Daily puzzles/problems.

[Senior2315]

Well, I thought it would be a fun idea to post random puzzles and problems. This would be a daily event, or until someone solves the given problem. The answerer would then add a new problem, they would have to have an answer and possible explanations for other feasible answers.

Question #1. "I'll Make A WISE PHRASE" is an anagram for what/who/where?

[kasie]

William Shakespeare.

#2. This is one of my favourite crossword clues - I felt it applied to me as a student: She writes mechanically, producing nothing original. (4,6)

[Serena03]

Jane Austen? If correct, I'll have to get back to you on a puzzle.

[kasie]

Jane Austen, writing mechanically? Producing nothing original? Certainly not!! Try again....

[Serena03]

Was she not a consistent writer? As far as her works being completely original, I was never aware of her inspirations. But that clue could describe a lot of people.

[prendrelemick]

Is it copy typist, or is it altogether more subtle?

[kasie]

Quite right, Mick - but not subtle at all - it came out of a Daily Telegraph crossword.... :)

Your turn.

[prendrelemick]

Here's one for all those under 30's (This is the kind of thing we used to know before the digital age.)

As I was going to St Ives,
I met a man with seven wives,
Each wife had seven sacks,
Each sack had seven cats,
Each cat had seven kits,
Kits, cats, sacks,wives how many were going to St Ives?

I know everyone will have heard it, but I enjoyed reliving some childhood here.

[kasie]

I'll let someone else put the answer to that old chestnut, Mick!

And don't you dare follow up with the one about the man looking at a photograph saying 'That man's father was my father's son' or however it went. I know the answer but I could never unravel it.

[kilted exile]

That would be just the one (yourself) mick

A man and his two sons need to cross a river there is only one row boat which can hold a max weight of 14stones. The man is 14stones and his sons both weigh 7. how do all 3 get across (none can swim)?

[Tallefred]

That would be just the one (yourself) mick

A man and his two sons need to cross a river there is only one row boat which can hold a max weight of 14stones. The man is 14stones and his sons both weigh 7. how do all 3 get across (none can swim)?

The two sons cross, one returns for the father, who crosses alone, then the so on the far side brings the boat back across and the brothers cross together.

An eye in a blue face
Saw an eye in a green face.
"That eye is like to this eye"
Said the first eye,
"But in low place
Not in high place."

[prendrelemick]

I'll let someone else put the answer to that old chestnut, Mick!

And don't you dare follow up with the one about the man looking at a photograph saying 'That man's father was my father's son' or however it went. I know the answer but I could never unravel it.


Is that the one where you end up being your own Grandad?:lol:


Tallefred:The answer is the Sun looking down on a daisy in a meadow. I'll try and think of something more original, but in the meantime, as my 10 year old daughter once asked me:- Whats brown and sticky?

[MarkBastable]

Whats brown and sticky?

A stick.


Crossword clue: SGEG (9,4)


Incidentally, I suspect one could look any of these up on the internet, but only a cad or a bounder would do such a thing.

And on the St Ives thing, even as kid I thought that was a cheat. People often meet - in fact one might say they were more likely to meet - on their way to the same place. If they didn't, there'd be no Canterbury Tales.

[prendrelemick]

Thats just what I thought, but I preferred that answer to doing the maths.

SGEG is tricky, I've got "sergeants" stuck in my head and can't progress.

[MarkBastable]

Okay - no progress, so I'll give you the answer, shall I?

[iamnobody]

scrambled eggs

A body was discovered next to a home, foul play was suspected.
The time of death was estimated to be 0200 hours.
The victim was male, around 20 years old.
There were cigarette butts found next to the victim.
What was the victim's name.

[Leland Gaunt]

John Doe?

[iamnobody]

no luck this time

but thanks for playing

[Triter]

The same as it is currently.

[iamnobody]

cheater, NAME please

[Triter]

SMOKEy ROBinSON!!!!?

[iamnobody]

uh, no

[Leland Gaunt]

SMOKEy ROBinSON!!!!?
:smilielol5:

I've exhausted all my puzzle tricks, and will look at it with a fresher mind in the morn.

[Basil]

The juxtaposition of the words home and foul keep making me think it's baseball related, but that is almost certainly incorrect. At least I hope it's incorrect.

[iamnobody]

It is incorrect.

[iamnobody]

A hint

punctuation is key

[MarkBastable]

Assuming that this...


