Questions tagged [explanation]
The answer to a problem may be known but it is not understood. These questions explicitly request additional details on how a problem is solved or why the current solution is appropriate.
59
questions
5
votes
1answer
996 views
A duck for a well-known bowler (5): How to solve it?
The following is a cryptic clue1:
A duck for a well-known bowler (5)
I know that the answer is:
While I understand that:
How does it relate to the cryptic clue?
1 The source for this cryptic clue ...
3
votes
1answer
240 views
Why can R1c3 not be a 4?
Take the following Killer Sudoku (from the app "Killer Sudoku" by Studio Goya LLC) I have been struggling with for the last few hours. "Penciled" numbers are my notes about which ...
-2
votes
2answers
148 views
How to solve this problem on overlapping?
In cases of problems involving order and ranking where there are two indices (namely left and right) there is a particular chance of overlapping. Let us take an example to justify this:
Ranjan is ...
32
votes
7answers
2k views
Two out of a dozen cartons have Easter eggs. Two people try to find one Easter egg carton, each using a different strategy. Who is expected to win?
I have found a counter intuitive puzzle. I have read the answer given at the source and understand it completely. But, what I am unable to understand is why my intuition turned out to be wrong. ...
5
votes
1answer
462 views
100 blue-eyed people riddle N=4
The solution of this riddle is usually given with explicit reasoning for two cases:
Case where there is only 1 blue-eyed person,
Case where there are 2 blue-eyed people.
That logic is clear, and I ...
4
votes
2answers
190 views
Cyclic squaring
Find a complex number $a$, which satisfies the following conditions:
If you square $a$, you get a different complex number $b$.
If you square $b$, you get a complex number $c$, which is different ...
5
votes
1answer
333 views
Very modest contract: leading with a king makes good sense (5)
This is from a Times puzzle in an old book:
(DOWN) 4. Very modest contract: leading with a king makes good sense (5)
I know the answer is LOGIC but I can't see why - please can somebody explain it?
3
votes
2answers
275 views
3 hats with numbers, where 2 hats sum to the third
I have outlined a puzzle below, and provided two sources which provide answers. I am disputing that the answer provided in the sources is correct, and I am looking for others to validate or invalidate ...
4
votes
1answer
199 views
How is "OPPOSE" the answer to "Don't act like a pro (6)"?
Clue from the West Australian Cryptic Crossword 13/5/2021:
"Don't act like a pro (6)"
Answer: OPPOSE
I can see that "act" gives POSE", but how do you get to "OPPOSE&...
-3
votes
1answer
244 views
Open dice Problem
The following figure is folded to form a box. Choose from the
alternatives (A), (B), (C) and (D) the boxes that is similar to the
box formed.
Source: YouTube
Video
How to answer these type of ...
16
votes
5answers
7k views
Why is "lion" the answer to "Take the first left turn at the zoo?"
From The Evening Standard's Cryptic Crossword - Apr 23 2021, the clue for 36-Across is:
Take the first left turn at the zoo (4)
And the answer is "lion".
I get that the first left is L. ...
0
votes
1answer
144 views
Coloring 5 largest numbers in each row and column yields at least 25 double-colored numbers
I have a question about the answer given to this problem. The problem is reproduced below:
This is a question from a very old American Mathematical Monthly, if I recall correctly. It has a very nice ...
3
votes
1answer
177 views
9 people sitting at a round table
I am unable to figure out how to solve this question @Joffan has given an answer but he hasn't mentioned much regarding his approach. I requested him but he still didn't give a clear answer. This is ...
2
votes
1answer
277 views
Arrange candies without repeating pattern
The following puzzle had been posted before but I couldn't understand the only answer that was given there, which was by @neodne . So, I created this post asking someone to explain neodne's answer to ...
11
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is “AFTS” the solution to the crossword clue "Times before eves, in ads"?
I was doing a crossword from the NY Times (from Mon, Feb 11, 2019 by Portia Lundie / Will Shortz) and I got the following clue.
51 ACROSS - Times before eves, in ads
The answer is "AFTS". ...
1
vote
1answer
106 views
Why is 'logjam' the answer to 'function held up by traffic blockage'?
