-57-16'. Who are the killers?
Think about the periodic table of elements...
Felice and Nicholas are the murderers. The numbers correspond to atomic numbers on the periodic table of elements: 'Fe-Li-Ce/Ni-Co-La-S'.
Two men were playing tennis. They played five sets and each man won three sets. How can this be possible?
Think about the word "man" in a broader sense...
The two men were partners playing doubles.
A murderer was condemned to death. He had to choose between three rooms. The first room was full of raging fires, the second room was full of assassins with loaded guns and the third room was full of lions that hadn't eaten in three years. Which room was safest for him?
Think about the phrase "hadn't eaten in three years"...
The third room. Lions that haven't eaten in three years are dead.
A little girl named Sasha was left home alone with her butler, chef, and gardener. Sasha's parents went out on a date night and came home and found their daughter stabbed to death. The police questioned the chef first the gardener second and the butler last. The chef said, "I was in the kitchen preparing dinner for my little Sasha I would never do anything to hurt my princess". The gardener said, " I was outside working on the plants...I was about to come in and take a shower". And the butler said, " I was cleaning Sasha's room...I didn't even have a knife on me anyway so I couldn't of killed her". Automatically the cops knew who it was and arrested them. Who and How?
Here's a hint: Pay close attention to the statements made by each suspect, and think about what they say about their activities and locations at the time of the murder. In particular, consider what the butler says about not having a knife on them...
The butler because the cops never mentioned that she was stabbed with a knife.
A man was shot to death while in his car. There were no powder marks on his clothing, which indicated that the gunman was outside the car. However, all the windows were up and the doors locked. After a close inspection was made, the only bullet holes discovered were on the man's body. How was he murdered?
Think about a specific situation where a man might be in his car, but not necessarily driving or parked on the road...
The victim was in a convertible. He was shot when the top was down.
This object can be driven, but has no wheels, and can also be sliced and remain whole. What is it?
Think about something you might find on a golf course, and also something you might serve at a dinner party...
A Golf Ball.
Why did the squirrel lay only its back on the river?
Think about the wordplay involved in the answer, and consider what a squirrel's back might resemble when it's in a certain position...
To keep its "nuts" dry.
Shoot at me a thousand times and I may still survive; one scratch from me and you will find your prospects take a dive. What am I?
You're likely to find me on a battlefield, but I'm not a warrior...
An Eightball.
Did you know that if you live within 5 miles of a cemetery you can't be buried there? Why?
Think about the definition of a cemetery...
If you're living you can't be buried!
What is both possible and impossible at the same time?
Think about something that can be true or false, depending on the perspective or circumstances...
Impossibility.
How does a dog stop the VCR?
"Paws" for a moment and think about the physical interaction between a dog and a VCR...
He uses the PAWS button.
A group of privates were standing in the blistering sun facing due west. Their sergeant shouted at them: Right turn! About turn! Left turn! In which direction are they now facing?
Think about the sequence of turns and how they affect the direction the privates are facing... Remember, they started facing west!
East.
I spread open my legs, slide the face between them, and put my bridge on the face's nose. What am I?
Think about an everyday object you might find on a desk or table, used for a specific task...
A spectacle.
There are five acquaintances. One of them shot and killed one of the other five. Which man is the murderer? 1. Dan ran in N.Y. City marathon yesterday with one of the innocent men. 2. Mike considered being a farmer before he moved to the city. 3. Jeff is a top-notch computer consultant and wants to install Ben's new computer next week. 4. The murderer had his leg amputated last month. 5. Ben met Jack for the first time six months ago. 6. Jack has been in seclusion since the crime. 7. Dan used to drink heavily. 8. Ben and Jeff built their last computers together. 9. The murderer is Jack's brother; they grew up together in Seattle.
"Think about who can't be the murderer based on their physical abilities..."
1. Jack is not the murderer, because he is the brother of the murderer. 2. Dan can't be the murderer since he ran a marathon, and the murderer recently had his leg amputated, and wouldn't be running a marathon of any magnitude that quickly. 3. Ben is not the murderer if he just met Jack, since Jack and the murderer grew up together. 4. This leaves Jeff and Mike. Since Jeff is still alive (he wants to install a new computer next week, present tense) he must be the murderer. Mike also didn't grow up with Jack. It has been determined that Jack, Dan and Jeff are all alive. Ben must also be alive since Jeff plans to install Ben's computer next week. This means that Jeff killed Mike.
I sit here collecting dust, I can wait forever to open me and you will not be disappointed, I can make you laugh, cry, and sad, I contain all the knowledge of the world, let me take you to a faraway land. What am I?
Think about something that can evoke emotions, transport you to different places, and hold a vast amount of information, all while often being overlooked and collecting dust...
A book.
I have four characteristics, durability, divisibility, transportability, and non-counterfeitability. What am I?
Think about something you might find in your wallet or purse that has these qualities...
Money.
I want everything within sight. The impossible will not flee my plight. I will take it all by any means. To have is my heart's very need. A bottomless pit that nothing will fill. I have even led humans to kill. What am I?
Your answer is a concept that is often associated with power, control, and an insatiable desire for more. It's a driving force that can lead individuals to make extreme decisions, and its influence can be seen throughout history.
Greed.
In old age I'm lost, in trauma I'm tossed. What am I?
Think about something that's often forgotten or misplaced as people get older, and also something that can be shaken or disturbed in a violent or traumatic event...
Memories.
I can't see you, but you can see me. Stare at me too long and you'll get lazy. I have to be paid for so I'm not for free. What am I?
Think about something you might find in an office or a workspace, and how it can affect your behavior and productivity...
A TV.
A judge has a murder case. The person who was murdered has a family member who thinks they found the murderer. The family members' lawyer called up a witness. The lawyer asked where the witness was on the day of the murder. The witness says "Well it was like any other Sunday morning, I got the mail, went to Jill's diner, and then went home and watched cartoons for the rest of the day." The lawyer says "he is lying!" How does the lawyer know the witness is lying?