A body was discovered next to a home, foul play was suspected.

... was not deliberate, and it should be two sentences separated by - at the very least - a semi colon, then I'd say that his name was What. Then again, I wouldn't say that, because if that's the right answer, there's no question.

[iamnobody]

WINNER!

your turn

[iamnobody]

OK...My turn..again.

The following is true under a very special circumstance. What is it?

11+8+8=17

[Triter]

Stumped....but I hope I can use the answer at work!

[jajdude]

ok...my turn..again.

The following is true under a very special circumstance. What is it?

11+8+8=17

1/1 ?

[Silas Thorne]

You are playing Blackjack, right? An Ace can be a 1 or an 11.

Whether or not that was the answer you were looking for, it must have been a suitable answer.
Now:

Determine which of these letters does not belong:

D V O N A S W

[iamnobody]

Blackjack it is.

As for yours, stumped for now.

[kasie]

Sorry, thought I had an answer and realised it was wrong as soon as I posted it. Doh...

[OrphanPip]

W wasn't a part of the classical Latin alphabet, it was added later. I'm not sure that's what you were getting at though.

[Silas Thorne]

:) I could take that answer for the reason you have given, I suppose, but there is a simpler, different answer to this one. And it's not W, in this one anyway. Although it's great that the puzzle can have more than one answer!

[billl]

The A can't be traced over without lifting the stylus, or re-tracing a section a second time.

[Silas Thorne]

:) That's the answer I was looking for. Well done! But OrphanPip is right in another way, which is also good. I guess I'll be ridiculously rulebound and let you go next, billl....

[billl]

This is one a lot of people might know, so if you haven't heard it before try and have some fun thinking about it before reading the responses.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You have been trapped inside of a strange pyramid, following the mysterious collapse of its entrance. You keep exploring and soon encounter two mummies standing in front of two doors.

A sign above the doors says the following:

ONE OF THESE DOORS LEADS TO A PASSAGE OF PITS, TRAPS, AND ULTIMATE DOOM. THE OTHER DOOR LEADS TO YOUR SAFETY AND FREEDOM. THESE TWO MUMMIES EACH KNOW WHICH DOOR IS WHICH, BUT ONE OF THE MUMMIES ALWAYS TELLS LIES, WHILE THE OTHER MUMMY ALWAYS TELLS THE TRUTH.

What will you do? How can you learn which door is the one to freedom without leaving the room?

[Silas Thorne]

Ooh, and is there another mummy that stands beside them and strangles people who ask the other two complicated questions ? ;)

[billl]

";)" acknowledged.



Also, just to be clear, these mummies aren't threatening, and they speak English just fine.

[MarkBastable]

What will the other mummy say if I ask him - or possibly her - which door leads to freedom?

The one who tells the truth will know that the other would lie and therefore tell you the wrong door. So if you have asked the mummy who tells the truth, he will will truthfully point to the door that leads to doom.

And the one who lies wil know that the other would tell you the truth and therefore tell you the right door. So if you've asked the the mummy who tells lies, he will mendaciously point to the door that leads to doom.

So whichever door you are told, take the other one.

Okay - I didn't work this out just now - though I did when I first came across it years ago. I have a book somewhere in which this puzzle is taken to absurd lengths - so, for instance, they reply 'yes' and 'no' in their own language, but you don't know which is which, and one of them doesn't know the difference between truth and lies, and the other lies on alternate days and you don't know whether this is a truth day or a lie day, and so on and so forth. But all the solutions come down to the same thing, which is a sort of nested binary logic - a series of on-and-off switches - and you have to construct a question which will flick the switches in such a way that you always arrive at the same known point, no matter where you start.


A carrot, a pipe and a couple of lumps of coal lying on the grass amongst the daffodils. What happened?

[billl]

Thanks, Mark! Another way to nest it that I had in mind was:

Ask either mummy the question: "If I were to ask you if the door on the left were the door to freedom, would you say 'Yes'?" If the answer is Yes, then take the door on the left; otherwise, go with the door on the right.


Re: your puzzle, don't ask me, maybe some other dudes know, man.

[Sapphire]

:hurray: Riddles :hurray:

As for the carrot, pipe, coal and daffodils... I never heard that one :D I'm very curious for the answer :nod:

I can imagine a rabbit might be attracted by the carrot and eat it. And maybe somebody will be able to light the pipe with the coal, though I really think (s)he would need some tobacco.
Maybe nothing happens - they just all rot away. Daffodils first, carrot second, pipe third and coals last?!

