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.
1,082
questions
5
votes
7answers
669 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
144 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
403 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
323 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
642 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!
7
votes
0answers
267 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
271 views
92
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?
10
votes
6answers
672 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
509 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
803 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
354 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
163 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
426 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
590 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
574 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
634 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
403 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."
"...
15
votes
5answers
2k views
Roman Numerals equation 1
The following Roman numeral equation is of course incorrect.
Make the equation correct by moving exactly one letter anywhere. You must place that letter in the equation (cannot remove it). You can ...
0
votes
5answers
676 views
Who killed the swimmer in the cave?
4 swimmers entered a round room with no windows and no doors, but there was a hole in the floor.
One man left through the hole in the floor and closed it behind him, but it is not how he arrived.
2 ...
4
votes
1answer
454 views
Is it Basic Physics?
Which number is next in the sequence?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 ,11 ,12 ,13 ,14 ,15 ...
Describe why and how your answer applies to the given problem.
18
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the reward?
You come in a room, there is someone on a stage, saying something. He
has a star and a number that changes on his chest.
There is a lot of people in this room, only the ones who speak also
have a ...
-4
votes
5answers
1k views
To answer this riddle, what will you open first? [closed]
It's 7:00 AM. You are asleep and there is a sudden knock on the door. Behind the door are your parents who came to have breakfast. In your fridge are bread, milk (pasteurized), juice, and a jar of jam....
-7
votes
1answer
120 views
Unassisted triple play in baseball - how was it done? [closed]
In a baseball game the bases are loaded and there are no outs. One player put out three of the opposing players in one play without involving any of his team mates. How did he do it?
-8
votes
6answers
988 views
3 ants walking in the desert
3 ants are walking on a straight path in the desert, one behind the other.
The sun is setting, so the temperature is bearable.
The 1st one says : There're 2 ants behind me.
The 2nd one says : There'...
3
votes
8answers
631 views
Let's play tag!
I have a short and bitter-sweet riddle for the community this evening. As always, I hope you enjoy it; good luck!
I want to play a game of tag; however, there are some very important rules:
We both ...
7
votes
2answers
353 views
7
votes
2answers
644 views
What's that movie? (Geriatric Edition)
True story:
My mother, 80 years old, asked me "What's that movie?"
"What movie?"
"You know, the one with that guy..."
"..."
"Run... Homer..."
"Homer Simpson?"
"No. Maybe. Was it Homer Simpson? ...
8
votes
8answers
4k views
Help Billy retrieve his ball
Billy has accidentally thrown his ball into the neighbor's yard!
The ball landed $15$ feet from the big oak tree in their large front yard. The trouble is, the neighbors have a mean dog that's on a $...
1
vote
5answers
337 views
How does the boy retrieve his ball?
A boy was playing with his bouncy ball in the forest, far from home and with no one around. Suddenly and without warning, his bouncy ball fell into a cement hole, about 1 foot down, and too tight for ...
1
vote
4answers
651 views
The Trolley Problem Revisited
A man decided to take the trolley to work one day. Along the journey, he discovered that the trolley driver has stepped off the trolley, and now no one was driving it. Determined to reach work on time,...
14
votes
2answers
2k views
Name the Third Friend
Three friends were discussing their favorite things.
Tuweth declared that he loved camels.
Sumo stated that she loved the going to church and to work.
The third said that they loved to party, ...
4
votes
3answers
858 views
Uncanny Addition
? ?
+ ?
-----
?
Replace every question mark (?) in this addition with a single digit so that the addition is valid and ...
11
votes
3answers
388 views
A unit of language, consisting of one or more spoken sounds? Inexorably!
With great economy and without superfluous, exaggerated, flowery speech, please elucidate how to determine clearly and precisely what the beautiful, ornate, stupendous Word Of The Day is.
My extreme ...
15
votes
22answers
4k views
I walked uphill both ways [closed]
Grandpa: "You young'ins have it easy. When I was your age, I had to walk to school and home again uphill both ways!"
Grandson: Grandpa, that's imposs--
Grandpa: Don't interrupt me child! I'...
13
votes
5answers
3k views
Can 4 = 6 and 10 = 1000? : Another Grandpa Question
Grandpa likes PSE. He is amazed at the smart puzzle solvers who seem to solve any of his riddles. So he constantly tries to think of new challenging questions.
So he says:
"Ask Tom, SteveV, Jafe, ...
13
votes
1answer
388 views
The P̷̱̚ ȁ̶͈ r̵͝ͅ å̷̡ d̷̹̑ o̸̙̓ x̵̀ͅ i̵͜͠ u̵̼̓ m̷̬̏ // Lock I
You walk into the cave. Strangely enough, you don't know why you walked into the cave. . . Wait second,
What is "the cave" anyways? Where is "here"? Why are you "here"?
And ...