Think about what's unusual about the witness's alibi...
The witness says he went to get the mail and there are no mail deliveries on sundays. Also Sunday cartoons are only in the morning so how could the witness be watching them all day?
Cameron Fitzgerald, a famous scientist, was found killed in his laboratory. Detective R.I. Dill was called to the scene. The only clue was a written note saying "66, 57, 7 - P.T" Detective Dill found 4 suspects who were nearby at the time of the murder. Jake Willow, Cameron's best friend, Samantha Fitzgerald, Cameron's wife, Dylan Hemlock, Cameron's assistant, and Amy Dill, Det. Dill's sister and Cameron's chauffeur. After re-reading the note, Detective Dill immediately knew who it was. Who was the killer and how did Detective Dill know? (Hint - The answer is science-related)
Hint: Think about the Periodic Table of Elements...
It was Dylan. The note was referring to the periodic table of elements, a.k.a 'P.T' The numbers 66, 57 and 7 are (in order): Dysprosium, Lanthanum and Nitrogen. Dysprosium is symbolized by 'Dy', Lanthanum for 'La' and Nitrogen is 'N'.
Dorothy attended her family reunion last summer, but she reported an odd incident during the festivities. She was watching a group of adults and a group of children competing against one another in a race of about 30 yards. Dorothy was surprised to see a child win the race, but Dorothy also noted she was unable to see any of the participant's legs during the race. Dorothy has excellent vision, and her mental faculties are intact, but neither she nor any of the other spectators were able to see any sign of the racer's legs during the brief competition. Since none of the racers were amputees, and Dorothy wasn't imagining things, what do you suppose was the cause of her inability to see any of the racer’s legs during the race?
Think about where the family reunion might have taken place...
The adults and children were participating in a sack race at the family reunion.
A group of boys and girls are out after dark, stalking people in their homes in a Chicago neighborhood. The intimidation starts with the bravest of the youths ringing the bell or knocking at the door. When the homeowner answers the door, the children, in unison, begin to verbally threaten that person with a three-word threat, which often results in their demands being met. All of the boys and girls have chosen to disguise themselves so they can't be identified. It is hard to believe, but there are even a few adults who are walking along with the group, who actually encourage this brash behavior. Do these adults have no shame? Are these boys and girls being trained to be the criminals of the future? What exactly is going on here, and what is the three-word threat this group of ruffians use to intimidate people in their neighborhood?
"Think Halloween tradition..."
It is Halloween night, and this group of boys and girls, accompanied by a few adults, are out in their neighborhood seeking candy and other goodies. The three-word threat they used at each house: “Trick or treat.”
Uncle John, as he likes to be called, can't do the Twist like Chubby Checker did in the 1960s, but he loves to twist just the same. To be open and honest with you all, Uncle John earns his living through twisted ways. He especially enjoys exhibiting his twisted talents in front of young children. To gain their attention, he frequently gives gifts to these little boys and girls --- gifts including bicycles, flowers, and even small animals. He is often out of breath after exhibiting his twisted lifestyle to others. You might think the parents of these children would be repulsed by Uncle John, but instead, they often simply stand by, sometimes even applauding and encouraging this man!!! How can adults be so calloused as to allow this man to gain this type of control over their own children? What exactly is going on here?
Think about a common profession that involves entertaining children, and a specific activity that involves "twisting" that is often associated with that profession.
Uncle John is a balloon twister who makes a living performing at children’s birthday parties. He can make almost anything out of balloons which he gives to the children; including bicycles, flowers, and small balloon animals. It’s also the reason he is often out of breath during his performances, as he has to blow up each balloon before he can twist them into the shape he wants.
A woman named Maria was at the funeral of her mother. She met a nice young man that she had never seen before and after the service, they spent a bit of time together. Then she got busy and didn’t get his name or phone number before he left. She tried to find him, but no one knew who he was or how to contact him. A few weeks later, Maria’s older sister dies and the police suspect murder. Who killed the sister?
Think about the connection between the funeral and the mysterious young man...
Maria. She hoped the man would show up at her sister’s funeral just as he had for her mother’s funeral.
It is said among my people that some things are improved by death. Tell me, what stinks while living, but in death, smells good?
Think about something that's often associated with decay and unpleasant odors, but when it's "dead" or harvested, it's prized for its fragrance...
A Pig.
Joan is both a collector and a trader. She has spent most of her adult life collecting and trading tiny, green keys. Joan, along with millions of Americans living today, love to see how many of these little keys they can gather; but they also like to trade them away for a wide variety of items including food, toys, furniture, services, boats, and even houses. Some people have even committed murder to possess these keys! Joan usually carries a supply of these little, green keys with her in her purse in case of emergency. Joan feels certain these keys will never rust, but she always tries to keep them as dry as possible. What exactly are these little green keys, and why do people seek them with such passion?
Think about something you might find in your wallet or purse, something that's used to "unlock" opportunities and purchase things you want or need...
On the front side of each bill of paper money, a green seal is seen. Near the bottom of the green seal, a tiny green key is always found. Thus, whenever people spend, receive, or steal money, they are also exchanging these little green keys. Take some time to study your money more closely, and you will find a small weighing scale pictured in the same green seal just above the little green key. There are other interesting things to find on your money. A magnifying glass may be helpful in this endeavor.
Inspector Bradstreet, a highly respected police detective with 25 years of investigative experience on the force, was in a room with four homicide suspects: Joan, Shirley, Dorothy, and Irene. He was in the room with the four of them for at least 15 minutes, but for some reason, he had not started interrogating the suspects, despite the fact that a dead body, which had a knife sticking out of its back, lay on the floor in the room with them. One of the four suspects had called 911 to summon the police at some point. Why hadn't this highly decorated and respected detective started his investigation into the obvious murder by questioning the four suspects? For what reason was he waiting?