Somehow I think there's more to it...

[kasie]

[QUOTE=MarkBastable;968884.....A carrot, a pipe and a couple of lumps of coal lying on the grass amongst the daffodils. What happened?[/QUOTE]

The snowman has melted - spring has come - hurrah!

[prendrelemick]

While Kasie thinks of a tricky one...

Two Snowmen in a field. One says to the other "Is it me, or can you smell carrot."


Sorry...

I'll get me coat.

[Sapphire]

:eek: Seeing the answer - I heard that one before! I did, and I completely forgot and couldn't figure it out again :bonk: The knots of the mind :crazy:

A song to pass the time:
Five for Fighting - the Riddle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMtyDgmT21A)

[kasie]

Oops, sorry - I forgot I had to provide another puzzle. How about another favourite crossword clue?

Tipped both ways for the Nursery Stakes. (7,5)

[MarkBastable]

Oops, sorry - I forgot I had to provide another puzzle. How about another favourite crossword clue?

Tipped both ways for the Nursery Stakes. (7,5)

Rocking Horse?


Assuming that's right....


A man enters a deserted field with a pack on his back, and he is found there dead.

Questions are allowed on this one - but to start you off - there are no animals or people in the field. He's perfectly healthy when he arrives.

[prendrelemick]

Lightening?

[MarkBastable]

Lightening?

Nope.

Forgive me - but because I'm obsessive and irritating about this kind of thing, there's no 'e' in it, when it's the flash that goes with thunder. It's a compulsion of mine. I'm more to be pitied than censured.

[Sapphire]

Maybe he fell into a well or something? But no, that should have been mentioned...

Is the pack heavy? In that case he might just have lost his footing, dropped forward and got crushed by the pack. :nod:

[MarkBastable]

Maybe he fell into a well or something? But no, that should have been mentioned...

Is the pack heavy? In that case he might just have lost his footing, dropped forward and got crushed by the pack. :nod:



He's lying on the grass - possibly next to two pieces of coal and a carrot, not that that's relevant. And the pack is not that heavy. An adult could walk perfectly normally while carrying it.

[Sapphire]

Hold on, first you say

A man enters a deserted field with a pack on his back
and now you say he's lying on the grass? Isn't it a bit hard to enter while lying on the grass? :crazy: Does he die lying down, or standing up? Or isn't that important?

Any way: when the pack does not crush him, his heart does not suddenly stop (healthy) and he doesn't commit suicide by just holding his breath (healthy in his mind: no suicidal tendencies)... I guess the one option left is that he's struck by the wrath of the gods and dies because one of them throws something at him?
Or, leaving dieties out of it ill, a bird flies over the field and drops something which hits him right on the head :nod: Not sure what the significance of the pack is in that case though... Maybe it has bird food in it which makes the bird let go of whatever brick or other heavy object it has in its claws...

[iamnobody]

The pack is a parachute that failed to open? This makes sense since you said "enters" a field instead of "walks into". Or was that just random word choice?

[MarkBastable]

The pack is a parachute that failed to open? This makes sense since you said "enters" a field instead of "walks into". Or was that just random word choice?

No word choice I make is ever random.

Yep - you gottit.

Next?

[iamnobody]

This is my all-time favorite crossword.

Who's there (5 letters)

[iamnobody]

any one out there?

[billl]

Leeds


http://www.thewho.com/images/media/albums_large/07_70_live_at_leeds.jpg

[billl]

Just in case I'm right, here's the next puzzle:

A smoker of herbal cigarettes (non-addictive, and low in tar) one day realized that his pack had finally run out (he only smoked one or two a day, because any sort of smoking isn't really so good for you). Anyhow, he wasn't going to be able to buy another pack of these special cigarettes for another month or so (they were only available at a certain shop that he rarely frequented).

While he didn't have any more cigarettes, he did, however, have an ashtray full of these cigarette butts. He realized that he could put five of the butts together, and make the equivalent of one whole cigarette. If there were 25 butts in his ashtray, how many cigarettes would he be able to enjoy before his next trip to the store?

