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.
1,101
questions
-4
votes
2answers
277 views
On Fri morning I was racing to work and took usual NYC train from Princeton and
I found a piece of paper with these scribbled on it
Dark Thunder. X P X ...with P circled
Silver Lightning. X X X...
What could those X s possibly represent?
Hint 1: Given yesterday
Hint 2: ...
3
votes
1answer
230 views
Tom travels extensively all over. He was trying to figure out
The missing members in the following sequence.
$A$, $A$, $A$, $A$, $?$, $?$, $?$
Please help him out.
6
votes
2answers
338 views
Unorthodox Prof. Roman’s Chemistry Class Quiz
Prof. Roman of Chemistry department as you all know is quite unorthodox..here is his Quiz. It is Monday Morning and it is time for Prof. Roman’s unusual quizzes to his chemistry class.
What is the ...
1
vote
1answer
225 views
A sentence with all numbers [closed]
Crazy thought.
Can you make an (grammatically correct) english sentence using english words which are all
numbers? Each word in that sentence must represent a number. I am
expecting a minimum 6 ...
4
votes
3answers
253 views
What are the missing members in this sequence based on the digits 0 to 9?
Find the missing members?
0, 0, 2, 0, 2, 3, 0, ?, ?, ?
Hint 1
14
votes
1answer
333 views
A simple association between letters and numbers
$X$ is 5.
$U$ is 9.
$O$ is 0 or 7.
$I$ is 4 or 5 or 7.
What is $V$? And what is $K$ (two options)?
15
votes
2answers
3k views
Grandpa has another non math question
Grandpa says, " This is not algebra or may be it is!
IF
X = 2
R + C = 6
B + P = 5 or 6
Then
What is
I + T ?
There are, with my logic, three different answers!"
14
votes
1answer
362 views
What's up with my calculator?
As I am wont to do, I got a new calculator the other day. Obviously it needed a few test calculations:
5 + 6 = 11
22 - 17 = 5
10 + 3 = 13
4 * 6 = 24
OK, so ...
3
votes
1answer
622 views
Find my name from this list of symbols
From the symbols below, find my name?
# ! # @ * @ & \$ ^ # * # \$ #
19
votes
1answer
1k views
Kara's bitmap picture
Kara recently received a puzzling bitmap image by email in the shape of a trapezoid. She didn't recognize the email address, and she doesn't know why she would be receiving such a picture. She ...
20
votes
3answers
2k views
Bookshelves: the intruder
Somebody has messed up my bookshelf by shoving a book into completely the wrong place.
Which is the intruder?
4
votes
1answer
181 views
Can you solve this numerical puzzle
Puzzle goes like:
3, 2, 12
10, 4, 9
8, 6, 3
9, 6, 2
7, 4, (?)
Can you answer what can be the (?) mark, with explanation
14
votes
2answers
839 views
Roman Numerals Equation 2
This is a follow up for
Roman Numerals equation 1
With your creativity and lateral thinking and any ways you can think of (except the restrictions below), make the following equation correct moving ...
4
votes
1answer
217 views
Help Aunt Nora solve this puzzle
Aunt Nora has the following images which contain hints to objects used in the production of a specific substance. What is the substance?
6
votes
2answers
380 views
Crazy for revenge
@Brandon_J recently asked us in Can't Even Sit Down to identify a movie based on the words
tart con arc host
I've also been to see a fun movie from a few years ago, just a short one
buck ...
3
votes
2answers
251 views
Find the cipher used
Each of the following lines were said by various famous personalities. Each line corresponds to one person. There is no relation between these lines. After obtaining the names of these people, A 6 ...
2
votes
2answers
121 views
Find the set of letters corresponding to a set of words
Each word in the following list corresponds to one letter:
rôle résumé Jalapeño xoriço ö führer
The combination of letters can be represented as ----uu
Here, the -'s represent the missing letters. ...
-3
votes
1answer
173 views
Duel of Four Knights
Four knights are preparing to duel. Each has a different weapon, and will start with it sheathed in his own corner of the square 10 by 10 meter chamber. Each knight moves 5 meters per second.
The ...
14
votes
2answers
433 views
Maybe you should Chew on This for a while!
I looked into a big black bag and found some dip.
I chewed on it.
When I got to the end I spit out towards a light that never seems to move.
As I traveled towards this light, I noticed that the ...
5
votes
7answers
671 views
The selling of the sheep [closed]
I do not know the answer to this puzzle, and I found it in some old files I had
Many years ago, there was a shepherd with 3 children. One day, while talking to the owner of the herd, the shepherd ...
-4
votes
2answers
146 views
Not breaking the egg [closed]
What is the simplest approach to make an raw egg fall for 2 meter and not breaking it?
*You can't catch it.
Hint 1:
Hint 2:
Hint 3:
Hint 4:
18
votes
1answer
405 views
Is it a word? Really?
Grandpa says:
show that the following number equals a 5 letter word with multiple meanings
(one of them not good)
I I I X I I X I I X I I I X I I X I I
I was wondering if that silly thing ...
4
votes
3answers
324 views
Alphabet I: Prove it!
The sentence below is out of alphabetical order, but can you prove it? As always, good luck!
All because blue cheese fell happily.
Hints
The language tag is used to denote that the puzzle has ...
5
votes
2answers
647 views
Can you complete the sequence?
Well, can you?
Q, W, R, I, ?
Make sure you provide your reasoning. I can ensure you there is a pattern here.
