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.
1,097
questions
1
vote
4answers
283 views
Ma turned 34 in 2002. Really?
My friend said to me:
“In February of the year 1970 at 1:12 AM Ma turned 18. Ma turned 34 in
February of the year 2002 at 2:16 AM. How is this possible?”
“And yes. Same Ma!” he ended with that.
Hint
...
3
votes
1answer
212 views
A talk with Four Brothers
Once upon a time, on going to the small park nearby to take some fresh air, I met four quite peculiar brothers and had a talk with them. Each had a different story to tell.
The first two brothers ...
6
votes
1answer
418 views
Stop the robot by changing value of variable Z
You're a computer security expert (i.e a hacker who doesn't break law). Your neighbour is infamous professor MacGoofy himself. He specializes in designing programming languages and programming ...
9
votes
3answers
355 views
With a little effort, one can prevail
What is common between the following words and names?
(Inspired by this except that I actually know the answer to this one)
Defeat
Kleenex?
Guanaco
Nerdiest
Sardar
Ian McKellen
Dingo
Gun
Diablo
...
10
votes
1answer
334 views
An X-Mensa dq question
Which of the numbers should fill in the ?.
4, 3, 4, 7, 0, 45, 7, 15, 64, 0, 1111, 55, 5, 5, 0, 20, 32, 1, ?
a) 2
b) 0
c) 20
d) 1
Hints:
1.
1
vote
1answer
144 views
Ohh, NSA Again? #2
This puzzle is the second part of story Ohh, NSA again?. Hope like this story. Here it is:
John got the target, it was Stack. Problem is, it can be Stack Overflow or Stack Exchange.
Another problem ...
1
vote
3answers
281 views
He's a real mama's baby
Monday morning baby Alex awoke in his mother's loving embrace. His mother changed him, fed him, and snuggled him, which he of course loved. But when she went to get her coat and suitcase baby Alex ...
4
votes
2answers
218 views
People have many things to say about me
You could say I'm straight, or you could say I'm gay.
You could say I'm a virgin, or you could say I've had sex.
You could say I've always been the youngest of my family, or you could say I had a ...
0
votes
2answers
146 views
The Strange Conversation
One morning, I was riding along my bicycle around town and I stopped outside the shopping center as there were 2 old-persons, one man and one woman (let's call them A and B) standing outside and ...
-5
votes
1answer
107 views
One more heart that never beats
It is from the Internet, I changed it a bit, I will put the link after it is answered.
I have a heart that never beats,
I have a home but I never sleep.
I can take a mans house and build anothers,
...
-2
votes
1answer
73 views
Can you find what I am?
Here's a simple affix-riddle .
My prefix is the sound of an animal.
My infix, the missing of the cast.
My suffix, what children like to hear.
My whole, deals with the past.
Can you guess the ...
11
votes
1answer
459 views
A No - Sensa IQ Question?
“This is a Non-sensa IQ Test Question,” said Grandpa giggling.
“It is not math but there may be some science behind it.
If
X is 527 and
I is 810 Then,
IX is?
A: 2810
B: 75310
C: 110
D: A or B
3
votes
1answer
123 views
A function. Really?
If you give me a 5, I give you a 21.
If you give me a 6, I give you a 2.
If you give me a 7, I give you a 12.
If you give me a 10, I give you a 101.
What am I processing to get the result?
Hint 1
...
0
votes
1answer
536 views
Oh no, not again
I wanted to say something, but I forget what it was. Can you help me?
10 - [A-z] (-2)
255 - #beginningfirst00
15 - Period.
0 - You forgot one. You forgot one. Since every beginning has an end,
let's ...
7
votes
1answer
257 views
A rather odd number sequence!
Can you find the next number in this baffling sequence?
925, 955, 1040, 1140, 1255, 225, 410, ?
-6
votes
2answers
91 views
A perfect split of rope [closed]
What is the correct way to split a rope into two parts?