Think about the situation from the detective's perspective... what would make him hesitate to start questioning the suspects, despite the urgency of the situation? Consider the phrase "he was in the room with the four of them" very carefully.
Inspector Bradstreet was dead. It was his body that had the knife stuck in it.
I drive people crazy, but I'm not for the lazy. Young teenagers crave me, at first, I’m amazing. I'll have your heart racing, I may make you take off the safety. I'll cause suicides and lullabies. From sunrise to compromise. To having to settle, some I'll test your mettle. Some will never know me, some will wish they never knew me. What am I?
Think about something that can be both exhilarating and devastating, often associated with intense emotions and life-changing experiences...
Love.
A young, meek woman travels to a foreign land but accidentally kills an older woman when she arrives there. The young woman is very surprised to hear only cheers and praise from the large group of witnesses to the older woman's death ------ in fact, the entire group honors and thanks her for the killing. But the story doesn't end there, as the young woman later teams up with three males who agree to assist her in attempting to murder the sister of the dead woman. Having developed a taste for blood, the young woman, with the help of her gang of three males, manages to murder the second sister, much to the delight of an oddly dressed battalion of soldiers. This young woman is never tried for either of the killings and eventually, she returns home. What kind of warped justice is this? Two killings ------ one a definite murder, and not even an indictment? What in the world is going on here?
Think about a game, not a real-life scenario...
Your questions will all be answered by watching the classic movie, "The Wizard of Oz".
On February 28th in New York Museum, at quarter-past midnight, a security guard named Ollie Bulb is found murdered in the Latin exhibits, along with the "Mythical Crystal Tear of Cepa" missing. Around Ollie are glass shards. Detective Dill is at it again! Detective Dill finds 4 suspects that were in the museum during the murder. Sal Spudder, another security guard says, "I was at the Egyptian exhibits from 9 PM to 1 PM. But Chauncey was at the Latin exhibits at 12:15 PM, though!" Chauncey Chantenay, a scientist studying some artifacts says, "Yes, I was at the Latin exhibit, but I left by 12:20 PM cuz' of the police!" Horace Radische, a security guard visiting on his off day says, "I admit, going here exactly at midnight was a bad choice. Except, the police were already here when I arrived!" Beatrice Lutz, the museum caretaker says, "Gah! That bloody rat! Oh, sorry, I was cleaning the bathrooms between 11:45 PM and 12:25 PM." Upon receiving the autopsy report, it reports that Ollie was killed at 12:10 PM by a glass object. Because she heard every valid witness, Detective Dill immediately knew who it was. Who did Det. Dill suspect and why? And what had happened to the "Mythical Crystal Tear of Cepa"?
Here's a hint: Pay close attention to the times mentioned by each suspect, and think about what would have been possible or impossible for each of them to do during those times. Also, consider the phrase "because she heard every valid witness" - what does "valid" imply about the suspects' statements?
Horace Radische. Detective Dill knew he lied because he said that by midnight, the police were already there. But if Ollie was murdered at 12:10 PM and he was found at quarter-past, how were the police already there? And for the "Mythical Crystal Tear of Cepa"? It was the murder weapon. Horace smashed Ollie in the head with the artifact and upon contact it shattered, and Ollie collapsed due to the sheer force impacted on his head. Hence the death, the shards, and the missing artifact.
I cannot be possessed by one alone. Two may have me together, and a third might follow along. I go by many names, from the most beautiful to the most vile, but people often avoid speaking of me at all. What am I?
Think about something that can be shared, but not owned, and is often considered taboo or uncomfortable to discuss openly...
Sex.
You are floating in cold freezing water in the ocean after a shipwreck. Suddenly, out of the blue, you see an island. You quickly swim towards the island and sleep on the cold sand. The next day you see a boy, a woman, and a man who had claimed they had been poisoned and they need your water to cure them you ask them "What poison can be killed by water?" Then, you feel thirsty take out your water bottle and before you drink you realize it is some sort of potion then understand why they went to you. You see a note which tells that two are vampires while one is an actual human and tells you a secret code that could be a hint. The code was manacure. Who should you save?
Hint: Look closely at the code "manacure" and think about what it could be related to in the context of the story. It's not just a random word...
Answer: The man if you spell the words back word it spells cure a man the steps are here normal: manacure 1st step - separate them into words: man a cure 2nd step - rearrange them: cure a man 3rd step - you got your answer
Simon Simpleton was born in London, England. His mother was Welsh and his father Scottish. When Simon was eight his mother died. When Simon was ten his father married an Irish women and suddenly Simon had an Irish sister. When Simon was twenty four he graduated as a lawyer and took a job in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is now sixty six. Why can he not be buried on the banks of Loch Lomond in his favourite village of Luss, in Bonnie Scotland?
Think about Simon's nationality and the laws that govern burial in Scotland...
Because he is still alive!
Mr. Wilson was found unconscious in his bedroom on a Saturday evening. There were just five other people in his house at the time of the murder: Mr. Wilson's wife, their chef, a butler, a housemaid, and a gardener. They all told the detective what they were doing that evening. Mrs. Wilson: I was reading a book in the living room. The chef: I was cooking breakfast. The butler: I was giving instructions to several workers in the living room. The housemaid: I was in the kitchen, washing the dishes. The gardener: I was in the greenhouse, watering plants. The detective arrested the culprit right away. Who was it, and how did the detective know?
Hint: Pay close attention to the timing and the tasks each person claimed to be doing... something doesn't quite add up!
In fact, there wasn't just one culprit–there were TWO culprits: the personal chef and the butler. The personal chef is the first culprit; the murder happened in the EVENING. He couldn't be cooking breakfast so late in the day. The butler is the second culprit; there were only 5 other people in the house, including himself, and almost none of them were in the living room, except for the wife (but she is not a WORKER). He couldn't be supervising so many workers.
