Questions tagged [lateral-thinking]
A puzzle solved through an indirect and creative approach, using reasoning that is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may not be obtainable only using logic.
1,243
questions
8
votes
2
answers
679
views
18
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Sums in a (very small) box
This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #14: Think inside the (very small) box!.
Place the digits 1 to 9 in the box below in such a way that in each row, each column and each diagonal, one ...
- 26.4k
2
votes
2
answers
565
views
Connect dots on a grid with one continuous line
Rules:
Line must be straight.
Line must be continuous.
Line must not intersect itself.
Line is allowed to take 45 degree turns to itself, for example:
The dots:
- 433
6
votes
3
answers
321
views
Zodiac Signs at the Table
"And we find ourselves at another one of Ophiuchus' little themed puzzle dinners," you say while glancing at the other seven people.
"I really like its puzzle dinners, honestly," ...
- 1,143
27
votes
1
answer
879
views
"Missing letters (?)", a Nazo-like
This was an attempt at making a Nazo-type puzzle.
Nazo puzzles are lateral thinking puzzles, centered around a single neat observation/realisation, as a way to let you find that interesting ...
- 958
-1
votes
2
answers
158
views
Adventures of the riddle (solve the riddle)
In sports and games, I'm in the play,
Bouncing and spinning, throughout the day.
From basketball to tennis, I'm found,
A familiar sight, rolling around.
In nature's realm, I bring delight,
A fruit so ...
- 433
3
votes
1
answer
258
views
What food am I making?
I was planning to make two portions, but didn't have enough potable water.
Then I decided to make four portions, and the water was plentiful.
What food was I making?
Hint 1:
Hint 2:
- 287
21
votes
1
answer
627
views
Connecting Wall with a New Gimmick
This is a connecting wall puzzle containing a gimmick that I am not aware of in PSE (or indeed anywhere else). If I learn otherwise then I would still be happy to claim “I did it better” 😊
Divide ...
- 7,240
5
votes
1
answer
108
views
Happy Venndredi! A Nicer Team Diet?
Bonjour
The overlapping ellipses form seven curved regions. Your task is to place the seven tiles so that there is exactly one tile in each region and the four tiles in any ellipse can be re-arranged ...
- 2,940
3
votes
1
answer
317
views
A puzzling message from the developers of this site
The developers of this site sent me an enigmatic message:
Dear Stackexchange users,
We know that you love exploring and finding great puzzles on Stackexchange!
We made something for you all, but you ...
- 669
13
votes
1
answer
470
views
A picture of a line
Four Harvard students Bates, Denise, Dennis and Sacha had someone take a picture of them with all of them holding a specific drink in their hands. All four of them were also wearing the same type of ...
- 27.1k
6
votes
2
answers
809
views
State of the Union?
Good evening all!
Further advenntures in wordplay. Same rules as ever - the three overlapping ellipses form seven curved regions. Place one tile in each region, so that the tiles in any ellipse can be ...
- 2,940
2
votes
1
answer
174
views
You will meet someone, and he will throw your father in a deep fryer
You are going to meet someone special. You'll love him, I swear. But there are some things you need to know about him first.
If he says you're going to be liberated, bring a jacket.
He always has a ...
- 2,401
1
vote
1
answer
173
views
Enclosed yet another sequence
There are so many sequences here already, I cannot guarantee that this is new. At least, I haven't found anything like this yet.
But I can assure you that you will not find the sequence on OEIS.
$$ 0, ...
- 1,214
0
votes
0
answers
239
views
What's the answer?
(Created Myself!)
Layer 1:
(Solve for number, addition, 2 digits, E12 series)
At the trains station, there are brown stairs, green moss growing all around, and black railings. Further on, a sea of ...
- 19
5
votes
1
answer
813
views
How did she do that?
The King wants to test his 2 very smart advisors Sadin and Lena. In the courtyard he sets up 4 closed wooden boxes on a table. All are the exact same size. In front of each box there is a name plate.
...