A) Cut it using a blade or any sharp object.
B) Pull on end of the rope until it breaks.
*Note, only one of the ways mentioned above 'can' break ...
2
votes
1answer
159 views
It's been a while hasn't it?
Why can't I say hello? Anyways, it's Emma!
I know it's been a while, but I've been busy with work, and life, and I haven't had much free time lately.
With that in mind though, I've got a new puzzle!
...
-4
votes
1answer
154 views
Who is a zombie amongst the 3 and why?
Here is a picture of $3$ people eating food.
Can you spot who is a zombie amongst them? and why?
Taken From :- 7-Second Riddles
1
vote
1answer
92 views
The unknown wheat-and-chessboard problem
You can read the original story of the Wheat and Chessboard problem on Wikipedia. (But you won't get anything useful from it :))
An eternity after the original ...
9
votes
1answer
316 views
It's your turn now!
What is the simple rule behind these three relations below?
$F$ $\rightarrow$ $C$ :: $R$ $\rightarrow$ $I$ $\rightarrow$ $\sqrt{F}$ ::
$IA$ $\rightarrow$ $D$
1
vote
2answers
116 views
What should the captive say? [duplicate]
You are lost in a jungle and suddenly get caught by a tribal group who are cannibals. They keep you captive and however think of offering you a second chance to save your life.
Their leader says- &...
5
votes
1answer
209 views
Sudoku Logic From Another Planet
This is the brutally hard Tatooine Sunset Sudoku puzzle by Philip Newman ... except the Noble Happy Star has goofed! Two of the digits have been swapped and there are multiple solutions. Fortunately, ...
5
votes
5answers
794 views
Matchsticks: Fix the Equation
Here's a simple puzzle I just created:
Move just one matchstick to fix the next equation:
8
votes
2answers
328 views
Fit the board into the hole
How can you divide the board into exactly $2$ equally-shaped and sized pieces such that it fits the hole?
Bonus: Can you do the same problem in $3$ pieces, such that one of the pieces of the board ...
-1
votes
1answer
218 views
A Creepy Birthday Party
A little girl was invited to her friend's birthday party. After blowing out the candles and eating the cake, the children went out to play in the garden. The little girl's mother stayed in the kitchen ...
5
votes
11answers
2k views
Matchstick Problem: Turn 1 into 12 by removing a matchstick [closed]
Below are some matchsticks arranged to display an expression.
Your task is to remove one matchstick so that the resulting value of the expression will be twelve.
4
votes
2answers
616 views
Was someone there in the room, or it was just an illusion? [closed]
We were a very happy family of $3$ members, me and my mother and father. Sometimes my parents would go outside to visit my grandmother and I used to live alone freely, doing my work and reading ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
My infix and suffix are given, but my prefix is not
My prefix is not known,
Rather it has some meaning or some mark,
But my suffix has magic powers,
And my infix depends on smart remark.
My whole is about choice, has a meaning or two.
Can you guess ...
23
votes
1answer
1k views
What kind of car do I have?
What kind of car do I have?
The clue words:
stories, robbery, rock, minimum, old, ducks
0
votes
0answers
132 views
That's fine, most of my family doesn't want to acknowledge being related to me either
Today I share a 100% true story from my past.
I use to meet my little brother to eat together with him regularly, but any time his friends or others that knew him would meet me the conversation always ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
Is it too early to think about Christmas?
I received an odd present today in a shiny red wrap. I was a little surprised as it was no where near Christmas yet but excited at the same time. I tried to tear the present open but was unable to do ...
9
votes
1answer
559 views
What is a “ B & A” puzzle?
I think this type of puzzle format is a bit different from some you already have seen.
I call them B & A puzzles. After you solve them you will likely know what that means.
There are six seperate ...
12
votes
0answers
418 views
Found the key, but what to unlock?
Here's a series of text messages between me and my friend.
Me: Couldn't use ebg13, so used ______ to hide my messages.
Him: What? How is this possible???
