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.
975
questions
-3
votes
0answers
116 views
What will you do for this country? [closed]
Suppose 70% of people in a country of 100 crore population loses their jobs. What will you do to provide a steady income($10/day as per current value)those people who lost their jobs?
9
votes
2answers
285 views
Unusual series of events
If you are alert, you might clearly see an object in your imagination when you read the sentence:
"It lasted only from CTScan to Face Palm."
What is the object?
3
votes
5answers
255 views
The Angry Astrologist [closed]
The angry astrologist has locked you up in a series of a room. With your
superior thinking abilities, you escape them one by one, until you reach
the final room.
There’s a locked door with an ...
3
votes
1answer
223 views
Weren't we supposed to know more of the story by now…?
This happened almost exactly a decade ago, so excuse me if I get some of the details wrong.
I overheard a couple of people talking about somebody I assumed was a mutual acquaintance who had died very ...
14
votes
8answers
2k views
+50
What's the girl's name?
Here is what happened:
He sailed along 25 reefs, passing 1 chameleon, in order to see her sweet bosoms.
What's her name?
Hint:
2
votes
0answers
140 views
An original non-recursive sequence
16, ?, 19, ?, ?, 15, 16, 9, ?, ?, 14, ?, ?, ?, ?, 1
According to my measure, this sequence is more original than that of Fibonacci.
Replace the question marks with the missing numbers.
19
votes
6answers
8k views
What world is this where 6 + 6 = 10?
Upon traveling the world, I found myself in a peculiar place which was called Gauss. The locals there were a peculiar people, as I soon found out. I stopped to grab a bite to eat and learn about the ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
9
votes
1answer
224 views
A shocking event
When I'm all over the place - give me a yelling
When I need hair washing - give me a frightening
When I need a clutch - give me soft singing
When I need an aromatic - give me a whole county
When I ...
1
vote
0answers
183 views
Zed's Phone: Failure to Communicate
My friend Beto and I constantly buy things for one another. One day, he gave me a strange-looking phone and said it was my birthday gift (My birthday wouldn't be until 3 more months). He said he ...
8
votes
4answers
3k views
Lost Time at Motel?
Jack is a truck driver from Springfield, Illinois. On one of his trips to Louisville, Kentucky, something bizarre happened. He left Springfield at 8:00 PM and arrived at Louisville 4 hours later. Then ...
8
votes
14answers
2k views
How did everyone fit in the Car? [closed]
John and his wife own a car that fits a maximum of 5 people. He drives Molly to work every day. On his way, he drops his three kids off at school, and his mom at the mall.
How did everyone fit in ...
12
votes
2answers
811 views
A letter sequence with curious repetitions
There was a time when I created some letter series puzzles. This one is an old one. Replace the question marks.
P, Ca, ?, ?, O, Ca, P, Ca, ?, ?, ?, Ca
Hints(1-3): I will reveal three question marks....
6
votes
0answers
176 views
5
votes
1answer
183 views
Body Language, Perhaps?
You should be able to tell what I'm saying by looking at what I'm doing with my hands and combining the expressions on my face. Just be careful to mind your p's and q's (and your i's and j's).
...
11
votes
6answers
2k views
What is the verbal association to the following picture?
My first puzzle of this type. In the following visual design the hidden clues will lead you to the final verbal association. It is only one word.
Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Hint 4
Hint 5
Hint 6
Hint ...
5
votes
0answers
274 views
What is the missing sequence in this pattern?
I have here a simple binary-like pattern, consisting of crosses (X) and circles (O).
...
0
votes
1answer
176 views
A loyal traitor
Two countries are at war, Albekistan and Uzbania. The leader of the Albekistanian army asks, "Who ___ me?". The Uzbanian army's leader replies, "I ___ you!" She is promptly shot by her own army for ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Photographic Companions
What do we all need to breathe which connects the concepts of "photographic equipment" and "companion", based on the etymology of their synonyms?
7
votes
3answers
1k views
A shoe in the safe
A woman travels often, and when she does, she stays in hotels. Every night, before going to bed in a hotel, she takes off her shoes and puts one of the shoes into the hotel safe.
Why?
4
votes
2answers
256 views
Same word on both sides makes it right
Insert same one word on both sides (in place of the ?) of the following to make it correct.
(No inserting any math operators or not equal to, > or < signs)
? (? V(LXVII)) = ? XIII
Explain why.
...
5
votes
7answers
2k views
What kind of help does he need?
Old newspaper ad:
"Handler of purple cows needed on farm. Leave a message on lj36@dropmail.me or call (31)725-618171421"
What does he need help with?
Hint 1
Hint 2
Hint 3
Hint 4
Hint 5
Hint 6
...
14
votes
1answer
302 views
Replace the question marks with one single word
This one needs a lot of lateral thinking
In the equation below replace all the question marks with one single
word (same word at every question mark).
Then show that the equation is correct.
7
votes
4answers
553 views
Nobody can solve this puzzle [closed]
Yes, literally, nobody can solve this puzzle.
While every answer might get upvotes, nobody's answer will be accepted.
Nobody gets the green check.
In this sense, the puzzle is fair to everyone.
...
1
vote
8answers
1k views
The shortest , largest number [closed]
"Write a number", said Grandpa
"Which is the shortest number, that is also the largest"
"Shortest?" I asked
"Yup. You can write it with six straight lines, period"
"So you want me ...
3
votes
0answers
218 views
The Weird cipher password?
During your search to the ' great hidden computer virus ' , you realized that you are just a password from accessing it. Frantically , you searched for a clue that might help you . At last you ...