Can you read this? Yy u r Yy u b I c u Yy 4 me
Think about how you would communicate with someone in a very informal setting, like texting or social media...
Too wise you are, too wise you be, I see you too wise for me.
Once upon a time, John was walking in the woods to go fishing for some food but got lost. But he got across and old house and asked the owner, the owner invited John and they began to tell a story. The old man said "Once upon a time, two best friends were on a deserted island. There was no food at all, so they began to die of hunger. They agreed to fight until one of them died. The winner would eat the loser and thus will be saved. Besides, no one would ever know about that. They began to fight. And finally one of the best friends won." Meaning that the other was eaten and betrayed. Then, John pulled out a gun and killed the old man at once. Why would he do it?
The old man's story was not just a story...
The old man was the cannibal.
My little circle of friends here, getting bumped off one-by-one, reminds me of Agatha Christie's famous murder mystery "Ten Little Indians", where a small group of people are knocked off, one at a time, until only the killer and one person is left. The main difference is that in Christie's novel, the last survivor was to die by hanging, but in my situation, the sole survivor will be given "The Chair"! Should this person call the police? Is there a life-and-death scenario going on here, or is everyone's safety assured? What exactly is happening?
Think about a common, everyday situation where a group of things are gradually eliminated, one by one, until only one remains... and that last one gets "The Chair".
The person, along with a small group of their friends, is engaged in a game of Musical Chairs. "The Chair" is always reserved for the last person left.
How is it possible to always find what you're looking for in the last place you look?
Think about the logic of searching...
If you find what your are looking for then you would stop looking so it would be in the last place you look.
There lived a man in a house and everytime he went to bed he turned on the light. One night, the man forgot to turn on the light. The next day he read the paper and killed himself. Why?
The hint is: Think about the man's profession...
The man lived in a lighthouse. He forgot to turn on the light and a ship crashed. The next morning he read in the paper that the ship crashed and killed himself because he felt guilty.
A famous chemist was murdered in his own lab. There was no evidence except for a piece of paper with the names of chemical substances on it. On the day he was murdered, the chemist had only 3 visitors: his wife, Mary, his nephew Nicolas, and his friend Johnathan. The police arrested the murderer right away. How did they know who it was?
Think about the names on the piece of paper... are they just random chemical substances, or could they be something more?
The piece of paper had a clue on it. If you combine the short names of the chemical substances on the paper, you’ll get a name: Ni-C-O-La-S.
Ten men, five women, and 15 three-year-olds are being watched by thousands of cheering people. The men and the women and the three-year-olds are observed slowly entering 15 box-like structures, each having iron bars in the front. The men and women are not related to the three-year-olds, but at times witnesses have reported seeing these adults whip these three-year-olds to force them to obey their commands. Fortunately, the barred doors suddenly spring open and the men, women, and three-year-olds make their escape; however, they are easily tracked, as they always feel compelled to travel to the left, and never to the right. The thousands of people watching these proceedings are all waiting to see who will be the first to meet their end. These circumstances are inexcusable in a civilized society! How can thousands of people just idly sit by and cheer while a group of men and women whip a bunch of three-year-olds before their very eyes? What is wrong with society? Or, is there a simple explanation for these bizarre-sounding events? Just what exactly is going on here?
Think about a popular form of entertainment that involves racing and a specific type of vehicle...
With a maximum of 20 entrants in each race, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes feature only three-year-old thoroughbreds racing from their starting gates to their end at the finish line. Not all of the jockeys use whips on their horses, but many still do. By the way, to answer the title question: at the start of every race, they are not on —— They’re off!!!
Why is the letter F like death?
Think about the sounds and symbols associated with both...
Because without it life is a lie, or it makes life a lie.
A man is found dead at the end of an alley. A detective who enters the scene sees the letter X and immediately knows who killed the man and why. How did the detective know?
The detective was familiar with the local chess club that met in a building at the end of the alley...
This was a bowling alley, and the man who died was a pin spotter. A player had a strike and was to bowl again, but he bowled too soon before the pin spotter was clear. The X is on the score sheet and this tells the detective the name of the bowler.
You do not want to have it, But when you do have it, You do not want to lose it. What is it?
Think about something that's often unwanted, but once you're stuck with it, you'll do anything to hold on to it...
A lawsuit.
A detective in training is called to a room on his first day in, once there his instructor greets him and tells him he has a deck of fish cards. Alongside the instructor are two men who hold three cards from the same deck. He was given a paper reexplaining the prompt which had written on top: "Each man will say what he has, yet one man is lying... This man is the murderer." The first man began, he stated he held a shark, a shrimp, and a catfish. The second man stated he held two goldfish and a lion. Who is the murderer?
Hint: Think about the deck of cards... are there really lion cards in a deck of fish cards?
A common first answer is the second man, whereas a shrimp is not considered a fish in this case either... You can look over this again if you'd like now. The answer: The instructor There was only one liar, meaning if the deck was really of fish as the instructor said, they would both be lying in contrary to the prompt. Meaning the only way the statement could be true is if the instructor was the murderer.
There's a body lying dead on a bed, and on the floor beside it is a pair of scissors. The scissors were instrumental in his death, yet there's no trace of blood. The body reveals no signs of any cuts or bruises. How could the person have been murdered with a pair of scissors?
Think about a profession that often uses scissors, and a situation where they might be "instrumental" in someone's death, but not in a violent or bloody way...
The person slept on a waterbed. His killer used the scissors to cut the bed open and drown him.
Endlessly, I hunger, Lazily, I sleep. Murderous, I thunder, Desires, I do seek. Hoarding countless treasures, so my stature I retain, Envious of others whose feet on Earth remain. What am I?