Why is 'logjam' the answer to 'function held up by traffic blockage'? I guess 'log' is function, and logjam is blockage but why 'jam/maj'? L,G & A are all correct.
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is “HADAT” the solution to the crossword clue "went after"?
I was doing crossword from NY Times, from Mon, Feb 11, 2019 by Howard Barkin + Will Shortz and I got the following clue.
Went after
The answer is "HADAT". However, I can not find ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is RYE the answer to "Grass over pretty Cambridge backs"?
The clue is:
Grass over pretty Cambridge backs
The answer is RYE. I get the grass part, but what is the connection in the rest of the clue? This is from the Saturday Telegraph Cryptic, clue no. ...
0
votes
1answer
222 views
Why is the answer to "Newspaper had a box for the sweetmeat" FUDGE?
This is a clue from a cryptic crossword published in the NZ Herald on January 1st 2021:
Newspaper had a box for the sweetmeat.
All I can see is that FUDGE is a sweet often kept in a box or tin, but ...
5
votes
1answer
645 views
Why is "issued" the answer to "Fire corners if one-a-side matches haven't begun"?
Why is "issued" the answer to "Fire corners if one-a-side matches haven't begun"?
This was published in the NZ Herald cryptic crossword on 8th December 2020.
4
votes
1answer
223 views
Explain the solution to a cryptic clue for ORIGAMI
Cryptic crossword clue 21 down from Telegraph puzzle #29,363.
Sort of art foundation almost inspiring amateur (7)
We have the letters O_I_A_I. We believe the ...
10
votes
1answer
556 views
Why is "alienated" the answer to "One caregiver in particular turned indifferent"?
The clue is:
One caregiver in particular turned indifferent. (9)
I think the answer may be "alienated" but I can't really explain it. Can anyone else provide a good explanation?
17
votes
1answer
2k views
One thousand year old riddle (from the Exeter Book)
This riddle is from the Exeter Book, circa 960-990 A.D.:
Clothes make no sound when I tread ground
Or dwell in dwellings or disturb the flow.
And lofty air and gear at times
Above men's towns ...
2
votes
1answer
207 views
Pattern Recognition: $7 \star 8$ =?
The following pattern was given to me by one of my friends:
If $$\quad 5 \star 5 = 10$$
$$\quad 6 \star 6=18$$
$$\quad 7 \star 7=36$$
then $$\quad 7 \star 8 = ?$$
a) $54 \quad$ b) $51 \...
4
votes
2answers
282 views
Why are 2s not possible in these Sudoku cells?
I recently was playing Sudoku on my iPad. As I was stuck on the puzzle I clicked on "Tip" to receive a hint on how I can solve this Sudoku (I am still learning the game) - so please don't ...
4
votes
2answers
317 views
What's the problem with the prisoner to be hanged logic puzzle
A criminal is imprisoned on Monday, and told "you will have been hanged by the weekend, but you won't know which day we'll hang you."
If it gets to Thursday midnight and he's not been hanged yet, he ...
4
votes
12answers
3k views
English Logic Puzzle [closed]
On this site, I found this:
"If some Smaugs are Thors and some Thors are Thrains, then some Smaugs are definitely Thrains."
Options: TRUE, FALSE, NEITHER
The answer given is FALSE. However, I ...
2
votes
2answers
113 views
Astonishing Analogies
An analogy can compare a comparison.
What is the answer to the following question?
Alarm is to Bread as Course is to Dot - Explain
-2
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the correct solution to 16/4(4)? [closed]
This has been circulated recently. We all know the order of the calculation: BEDMAS.
B rackets and Parentheses: First Priority
E xponents: Second Priority
D ivision: Third Priority
M ultiplication: ...
7
votes
14answers
29k views
How to prove that this man has a profit of 20 and not 10?
This is not actually a puzzle per se, but I'm asking for an explanation about the puzzle's answer.
The puzzle goes like this:
A man bought a goat for 60. He then sold it for 70. Later, he bought that ...
7
votes
2answers
332 views
Teacup geometry
Inspired by the three utilities puzzle from prog_SAHIL I'm now posting a similar puzzle that makes use of the topology of a cup with a handle:
The question is:
How many distinct points can you ...
6
votes
1answer
255 views
How many dimensions?