2
votes
2answers
275 views
Solve the last equation
My brother showed me the following puzzle from some type of (IQ?) quiz game on his phone:
1 + 2 = 21
2 + 3 = 36
3 + 4 = 43
4 + 5 = ??
I am quite sure this was the original question asked. ...
-14
votes
1answer
714 views
Frequent or rare?
Which common thing do these words have uncommonly in common?
mole kiss breath
Mates! Please note, if you haven't found the answer yet - it helps you find your way back to the real world.
20
votes
4answers
803 views
I terrify those beneath
My beginning: steamy, but 2/5ths crazy
My middle, wailing, from spectres hazy
My end, demonic, lives in Hell
My start, to there, does transport sell
My middle, within, the original man
My end, ends, ...
-8
votes
1answer
562 views
Give the name of this “outlaw” [closed]
Who/what am I?
I am a
stunning fresh shiny bandit
HINT:
HINT2:
HINT3:
HINT4:
-2
votes
1answer
990 views
What is the common verbal association? [closed]
｜｜ — S S S
Your answer should be one word to this problem.
7
votes
1answer
203 views
The Great Key Mix-Up
You're plant-sitting for your friend while he's gone on vacation. Upon getting to the front door, you take out the key ring he gave you. There are a few different keys on it all mixed together. You ...
12
votes
4answers
1k views
Today I am 20 but next year I will turn 22 [duplicate]
A riddle popped in my mind some time ago.
A man is celebrating his 20th Birthday. After the cake is cut and the dinner is done, he addresses the crowd. "Thanks for joining me today to celebrate my ...
2
votes
1answer
250 views
Did I get free gas?
I was sitting at home one day when I felt a strong hunger overtake me. So I grab my keys and hop in the car. A quick glance at my gas gauge showed I had exactly half a tank. I drive a few miles over ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Digital Bananas
Homer is taking a joy ride on the highway when he is pulled over by officer Mickey. "Do you know how fast you were going?" the officer asks condescendingly. Homer replies uneasily, "I may have been ...
8
votes
3answers
3k views
Everyone Gets a Window Seat
I and my friends periodically go on a trip. This is a "round" trip as we always end up back in our original location.
I noticed something curious:
Even though...
We all take the same vehicle,
...
4
votes
1answer
126 views
“Short” And Sweet Math
In the following chess diagram, how many possible chess postions exist?
No looking at the solution!
Source: P1359129 & Andrew Jonathan Mestel,
Retros mailing list, 2/1/2019
1
vote
3answers
325 views
Finish the sequence
1 $\to$ 4 $\to$ 6
2 $\to$ 3 $\to$ 7
19 $\to$ 16 $\to$ 11
8 $\to$ 14 $\to$ 12
15 $\to$ 17 $\to$ 19
18 $\to$ 13 $\to$ __
6
votes
1answer
126 views
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Dear amigo,
Joyful it is to be your friend. One of which, people can depend.
So without further ado happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you and - meh, Morah too.
Usually there’s a ...
9
votes
2answers
308 views
Relationship Advice
I have big news! I finally have a girlfriend! She's really nice and is studying to be a cartographer. As you know, I don't have much experience with the ladies, so I need some advice.
I have been ...
8
votes
3answers
610 views
See the Line Where the Sky Meets
Walking along the beach one day, I came across a glass bottle with a piece of parchment inside. I quickly opened the bottle and unfurled the scroll. On it the riddle below was written.
i sail ...
10
votes
1answer
252 views
Improbable Inequalities
I'm making a work decision, and in my as I weigh the digits {0-9} as they pertain to this particular situation, I find:
In one case, this is true:
...
8
votes
12answers
634 views
Write a Schrödinger's sentence [closed]
Write an indicative sentence whose truthfulness cannot be objectively determined before you try to find it out, but is immediately decided as soon as you begin to find it. The truthfulness must not ...
1
vote
0answers
114 views
What is the next number in this sequence [closed]
3, 8, 24, 72, 213, 668, 2064, 6312, ...
What's the next number?
This sequence mod 3 is 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0;
mod 2 is 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0;
mod 5 is 3, 3, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4, 2.
And there seems to ...
-8
votes
3answers
398 views
Who is the Killer from the following suspect in this image? [closed]
I did a lot of image search on google and found out the original source of the image is http://www.ghadahaleidi.com/
because there is a lot of debate I posted the answer myself and here are the ...
14
votes
1answer
312 views
A scar in the fabric of space and time - a true story
A few days ago, Leonard was invited to attend a ceremony held in the principality of Monaco, to celebrate the birth of a new member of the sovereign family. Now standing in the middle of a busy ...
8
votes
12answers
3k views
Time to call the bluff [closed]
You are located outside of two rooms which have a door between them. Each room has one or more computers whose total power is unknown, so they cannot be reliably used as proof-of-work to compare times,...
6
votes
18answers
4k views
Ask one verbal question to figure out who is blind and who is mute among three persons
This is another "You can ask only one question" puzzle. This is an edited very restricted version
There may be multiple answers but I could come up with only one.
There are three persons in three ...
4
votes
1answer
191 views
Aye - Bye - Gye -?
I've got a new puzzle for everyone; as always I hope you enjoy, and best of luck!
I'm not sure where the best place to start this story is, so I suppose I'll start with tomorrow.
You see, ...
3
votes
1answer
254 views
A balloon and a vacuum
You have a metal water bottle entirely filled with a vacuum and you have a rubber party balloon (lets make it red). How can you use only the bottle to inflate the balloon with the air surrounding you. ...