Think about a natural phenomenon that is often associated with power, wealth, and a strong desire for more...
"The Seven Deadly Sins" - Reasoning: Each sentence structure portrays one of the seven deadly sins from Christian theology, with the exception of the final 5 words. In order according to the riddle, these are; gluttony, sloth, wrath, lust, greed, pride and envy. The final 5 words, "whose feet on Earth remain", act in conjunction with the section on envy, demonstrating the perspective of a sinner in hell, who is envious of those still alive, and thus can still repent for their sins in order to enter Heaven.
Why is an old man like a window?
Think about something that happens to both as they get older...
Because he is full of pains (panes).
NASA was considering sending canaries into space to study them under zero gravity. The project was scrapped when someone realized that in spite of having sufficient water supplies, they could die of dehydration within a few hours. Why?
Think about how canaries drink water...
Birds, unlike humans, need gravity to swallow. Humans can swallow even while hanging upside down.
A woman proves in court that her husband was murdered by her sister, but the judge decides that the sister cannot be punished. Why?
Think about the relationship between the woman and her sister...
The sisters are Siamese twins.
A psychologist goes to a village in Africa and decides to compare foot size to intelligence. He notes that in general, as foot size increases, so does intelligence. How can this be?
Think about who is most likely to have the largest feet in the village...
He is measuring everyone's feet, including the feet of the very small children. So the statistics will show that larger feet belong to the smarter people, the adults.
Of no use to one Yet absolute bliss to two. The small boy gets it for nothing. The young man has to lie for it. The old man has to buy it. The baby's right, The lover's privilege, The hypocrite's mask. To the young girl, faith; To the married woman, hope; To the old maid, charity. What am I?
Think about something that is valued and perceived differently by people at various stages of life, and has multiple meanings depending on one's perspective.
A kiss.
Why is a bullet like a tender glance?
"Think about the power of a single, fleeting moment..."
Because it pierces hearts.
Half-way up the hill, I see thee at last. Lying beneath me with thy sounds and sights - A city in the twilight, dim and vast, With smoking roofs, soft bells, and gleaming lights. What is it?
"Look down, not up, to find the answer."
The past.
Why are mortgages like burglars?
Think about what both mortgages and burglars "take" from you...
They secure (seek your) money.
Why is an avaricious man like one with a short memory?
Think about what an avaricious person always wants more of, and how that relates to their ability to recall things...
Because he is always for getting.
What is the shape of a kiss?
Think about the shape your lips make when you pucker up...
Elliptical—a-lip-tickle.
A woman went into a bank to cash an insurance refund check. By mistake the teller gave her dollars for cents and cents for dollars. She put the money in her purse but accidentally dropped a nickel on the floor. When she got home, she found that she had exactly twice the amount of the check she had cashed. She didn't have any money in her wallet before going to the bank. What was the exact amount of that check?
Think about the mistake the teller made: if they gave dollars for cents and cents for dollars, that means they swapped the decimal point...
The amount must have been $31.63. She received $63.31. After she dropped a nickel there would remain the sum of $63.26, which is twice the amount of the check.
A prisoner is told, "If you tell a lie we will hang you; if you tell the truth we will shoot you." What can he say to save himself?
Think about a statement that, if true, would mean you'd be shot, but if false, would mean you'd be hanged...
You will hang me.
Join a noun and adjective, and make a verb. What is the word?
Think about a type of fruit that is often described as being "light" in color or texture...
Impeach.
I like to be blue and have been since '63, but I could be anything if my circuit was fixed. I'm small yet infinitely bigger. I was grown but I'm made of metal. I am the last of my kind just like my beautiful idiot once was. Together we will travel, have traveled or are traveling. Tenses as seen, seeing, will see, are mysterious to me. Wibblies and wobblies, time correctly described by a Lord. What will I be, what have I been, or is it, what am I?
"Think about a mode of transportation that has been around since 1963, and its color is often associated with blue. The answer is not a living thing, but it's been 'grown' in a sense. Pay attention to the references to time and tenses, as they might just give away the identity of this enigmatic object."
The T.A.R.D.I.S. from Doctor Who.
A man is discovered dead sitting at his desk, alone in the locked office. He did not commit suicide and there was no weapons in the room. The only clue is a sealed envelope on the desk in front of him. How did he die?
Think about the phrase "sealed envelope"... what does it imply about the contents inside?
The envelope glue was poisoned and when the man licked the envelope to seal it, he died.
As defendants, we deny all involvement in the unscrupulous dealings which have come to light in the recent government investigation. What country name is hidden in the previous sentence?
Think about the first letter of each word in the sentence...
Sweden. "defendant-S, we den-y".
What are the next 3 letters in this riddle? O T T F F S S _ _ _
The hint is: Think about a sequence that is often recited or sung, especially by children.
E N T. Explanation: Each letter represents the first letter of each number one thru ten.
What did the hangman get his wife for her birthday?
Think about the hangman's "job" and what he's always drawing...
A Choker.
I am slim and tall, Many find me desirable and appealing. They touch me and I give a false good feeling. Once I shine in splendor, But only once and then no more. For many I am "to die for". What am I?
You're a tempting treat, but beware of your fleeting charm...
A Cigarette
Suppose you want to send in the mail a valuable object to a friend. You have a box which is big enough to hold the object. The box has a locking ring which is large enough to have a lock attached and you have several locks with keys. However, your friend does not have the key to any lock that you have. You cannot send the key in an unlocked box since it may be stolen or copied. How do you send the valuable object, locked, to your friend - so it may be opened by your friend?
Think about sending the box to your friend in multiple trips, and consider the role of the locking ring in a creative way...
Send the box with a lock attached and locked. Your friend attaches his or her own lock and sends the box back to you. You remove your lock and send it back to your friend. Your friend may then remove the lock she or he put on and open the box.