[Sapphire]

I'm not sure whether Leeds is the only town with 5 letters where the Who has ever played, but I think it is a nice find :) I sure don't have a better answer :nonod:

As for the cigarette-riddle. It seems pretty straight forward: 25/5 = 5 cigarettes. But then you have to realise that all those 5 will leave butts, so 6 in total :D

[billl]

As for the cigarette-riddle. It seems pretty straight forward: 25/5 = 5 cigarettes. But then you have to realise that all those 5 will leave butts,[/color] so 6 in total :D

Sorry if it was too easy! Now YOU have to remember or think up one...:banghead::brickwall

[Sapphire]

:lol: Well, I thought it was 5 for about 10 minutes - but that was just too easy. It had to be more difficult, for else it was just a math problem instead of a riddle ;) So not too easy at all :)

I heard a smart limerick just the other day, but I don't remember the right words... hold on, I wrote it down somewhere

[Edit]Got it, here we go:


Jack and Jill are both dead! This I say -
For I saw them myself yesterday.
Just a small pool of water
And glass, hints to slaughter.
So tell me what happened, I pray.
Good luck!

[iamnobody]

I don't have answer for Jack and Jill, but the answer to Who's there is FIRST

[billl]

Oh, yeah, the Abbot & Costello routine! It took me a while to figure it out even after you gave us the answer--and it is obviously much better than my reference to an album by THE Who.

[Sapphire]

Classic :)
Abbott and Costello (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M)

[iamnobody]

:lol:
I heard a smart limerick just the other day, but I don't remember the right words... hold on, I wrote it down somewhere

[Edit]Got it, here we go:


Good luck!

I Still don't have a good answer for this one, so, a not so good one...ahem..

We know that "Jack fell down and broke his crown. And Jill came tumbling after" so maybe their injuries were far worse than we thought.
(:frown2:I know, sooo bad, forgive me:frown2:)

[billl]

Did they drink some poisoned water? (And drop their glass?)

[prendrelemick]

I strongly suspect their mother. She is known to have abused Jill in later verses, and let Jack go to bed without seeking professional medical advice.

[MarkBastable]

They're dropped goldfish.

[iamnobody]

clever!

[MarkBastable]

There are various variants of this, but this version crops up in my novel Mischief, as a teasing message on an voicemail serrvice...

BLEEP.

“Hi, it’s Chris. This might amuse you. A story just came in over the wire from Connecticut. Some guy shoots his father stone dead. The police take him down to the precinct and call up the District Attorney. The District Attorney is appraised of the details, and then goes through to the Assistant DA’s office. ‘Can you take this one, Bob?’ says the DA. ‘I can’t do it. I don’t think I could prosecute my own son.’ Discuss. See you soon...”

[billl]

Bob is a stepfather to the alleged killer?

OR

Bob used to be the alleged killer's mother, but has subsequently had a sex change operation?

[MarkBastable]

Bob is a stepfather to the alleged killer?

OR

Bob used to be the alleged killer's mother, but has subsequently had a sex change operation?


Er - Bob is the Assisant DA who's addressed by the DA - so Bob has nothing to do with problem.

[Scheherazade]

The DA is a woman and the killer's mother?

[MarkBastable]

The DA is a woman and the killer's mother?

Yep.

Women who've been thinking about the problem for a long time tend to be very cross with themselves when you tell them the answer.

[Scheherazade]

Next puzzle (remember this one from my childhood :))

A jeweller has ten bags of golden coins, each containing ten coins; however, he is informed that all the coins in one of the bags are counterfeits: they weigh one gram less than the regular coins in other bags.

How can he discover the bag with the counterfeits by using the scales only once?

[Silas Thorne]

Can he carry all the bags and stand on the scales and then throw the bags one by one onto the floor around him? He would know which bag weighed differently from all the others by the irregular weight change. This would only be strictly using the scales once, wouldn't it, as his weight stays on the scales until the end?

[Scheherazade]

No, he cannot do that; it is a small one used by jewellers.

And the method you suggest would mean using the scales up to 10 times. He uses the scales only once; just one reading.

[MarkBastable]

No, he cannot do that; it is a small scale used by jewellers.

And the method you suggest would mean using the scale up to 10 times. He uses the scales only once; just one reading.

Having used the scales, can he use other handy stuff?

[billl]

Got it! (Maybe!) But it assumes that we know how much a non-counterfeit coin weighs.