This is probably a simple one, but good luck as always!
8
votes
0answers
276 views
My drunken formula?
I know that today is an important day, but I can't remember why... All I have in my possession is this formula I wrote last night in my drunken stupor:
You go here:
$$B = 25 + \biggl(\frac{O}{...
6
votes
1answer
284 views
93
votes
1answer
6k views
A strange hotel
Entering the lobby, I requested a room. The clerk handed me my key and I took the elevator to my floor. To my surprise there was a sign on the door of my room telling me I should try a different room ...
13
votes
6answers
1k views
Sally's older brother
Sally smiles at her older brother and says, "Happy 30th birthday!"
He shakes his head and replies, "I'm not 30 yet, but you are!"
How is this possible?
9
votes
6answers
674 views
Temple Password
You and your friends Brutus and April are exploring an ancient temple when you encounter a locked door with a stone keypad next to it numbering 0, 1, 2 and 3.
Out of curiosity you decide to type in ...
2
votes
4answers
226 views
“Thinking of ” question for Comics readers [closed]
I am thinking of one of the following three comics characters
Hellboy
Captain Marvel
Spiderman
You can ask me one question starting with
"Does the character you are ...
21
votes
9answers
1k views
What's his horse name?
You're an adventurer looking for treasures.
During one of your journeys, you encounter a knight riding a horse who agrees to tell you informations about a huge treasure he has heard of.
Only if you'...
56
votes
4answers
13k views
Go Pregnant or Go Home
A love story:
First, we met on the dance floor at this place playing loud music.
Soon after we were madly in love!
Before I knew it, we were engaged to be married.
Now, here I am in the backyard ...
10
votes
1answer
377 views
Greco-Roman egalitarianism
Athenian democracy
is a cornerstone of egalitarianism. One person, one vote. Everyone.
Here's something, though, Athenians mightn't've imagined:
I = II = III
IV ...
25
votes
6answers
1k views
Some numbers are more equivalent than others
[Second part and bounty challenge appended in May 2020]
ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT ...
13
votes
0answers
526 views
Rethinking this series on the syllabus
I assigned each person in my class the task of creating a number-sequence, however, 4 of the guys I usually consider to be leaders came back with baffling results.
Can you make sense of their work and ...
10
votes
9answers
7k views
Why would five hundred and five be same as one?
Grandpa was in his crazy math mood again.
"using rot13 and your math knowledge prove to me that
505 = 1"
He said.
Really? Can you?
HINT
10
votes
2answers
821 views
How will you save Mike?
A direct hint: this question.
Question starts from here:
You are Dr. Nathaniel - a renowned archaeologist, and involved in a research about an ancient site. But, there is only one problem - the ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
Find the total number of goats in the herd [closed]
Two brothers were herding few goats together in the woods, at a tree the herd breaks into two parts and each brother tends to one group.
Older brother says, "Give me one goat, I will have twice as ...
-2
votes
2answers
191 views
Logically find the cost of a fruit [closed]
If Banana costs 45 cents and
If Apple costs 30 cents and
If Pineapple costs 60 cents
How much would a Mango cost.
Give an explantion
3
votes
3answers
571 views
Counting all the hearts
The Arthur family ( Henrik, Olga, Heather and Kristophe) are playing Bridge at the dining table with a standard deck of cards.
Taking into account every possibility
How many hearts are at that ...
10
votes
1answer
357 views
Which country has more?
Saw this question and couldn't help but make it into a different riddle.
China has three more than Chile
Algeria has one less than Nigeria
Ireland and Iceland...? Are they even different?
HINT
2
votes
1answer
164 views
11
votes
3answers
2k views
Who has more? Ireland or Iceland?
China has three more than Chile
Algeria has two more than Nigeria
Ireland has _____ more than Iceland. Or other way around?
How many and why?
This is also a clue to the previous puzzle
" ...
5
votes
5answers
292 views
I fear only one - Who am I?
The cave has me, the wind hasn't
The stories, the pirates, the demons, the lands...all nothing if it isn't me
The masterworks of science revolve 'bout me
You'll all be blind if it ain't ...
11
votes
1answer
431 views
The Key to the Door
I need to get into this building. Next to the only door is a keypad with a simple 10-key numeric keypad.
I hear someone approaching so I hide in a nearby bush to observe.
They walk up to the door, ...
10
votes
1answer
592 views
Who is at the mall?
My younger sister wanted to play a game with me.
She: You have to say a random word, and I'll tell you a number related to it. In the end, I'll ask you a question, whose answer will
open a secret ...
14
votes
1answer
577 views
What world is he talking about?
" This is not easy to figure out", said Grandpa
" In this world,
403 = 308 and is same as 83"
I couldn't figure that one obviously.
" Here is a hint. 5 1 9 2" Grandpa spoke slowly.
...
16
votes
1answer
635 views
What's In The Box?
Welcome to Archie's Fun House! I would like to begin by thanking you for paying us a visit today. This is a craaaaaazy place indeed! Today though, we have something rather special waiting for you. It'...
5
votes
2answers
192 views
Where's my scale?
You have a cylinderical beaker completely filled with water, and having no markings on it. You have to somehow empty two thirds of water, without using anything else.
Some info about beaker:
It has ...
0
votes
2answers
411 views
The weather forecast
Justin was watching a radio. Just after the midnight news there was a weather forecast: "It is raining now and will rain for the next two days. However, in 72 hours it will be bright and sunny."
"...