Sally, Lisa, and Bernadette are triplets. But Sally and Lisa share something that Berandette does not. What is it?
Think about the names, not their personalities or characteristics...
The letter L in their names.
As a whole, I am both safe and secure. Behead me, and I become a place of meeting. Behead me again, and I am the partner of ready. Restore me, and I become the domain of beasts. What am I?
Think about a word that can be modified by removing its first letter (beheading) to form new words with different meanings...
Stable.
Of no use to one Yet absolute bliss to two. The small boy gets it for nothing. The young man has to lie for it. The old man has to buy it. The baby's right, The lover's privilege, The hypocrite's mask. To the young girl, faith; To the married woman, hope; To the old maid, charity. What am I?
Think about a concept that is often associated with relationships, emotions, and life stages...
A Kiss.
As a whole, I am both safe and secure. Behead me, and I become a place of meeting. Behead me again, and I am the partner of ready. Restore me, and I become the domain of beasts. What am I?
Think about a word that can be modified by removing its first letter, and how the resulting words might relate to the descriptions in the riddle.
A Stable
Some cogs are tigs. All tigs are bons. Some bons are pabs. Some pabs are tigs. Therefore, cogs are definitely pabs.--- TRUE or FALSE?
Think about the relationships between the groups, and ask yourself: Can we really conclude that all cogs are pabs just because of these statements?
False. Some cogs may be pabs, but not definitely all of them.
A woman who lives in new york legally married three men, she did not get divorce, get an enollment, or legally seperate. How is this possible?
Think about the timing and the context of the marriages...
She is a minister.
Julie is going on an extended trip for three weeks. She lives in a remote area where there are frequent electrical power outages which can last up to three or four days. Julie has quite a bit of food in her freezer which would go bad if it thawed and then re-froze. She does have digital clock and a VCR which would flash 12:00 if the power went out. Unfortunately the clock and VCR flash even if the power only goes out for a few seconds. What can Julie do so that when she returns home she will be able to determine whether the power was out long enough to thaw her food? Asking a neighbor whether the power was out, isn't a reliable option because the nearest house is half a mile away, and one house may have power, while another house may have no power. She won?t be able to have a neighbor check on her house every day, and has no one to house sit.
Think about using a device that can measure the passage of time, but is not affected by short power outages...
One thing Julie could do is freeze a tray of ice-cubes, and turn the tray of ice upside down in her freezer. When she comes home, she should check the tray. If the ice cubes are still in the tray, the food is safe to eat. If the trays are empty, it's time to clean out the freezer. She will have to make a judgment call if the ice-cubes are only slightly thawed.
Why is it that Snoop Dogg needs an umbrella?
Think about Snoop Dogg's name and a common phrase associated with it...
Because of the drizzle.
The answer I give is yes, but what I mean is no. What was the question?
Clever riddle! Here's a hint: Think about a question that is often asked in a polite or formal setting, where a "yes" response is considered more courteous, even if the truth is actually "no".
Do you mind?
Fred is listening to the raido when it suddenly stops playing. Nobody is with Fred and nobody touches the radio. A few seconds later, the radio resumes playing. How can this be?
Think about a common phenomenon that can temporarily interrupt a radio signal...
Fred was driving his car through a tunnel.
A Queen has twins by Caesarean section so it's impossible to tell who was born first. Now the twins are adults and ready to rule. One is intensely stupid, while the other is highly intelligent, well-loved, and charismatic. Yet the unintelligent one is chosen as the next ruler. Why?
Think about the traditional rules of succession in monarchies...
He is a male.
If you can buy 1 for $1, 14 for $2, and 145 for $3, what are you buying?
Think about something you can buy at a store, and the quantity you can purchase changes drastically with just a small increase in price...
House numbers
The land was white the seed was black It'll take a good scholar to riddle me that. What am I?
Think about something you might find in a library or a study...
An eye or an eyeball
Two grandmothers, with their two granddaughters; Two husbands, with their two wives; Two fathers, with their two daughters; Two mothers, with their two sons; Two maidens, with their two mothers; Two sisters, with their two brothers; Yet only six in all lie buried here; All born legitimate, from incest clear. How can this be?
Think about a family tree, and consider the different relationships that can exist between people. Focus on the words "two" and "their" to help you understand how these relationships can be intertwined.
Two widows each had a son, and each widow married the son of the other and then each had a daughter.
There were 5 men traveling down a road and it started to rain and 4 men sped up, the 5th did not, but they all arrived at the same place at the same time but all of them were wet besides the 5th. How?
Think about the mode of transportation...
He was dead and in a coffin.
A camel travels a certain distance each day. Strangely enough, two of its legs travel 30 miles each day and the other two legs travel nearly 31 miles. It would seem that two of the camel's legs must be one mile ahead of the other two legs, but of course this can't be true. Since the camel is normal, how is this situation possible?
Think about the direction the camel is traveling...
The camel operates a mill and travels in a circular clockwise direction. The two outside legs will travel a greater distance than the two inside legs.
What three letters change a girl into a woman?
Think about a girl's title or label...
Replace the letters G, I, and R with the three letters A, D, and Y. The word "lady" is another word for woman. Other possible answers: AGE, MRS, MOM...
Thirty white horses on a red hill, First they champ, Then they stamp, Then they stand still. What are they?
"Think about a common, everyday object that you might find in a kitchen, and how it might be described in a poetic way..."
Teeth.
You go to the doctor because you're ill and he prescribes you with 3 pills and tells you to take them every half hour. How long do the pills last you?
Think about the timing of when you take each pill...
An hour because the first pill doesn't take 30 min. to take.
A headless man had a letter to write; It was read by a man who had lost his sight. The dumb repeated it word for word, And deaf was he who listened and heard. What is it?
Think about the world of communication, where messages are conveyed through different senses...