1. Number the bags from 0 to 9.
2. Then, take one coin from bag number one, two coins from bag number two, three from number three, etc. (Don't take any coins from bag number zero.)
3. The total number of coins will be 45 coins.
4. ASSUMING that each non-counterfeit coin weighs some certain amount 'X', the equation "45X - WEIGHT" will yield a number of grams that matches the number of the counterfeit bag.

Scher, do we begin knowing how much a non-counterfeit coin weighs???
If not, then my plan falls apart.

[MarkBastable]

Got it! (Maybe!) But it assumes that we know how much a non-counterfeit coin weighs....

That's very ingenious, even with the assumption - but it also assumes that the scales are like this (http://www.redcandy.co.uk/product-typhoon-retro-buick-red-scales.php). I'd assumed that they were like this (http://www.balancescalesisales.co.cc/detail/handheld-gold-miners-balance-scale-with-weight-set-B002YJP7B2), and that no marked weights were provided, so all you have to work with is the bags.

Scher?

[Scheherazade]

Got it! (Maybe!) But it assumes that we know how much a non-counterfeit coin weighs.

1. Number the bags from 0 to 9.
2. Then, take one coin from bag number one, two coins from bag number two, three from number three, etc. (Don't take any coins from bag number zero.)
3. The total number of coins will be 45 coins.
4. ASSUMING that each non-counterfeit coin weighs some certain amount 'X', the equation "45X - WEIGHT" will yield a number of grams that matches the number of the counterfeit bag.

Scher, do we begin knowing how much a non-counterfeit coin weighs???
If not, then my plan falls apart.Yes, we do know how much each coin weigh: 10g.

(Was expecting someone to ask this question sooner :))

Bill's answer is correct:

- Put labels on the bags, numbering them from 1-9.

- Take the same number of the coins from each bag as they are indicated on their labels.

- There will be 55 coins (not 45), making the expected weight 550g; however, because of the counterfeits, total weight should be less than that and missing grams will indicate the number of the bag the coins come from.
That's very ingenious, even with the assumption - but it also assumes that the scales are like this (http://www.redcandy.co.uk/product-typhoon-retro-buick-red-scales.php). I'd assumed that they were like this (http://www.balancescalesisales.co.cc/detail/handheld-gold-miners-balance-scale-with-weight-set-B002YJP7B2), and that no marked weights were provided, so all you have to work with is the bags.

Scher?Earlier, when I answered Silas' question, I did mention that it was one of those used by jewellers. (http://www.pentagonscales.com/products/jewellery-scales-2z.jpg)

Your turn, Bill!

[billl]

HA YES!

but....

bag 1 + bag 9 +
bag 2 + bag 8 +
bag 3 + Bag 7 +
bag 4 + bag 6 +
bag 5
= 45.

Bag zero adds zero. (Imagine if Bag zero had the counterfeits...)

Wow, I feel pretty bad-***. But now I need to think of (remember) a puzzle, and that one is gonna be hard to match.

[billl]

Hmm, OK, I hope that I am around enough to answer questions. Or that someone doesn't give the answer right away, if it is too obvious...

This is like the one Mark did earlier, but if you haven't heard it before, you might need to ask some questions in order to work out the answer... (Sort of like the game twenty questions... I will give only yes or no answers!)


HERE IS THE SITUATION:
A man is lying in a field, dead, next to a large rock. His body is a perfect specimen of manly health--no marks, no bruises, no visible injuries. But he is dead. What happened?

[Scheherazade]

HA YES!

but....

bag 1 + bag 9 +
bag 2 + bag 8 +
bag 3 + Bag 7 +
bag 4 + bag 6 +
bag 5
= 45.

Bag zero adds zero. (Imagine if Bag zero had the counterfeits...)
Yes, I see how this works out but in my solution you take 10 coins from bag no.10 as well, making the total 55.


Going back to your question, is the rock crucial in his death?

[billl]

(btw, I can see how a 'bag 10' instead of 'bag zero' changes the math...)

Um, yes, the rock plays a role in his death.

[MarkBastable]

Convinced, erroneously, of his manifest destiny, he gave himself a heart attack trying to get the sword out of the stone.

[Scheherazade]

Um, yes, the rock plays a role in his death.Since there were no visible injuries, is it safe to assume that he was not crushed by this rock?

How large is it? (And, more importantly, does size matter?)