You have $n+1$ points in $n$-dimensional Euclidean space, such that the mutual distance between each pair of points is the same. Now imagine an $n$-dimensional generalization of a sphere, such that ...
5
votes
2answers
688 views
two of A, B and C in each row column and diagonal
This puzzle comes from a book called "Braintraining Puzzles" (The one with a blue-green cover). It involves a 6x6 grid which needs to be filled with two copies of A, B and C in each row, column and ...
4
votes
2answers
4k views
Alternate answer to the 2 guard 2 door question?
I asked a friend the classic question about the two guards and two doors that goes as follows:
The rules are clear: there are two doors. One leads to the castle, the other, to certain death. You may ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
How is this the correct answer in this number sequence?
I have this sequence:
24, 63, 10, 48, 35, 72, 44....
The next number is
How is this the correct answer?
11
votes
1answer
1k views
How do I solve this logic puzzle?
I am trying to improve my logical thinking and I came across this puzzle problem. I need some help solving the puzzle below.
Two weeks ago, four enthusiasts made sightings of objects in the sky in ...
8
votes
2answers
8k views
Homer's Riddle Understanding
I recently heard the riddle that Homer, reportedly, died trying to solve. Homer approaches some fisherman and they say to him, "What we caught, we threw away, what we didn't catch, we kept.
I ...
6
votes
5answers
66k views
Why does this answer to "two doors with two guards" work?
On this post: Two doors with two guards - one lies, one tells the truth the most common answer for this riddle is given.
However, while the answer marked as correct is the most common solution I found,...
7
votes
5answers
2k views
Single letter chemical elements on a 2x2 grid
In the past somebody showed me the puzzle below. I remember the answer but not the entire solution. Here it goes:
On a grid of 2x2 put four single letter chemical elements. The result should have ...
14
votes
3answers
1k views
Logic behind numeric sequence
There was this sequence on a magazine and the reader has to find the next number:
10, 2, 4, 6, 2, 8
I couldn't find one, then I found the answer in the next magazine. They say the number is 5, so ...
19
votes
1answer
751 views
Salon workers, for short?
The clue is "Salon workers, for short?", and
the answer is "EDS".
I've spent hours trying to find an EXPLANATION for this answer.
Why are there so many sites that simply GIVE you the answer without ...
1
vote
4answers
738 views
Clock time Puzzle
What will be the time when the hour, minute, and second hands will all coincide in between 6 O'Clock and 7 O'Clock?
How should I approach this type of question? Can anyone explain it?
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Why are these shapes impossible to draw with the given rules?
The image above shows a group of shapes, all with lines leading to their center point. These shapes cannot be drawn with the following rules:
You may not trace over over an already existing line.
You ...
7
votes
4answers
522 views
How do you transport 42 cars?
You're a soldier in the dictator's army. The dictator is very impressed with your incredible abilities. He asks you this question:
There are 42 cars in this parking lot over there. How do you ...
5
votes
0answers
2k views
Mensa IQ test question: complete the logical sequence [closed]
I tried taking the Mensa practice test. One of the question involved completing a series of figures with the most logical option. This is the base sequence:
And we have to choose the additional ...
2
votes
3answers
639 views
Clarifications on the unexpected hanging paradox
I read through the wiki on the unexpected hanging paradox .
A judge tells a condemned prisoner that he will be hanged at noon on one weekday in the following week but that the execution will be a ...
8
votes
4answers
11k views
Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers - Progressive Matrices Puzzle
In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell presents the following puzzle:
...
9
votes
2answers
908 views
mistakes in analogous puzzles from The Tipping Point
In the book 'The Tipping Point', Malcolm Gladwell cites two puzzles and draws an analogy between them, in fact he claims the two are equivalent. I believe there are some problems with both puzzles, ...
16
votes
4answers
2k views
Strategy for finding the key to this cipher
A coworker and I are perplexed over this puzzle. We gave up and looked at the answer, but we cannot seem to understand how it works. Can anybody explain?
Text version of the above image
We've created ...
-3
votes
2answers
3k views
Logic-grid puzzle. How do I have to interpret the clue?
There are eight students named Aman, Bobby, Chameli, Deepak, Ekta, Farook, Garima and Harsh in a school. They are in class 6th, 7th and 8th with no more than three students in any class.
Each of ...