The letter in question is the letter "O". It is zero. The man had nothing to write. The blind could read nothing. The person who was dumb could repeat nothing. The deaf man listened and heard nothing.
A traveler came to the river side, with a donkey bearing an obelisk. But he did not venture to ford the tide, for he had too good an *. What is the missing word?
Think about a word that is a common phrase associated with "head"...
Asterisk = "Ass to Risk".
If someone robbed you in the shower, what would you be?
"Think about what you typically do in the shower..."
An eye wetness.
The word FACETIOUSLY contains the six vowels, A-E-I-O-U and Y, in their alphabetical order. Can you find another English word that does the same?
Think about a word that is often used to describe a place where people go to relax and have fun...
The word is abstemiously. There may be others.
It's always 1 to 6, it's always 15 to 20, it's always 5, but it's never 21, unless it's flying. What is it?
Think about something you might find on a bird, but also on a common object people use every day...
The answer is: a dice. An explanation: "It's always 1 to 6": the numbers on the faces of the dice, "it's always 15 to 20": the sum of the exposed faces when the dice comes to rest after being thrown, "it's always 5": the number of exposed faces when the dice is at rest, "but it's never 21": the sum of the exposed faces is never 21 when the dice is at rest, "unless it's flying": the sum of all exposed faces when the dice is flying is 21 (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6).
A boy leaves home in the morning to go to school. At the moment he leaves the house he looks at the clock in the mirror. The clock has no number indication and for this reason, the boy makes a mistake in interpreting the time (mirror-image). Just assuming the clock must be out of order, the boy cycles to school, where he arrives after twenty minutes. At that moment the clock at school shows a time that is two and a half hours later than the time that the boy saw on the clock at home. What time is it?
Think about what happens when you look at a clock in a mirror...
The difference between the real time and the time of the mirror image is two hours and ten minutes (two and a half hours, minus the twenty minutes of cycling). Therefore, the original time on the clock at home that morning could only have been five minutes past seven: The difference between these clocks is exactly 2 hours and ten minutes (note that also five minutes past one can be mirrored in a similar way, but this is not in the morning!). Conclusion: The boy reaches school at five minutes past seven plus twenty minutes of cycling, which is twenty-five minutes past seven!...
WYISDERSOMENIMORORSIZASIZDENDERISORSIZ? What does this say?
Look for a common phrase that people often say, and try reading the first letter of each word.
Why is there so many more horses asses than there is horses?
You are locked in a house and you have four objects. You have a wooden chair, a ladder, a piano, and a rubber ax. You can only pick one object and you can't get out by breaking anything. What would you use to get out?
Think about an object that can help you reach something that can lead you out of the house, but not necessarily a physical exit...
You use the piano KEYS to ulock the door!
Angry and Hungry are two words ending in 'gry" There are three words, (Using popular terminology) in the English Language, that ends in "GRY". The word is something that everyone uses every day. If you have listened carefully, I have already told you what it is. What is the third word?
Pay attention to the phrase "If you have listened carefully, I have already told you what it is."
The answer is terminology. It's the third word ending in gry. Using popular terminology
When is a baby not a baby?
Think about a specific moment in a baby's life when it suddenly stops being called a "baby"!
When it's a little cross.
David's father has three sons: Snap, Crackle, and _____?
Think about the name of the person the riddle is asking about...
David.
What belongs to you but is used more by others?
Think about something that has your identity or name attached to it, but others use it more frequently than you do...
Your name.
I make two people out of one. What am I?
Think about a common, everyday activity that involves a change in appearance...
A mirror.
What is more useful when it is broken?
Think about something that you might not want to happen to it, but when it does, it becomes more functional or valuable...
An egg.
I am white when I am dirty, and black when I am clean. What am I?
Think about something you use every day, and its appearance changes depending on its state of cleanliness...
A blackboard.
How do you spell COW in thirteen letters?
Think about a phrase that involves a cow, rather than the individual letters of the word "COW" itself...
SEE O DOUBLE YOU.
I am as light as a feather, yet no man can hold me for long. What am I?
Think about something that is almost weightless, but even the strongest person would struggle to grasp or contain it for more than a few moments...
Your Breath.
They have not flesh, nor feathers, nor scales, nor bone. Yet they have fingers and thumbs of their own. What are they?
Think about something you might find on a desk or in a workshop, used for a specific task, and has "fingers" and "thumbs" that are not alive...
Gloves.
I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost everybody. What am I?
Think about something that's extracted from the earth, confined in a wooden container, and is a ubiquitous part of daily life...
Pencil lead.
There are two monkeys on a tree and one jumps off. Why does the other monkey jump too?
Think about the monkeys' relationship...
Monkey see monkey do.
Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain on Earth?
Think about the question itself, not the mountain...
Mount Everest.
The more you take away, the more I become. What am I?
"A hole lot of sense..."
A hole.
I have two hands, but I can not scratch myself. What am I?
Think about an object that has two "hands" or parts that resemble hands, but is not a living being and therefore cannot scratch itself. It's something you might find in a public place, and people often interact with it.
A clock.
There are 10 people in an empty, square room. Each person has full sight of the entire room and everyone in it without turning his head or body or moving in any way (other than the eyes). Where can you place an apple so that all but one person can see it?
Think about the blind spots in the room...
Place the apple on one person's head.
Why did Tigger go to the bathroom?
Think about Tigger's most notable characteristic...
He wanted to find his friend, Pooh!
I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?
Think about the first and last letters of words, and how they relate to the concepts mentioned in the riddle...
The letter E. End, timE, spacE, Every placE
What did the baseball glove say to the ball?
Think about a common phrase people use when they catch something...
Catch you later.
What goes up when the rain comes down?
Think about something that is affected by the rain, but in a counterintuitive way...
An umbrella.
There are 30 cows in a field, and 28 chickens. How many didn't?
Think about the question being asked... it's not about the number of cows or chickens, but rather about the action of doing something. What is it that some of them didn't do?