- 4,641
2
votes
1
answer
353
views
A and B don't know their own values
() isn't used mathematically in this puzzle. () means that whatever is inside should be evaluated in the most suitable and ...
13
votes
1
answer
955
views
Six of one maybe?
As usual from me a Venn-based challenge. The three overlapping ellipses form seven curved regions. There are seven tiles. Place one tile in each region so that the tiles in any one ellipse can be re-...
- 2,940
1
vote
1
answer
256
views
A take on custom ciphers
There is something hidden in the text below. Can you find out what it is? Note: no computers or tedious work required.
...
- 701
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Alternative solutions to a Michael Rabin puzzle
I first heard the puzzle below around 1990 while working at Carnegie Mellon University; the puzzle was attributed to Michael Rabin. After solving it, I realized that alternative solutions are ...
- 511
10
votes
1
answer
480
views
Confusing Statement
The three overlapping ellipses form seven curved regions. There are seven tiles. Place one tile in each region so that the tiles in any one ellipse can be re-arranged to solve the corresponding clue.
- 2,940
1
vote
1
answer
196
views
Gratitude Denied [closed]
In a small kingdom, there once was a evil king. A dashing prince showed up one day… and immediately died to puzzles. Even more princes showed up, and it was practically a XP farm for the evil king. ...
1
vote
0
answers
281
views
Find how this finite sequence completes
7 14 31 51 70 81 104 107 129 149 155 175
192 215 238 259 279
299 301 301 314 328 350 372
Inspired by the discussion with the author of, and the clues to its solution are in that discussion: What ...
- 11
8
votes
1
answer
498
views
Next word in this progression
Given this ordered set of six words:
Adapt, Abbreviate, Cacao, Forbidding, Queue, Daffodil
You must discover the logical progression they follow and choose the word that should go next. Options are:
...
1
vote
3
answers
497
views
"Sphere ---> Circle, Ball---> ?"
I am struggling with a puzzle in Swedish. I will translate it to English:
Sphere ---> Circle, Ball--->?
a) Sphere
b) Ring
c) Circle
d) ?
The answer provided is "It is hottest that Ring ...
- 93
7
votes
2
answers
174
views
Makes Switch - Literally!
Happy Venndredi everyone!
The three overlapping ellipses form seven curved regions - your task is to place one tile in each region so that the tiles in any one ellipse can be re-arranged into an eight-...
- 2,940
3
votes
3
answers
958
views
Put a number on both sides [closed]
Make the following equation correct by putting an exact same number on both sides of the equation. The final equation must be an "equal to" equation only. No "less than or greater than&...
- 4,641
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Not Bruce Wayne! Carry On!
Another advennture! The three overlapping ellipses form seven curved regions - your task is to place one tile in each region so that the tiles in any one ellipse can be re-arranged into an eight-...
- 2,940
3
votes
2
answers
413
views
Move Two Lines to make the equation correct
Move 2 lines (one short and the other long) from one side (either) to the other side of the = sign to make the equation correct. Cannot use "not equal to" sign. You must move 2 lines as ...
- 4,641
7
votes
2
answers
454
views
Find the pattern and fill in the question mark
Hint:
Hint 2 (added later):
Hint 3 (added later):
Hint 4 (added later):
- 1,802
4
votes
1
answer
176
views
Mon Dieu! It's civil (servant) war!
The three overlapping ellipses form seven curved regions - place one tile in each region so that the tiles in any one ellipse can be re-arranged into an eight-letter solution to the corresponding clue!...
- 2,940
5
votes
1
answer
625
views
Just a regular multiplication
What's the two-word phrase I'm looking for?
tr x 4 = T
re x 6 = C
tr x 8 = O
pe x 12 = D
tr x 20 = I
- 27.1k
5
votes
1
answer
208
views
Which Goes Where? Hint: Old Kid?
Usual folks! Each ellipse corresponds to an as-yet-unknown category - two tiles are placed for you - and each remaining tile belongs to at least one category - so the question remains - which goes ...