Me: A big prime ______, what else did you ...
2
votes
1answer
171 views
The fix is in : Any guesses?
My prefix is in the infix
My infix is in the suffix
My suffix is in the prefix
3 and 3 totally six
What's the word?
0
votes
1answer
254 views
NO. DIFFICULTY. PUZZLE
Up here is down on the ________ side.
The article used in this sentence.
What is this again?
The verb used above
The second answer is here too.
Open my lock with a ___.
Where is the key?
3
votes
1answer
166 views
Curved brick wall
Below is a fully functioning curved brick wall. Amazingly it uses fewer bricks than a functioning straight brick wall of comparable length. How is this possible?
-2
votes
3answers
119 views
How to become a millionaire by selling coconuts? [closed]
A woman is buying many coconuts for 5\$ a dozen. Afterwards, she is selling the coconuts for 3\$ a dozen.
After this transaction, the woman has become a millionaire!
How could that happen?
Hint:
...
3
votes
1answer
306 views
Sorry, I'm new. to this SE
spoil the unlukcy number for this text
fbeel, V'z arj fb gvuf jvyy or fchre rm.
3 > 4 and
4 > 3
^\w|[A-Z]|[^w](?=i) is the whole clue minus a letter.
Find it ...
-4
votes
3answers
177 views
Coin in a jar trick
A jar with a single key inside has its lid closed shut. How can you get the key out? The jar is glued to the table, and the lid is stuck as well. Your solution should be quick (a minute max).
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Some pocket challenges
A "pocket challenge" is a short puzzle where you don't need any complicated process nor writing material and, some times, not even a great knowledge. That's what I like to call them... Here ...
8
votes
1answer
265 views
A Simple Subtraction, Three Answers
Think laterally and you will get three answers to a simple question.
The question is:
What do you get if you minus Ten from Forty Nine?
The answers are
39
41
59
How? Please explain.
No partial ...
2
votes
3answers
295 views
Spiritual chemistry take two
When the three meet there’s a Ghost.
When one departs and another gains weight God remains.
What elementary abbreviations do I speak of?
I am looking for an exact answer - no spare letters.
A hint ...
1
vote
1answer
150 views
Spiritual chemistry spell
What three abbreviations can be used to spell Ghost and God?
This is meant to be elementary but there is a twist.
9
votes
7answers
2k views
Matchstick rearrangement: Zero to Hero
Below is an expression that has a value of 0.
How can you move only three matchsticks for the resulting value to be 49?
33
votes
2answers
1k views
Scoring a grid
As a professor of Awesomeness at the prestigious Ad Hoc University (other questions in this series), I decided to assign my students this puzzle. Unfortunately, they were all unable to get it! I want ...
2
votes
3answers
218 views
Silent Chinese Whispers
There is an advanced course for experienced lip-readers who want to become intructors. If they qualify, they will teach lip-reading classes themselves.
All the participants in this course-for-...
asked Aug 15 '20 at 11:52
chasly - supports Monica
7,2981 gold badge19 silver badges59 bronze badges
5
votes
2answers
912 views
Move just one match
Make a correct equation by just moving one matchstick!
This is the source. Spoiler--source reveals answer.
8
votes
1answer
468 views
Anagram puzzles
5 independent problems in a "self-help arrangement" (which helps you figure out, what the task is, without presenting an example)
not left + up = honest
tear + boy = jail
five + I = kiln
...
6
votes
1answer
545 views
Where is the pilot flying to?
Barry is a pilot for the mafia. Due to his unique cargo, his employers have to give him his destination in code. Everywhere he has flown, from Edmonton to Frankfurt to Atlanta has had an international ...
10
votes
1answer
285 views
Old Bob is ill : Said Grandpa
“Darn good computer, this new one I just got. So you can have my old one”, said Grandpa to my sister.
I was impressed, but a bit cynical. “What’s the catch?”
Grandpa smiled. “Just guess the 4 letter ...