10. Listen closely: 30 cows and twenty-eight chickens. Say EIGHT and ATE. They sound the same. Therefore, it means 20 ATE chickens. 30-20=10, so 10 cows didn't eat any chickens.
How many seconds are there in one year?
Think about the number of seconds in a minute, hour, day, and month... and how you can multiply them together to get your answer!
12. Every month has a 2nd.
I have no feet, no hands, no wings, but I climb to the sky. What am I?
Think about something that can grow and rise upwards, often seen in nature, and is commonly associated with the sky...
Smoke.
If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven't got me. What am I?
Think about something that is often considered precious, yet the act of sharing it means you'll no longer possess it...
A Secret.
How can you leave a room with two legs and return with six legs?
Think about a common, everyday object that you might find in a room, and how it might change its "legs" depending on how it's being used...
Bring a chair back with you.
If you were running a race, and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now?
Think about the people you've passed, but also the people who haven't been passed...
You would be in the 2nd place. You thought first place, right? Well, you passed the guy in second place, not first.
Look in my face, I am somebody; Look in my back, I am nobody. What am I?
Think about an everyday object that has a "face" and a "back", and consider how its identity changes depending on which side you look at...
I am a mirror.
A man in a car saw a Golden Door, Silver Door and a Bronze Door. What door did he open first?
Think about the situation before the man got out of the car...
The car door.
How many sides does a circle have?
Think about the definition of a "side"...
Two. The inside and the outside.
How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25?
Think about the concept of "subtraction" more deeply...
Once, because after you subtract 5 from 25 it becomes 20.
If a rooster laid a brown egg and a white egg, what kind of chicks would hatch?
Think about the role of a rooster in the egg-laying process...
Roosters don't lay eggs.
Why was the broom late?
"Think about the broom's 'job' and what might slow it down..."
It overswept.
Some months have 30 days while other months have 31 days. How many have 28 days?
Think about the minimum number of days a month can have...
Every month has a 28th so they all have 28 days.
Johnny's dad had told Johnny that if he could get an A+ on his final exam, he could get any ice cream flavor he wanted plus a pizza. When the day for the final exam came, the professor said, "There are three questions on this exam. You will have one hour to answer them all and no more. Anyone caught taking any longer or cheating will get an automatic F." When Johnny received the paper, he read the first question. As he read it, he realized the exam was no piece of cake so he worked as hard as he could. When he finally finished question one, he checked the clock. There was only 5 minutes left! At this rate, he wouldn't be able to finish in time. As Johnny looked around, he saw that there were hundreds of students and figured that he could get away with a few extra minutes, so he worked away past the hour mark. As Johnny went to turn in his paper, the professor stopped him. "Young man," the professor said sternly. "I saw you keep working long after the 1-hour mark. You were caught cheating and will get an F." Thinking quickly, Johnny replied, "Do you know who I am?" The professor stoically responded, "I neither know or care who you are. You need to learn respect and discipline." "Good." said Johnny and he ran away. When the day for the exam scores to be announced came, Johnny received an A+. How?
Think about the power of a simple question...
When the professor confirmed Johnny's anonymity (the professor didn't know who he was), Johnny quickly slipped his exam paper into the pile of exams and ran off, so the professor wouldn't know which exam paper deserved an F. Congratulations on sticking through the whole riddle.
What are moving left to right, right now?
Think about what's happening on the screen as you read these words...
Your eyes!
There is a green house. Inside the green house, there is a white house Inside the white house there is a red house. Inside the red house, there are lots of babies. What is it?
Think about a common fruit that has a green outer layer, a white inner layer, and a red or reddish innermost layer, and is often associated with babies...
It is a watermelon. Explanation: The skin of the watermelon is green (green house), the watermelon rind is white (white house), the watermelon flesh is red (red house), and the watermelon seeds located in the red flesh are the babies.
Sometimes I am born in silence, Other times, no. I am unseen, But I make my presence known. In time, I fade without a trace. I harm no one, but I am unpopular with all. What am I?
Think about something that can appear suddenly, without warning, and can be very unwelcome, yet it doesn't cause any physical harm...
A fart.
What time does a tennis player get up?
Think about the terminology used in tennis...
Ten-ish.
There is an ancient invention, still used in some parts of the world today, that allows people to see through walls. What is it?
"Think old, think simple, think everyday... and don't worry, it won't give you X-ray vision!"
A window.
Which one of Santa's reindeer can be seen on Valentine's Day?
Think about the names of Santa's reindeer and how they relate to the theme of Valentine's Day...
Cupid.
What did the bee say to the flower?
"Think sweet thoughts..."
Hello, honey!
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 the concept of "home" takes on a different meaning...
The King of Hearts in a deck of cards.
A horse was tied to a rope 5 meters long and the horse's food was 15 meters away from the horse. How did the horse reach the food?
The key to this riddle is to think outside the box (or in this case, the rope). The answer doesn't involve the horse moving the rope or breaking free from it. Instead, consider the orientation of the rope and the horse's food...
The rope wasn't tied to anything so he could reach the food.
What weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of stones?
Think about the unit of measurement...
The same. They both weigh a pound!
Why do mummies like Christmas so much?
Think about what's wrapped up during the holiday season...
Because of all the wrapping.
Four fingers and a thumb, Yet flesh and blood, I have none. What am I?
Think about something you might find on a desk or in a office supply closet...
A glove.
I have a thousand needles but I do not sew. What am I?
Think about a place where you might find a large quantity of sharp, pointy objects, but they're not used for stitching or repairing fabric...
A Porcupine.
What has no body and no nose?
Think about something you might find in a room, but it's not a living thing...
Nobody knows.
Why can't a pirate ever finish the alphabet?
Shiver me timbers! Think about the pirate's favorite letter...
Because he always gets lost at sea!