- 2,940
2
votes
1
answer
346
views
German number sequence
Classical format, here is a sequence of numbers, you need to find out how it continues:
5, 4, 14, 8, 0, 4, 2, 2, 2, 0, -3, -1, -2, -3, -7, -7, -6
This puzzle should also have the tag 'Germany' ...
- 1,319
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Only these six belong but which, where and why?
The two ellipses represent as-yet-unknown categories and of all the countries only the six shown belong to at least one of the categories. One is placed for you and for the remainder which belong ...
- 2,940
4
votes
2
answers
448
views
IQ Puzzle with a Twist
This my first puzzle in a very long time so if I've done something wrong let me know. I think there should be enough information to rule out wrong answers, but I don't know of a good way to verify ...
- 983
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How do I solve these Math IQ problems?
This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #2: IQ Puzzle Parody
I have no idea how to approach this problem. It is from an IQ test. If you can give me some hints, I will be really thankful. ...
- 5,644
7
votes
1
answer
435
views
Fifteen minuter? Give it a shot
Exactly one of the seven tiles on the bottom will go in each of the seven curved regions formed by the overlapping circles. Two additional tiles have been placed for you - but the question is which ...
- 2,940
12
votes
1
answer
751
views
I need a help with this HQ test puzzle I found online
This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #2: IQ Puzzle Parody
Which option (a.,b.,c.,d. or e.) completes the sequence above?
- 5,112
9
votes
1
answer
322
views
Get-a-Clue™ Crossword
Complete the crossword.
Each answer is one word.
(n) is noun and (v) is verb.
collection
1D. ↑ (n)
1A. ↑ (n)
2D. ↑ (n)
3D. ↑ (n)
4A. ↑ (v)
5A. ↑ (n)
6D. ↑ (v)
7D. ↑ (v)
8A. ↑ (n)
9A. ↑ (v)
10A. ↑ (v)...
- 17.5k
5
votes
1
answer
301
views
There are a lot of gifts missing
1-108-121-128-146-157-195-227-305-315-???
There are a lot of gifts missing
There is a missing 11th number which is it?
This is not on OEIS :)
- 5,981
5
votes
1
answer
269
views
It's Hot! Need somewhere to go Doc?
You can have a HOLIDAY but as for the rest: which tiles, where, and why?
- 2,940
3
votes
2
answers
356
views
A logic puzzle with some lateral thinking
Original puzzle below created by me. The writing is... to be honest, not that good, but it's a puzzle. Focus on the puzzle part.
Your name is John D. Tectif, and you're looking for 4 notorious ...
- 626
6
votes
1
answer
284
views
Simplicity Itself?
Usual format: each ellipse represents an as-yet-unknown category. Each tile belongs in at least one ellipse - but which ones where and why?
- 2,940
0
votes
1
answer
146
views
Rules, rules, rules... still not enough!
I hadn't gotten a letter from any of my friends in a while, so I was quite surprised when I received one from my companion, O. He usually only contacts me when he has a problem, so I was quite ...
- 619
9
votes
1
answer
765
views
The Queen of Starts - Is Her Bark Worse Than Her Bite?
Each tile belongs to at least one as-yet-unknown category but which belongs where and why?
- 2,940
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Crime and Punishments - Apologies in Advance
You know the drill man!
Place the tiles to find the eight-letter solutions to the clues
- 2,940
-1
votes
3
answers
228
views
An injured surgeon [closed]
Two brothers are both surgeons. They are skiing in the Alps one snowy day. They are both overly cautious and carry the same basic tools of their trade whenever they ski. Coincidentally, both brothers ...
- 23
8
votes
1
answer
796
views
Rebus puzzle with four colored bars and diagonals between them
This is an extremely simple rebus puzzle, the answer is extremely obvious if you know where to seek, you only need some lateral thinking, and maybe some basic programming knowledge.
To make it even ...
- 489
2
votes
1
answer
213
views
What concept does the image symbolize?
Well this is much more obscure than the previous one, but the puzzle is still very simple if you think about it a little bit more.
I will give you four images, each of them are connected to the ...
- 489