Is it a regular rock by the way? I.e., "a large piece of stone" in the sense we use in everyday conversation?

[billl]

Convinced, erroneously, of his manifest destiny, he gave himself a heart attack trying to get the sword out of the stone.

A nice attempt, but no.


Since there were no visible injuries, is it safe to assume that he was not crushed by this rock?

How large is it? (And, more importantly, does size matter?)

Is it a regular rock by the way? I.e., "a large piece of stone" in the sense we use in everyday conversation?

He was not crushed. Let's say that the stone was the size of a loaf of bread. It is not a "regular rock", I guess, but it is a large piece of stone, in the sense that we usually use.

[Sapphire]

Maybe he's a dreamer? Looking at the sky - his thoughts miles away - he tripped over the stone and broke his neck...

[Scheherazade]

It is not a "regular rock".Since it is not a "regular rock", is it possible that it is something chemical/poisonous?

Is the man's age important? Or his profession?

[billl]

It is a poison, I suppose, but it wouldn't kill you.

The man's age and profession are not important.

[iamnobody]

The rock is kryptonite and the man is Superman?

[billl]

Yes, iamnobody guessed it!

[iamnobody]

Good one billl! Now, a riddle.

Odds are good you know my start
But do not know my end.
I sound delicious but I'm not
Be sure of that my friend.

A squiggle here, two squiggles there,
Is clearly what you see.
From here to there, how far around?
Well, it's all Greek to me.
What am I?

[MarkBastable]

ouroboros?

[billl]

Poorly-cooked gyros?

[kasie]

The greek letter 'pi'?

[MarkBastable]

The greek letter 'pi'?

Brilliant.

[iamnobody]

kasie's right. And yes, brilliant! Your turn.

[kasie]

Oh, dear - now I have to think of another one - sorry, folks, I'll have to sleep on this one. Watch this space. (Kasie goes off muttering and sighing to herself.)

[kasie]

OK - try this one.

A man of the desert lay dying - he called to his bedside his three sons and blessed them.

'To you, my eldest son, I leave one half of all my worldly goods,' he said.

'Father,' wept the young man, 'you are indeed the best of fathers.'

'To you, my second son, I leave one quarter of all my goods.'

'Dearest father, you are a loving and generous parent.'

'And to you, my youngest son, I leave one fifth of my wealth.'

'Father, I thank you,' cried the youngest son though his voice was muffled by tears and he could hardly be heard.

'There is one condition,' the old man murmured with difficulty, for his end was drawing near. 'It has taken me many years to acquire my flocks and herds. Do not, I pray you, kill any of the beasts as you divide them among yourselves.'

'Father,' the young men promised, 'it shall be even as you request.'

'Should you have difficulty over the division, send for your uncle,' whispered the old man. 'He will surely come to your aid.'

And so saying, the worthy old man passed to a better world.

The three sons performed the funeral rites with all due ceremony, amid much mourning, for they were dutiful sons and had loved their father. When it was fit and proper so to do, they began the division of their inheritance, according to their father's wishes. The flocks of sheep divided easily, as did the herds of goats. But when it came to allotting the camels, they found themselves much exercised, for there were nineteen camels to be shared.

'How shall we do this?' they asked themselves, 'for surely we cannot divide nineteen camels in the way our good father directed unless we kill one and that he specifically forbade.'

Then they remembered their father's advice and sent for their uncle. It took some time for the old man to arrive, for he lived many miles away across the desert. The three young men knew how to greet an honoured guest and welcomed him, leading him to their tent to rest and refresh himself. They gave orders that his tired camel should be fed and watered with their own animals.

After their meal together, the young men begged their uncle to help them solve their dilemma.

'Ah,' said the old man with a smile, 'my worthy brother's fine camels! I always admired them. Allow me, I pray, to look on them again.'

The young men took him to the place where the camels were tethered. He smiled broadly when he saw how healthy and well-cared for they were.

'My dear nephews,' he cried, 'I see no problem. The answer is before you.'

So - what is the answer? How can the camels be divided according to the old father's will?

[billl]

They could imagine that the uncle's camel actually belonged to their father. Or, perhaps, the uncle could just lend it to them. That would make twenty camels, and thus the brothers could receive their alloted numbers:
1/2=50%=10 camels
1/4=25%=5 camels
1/5=20%=4 camels

There would still one camel (5%) remaining amongst the 20, and since the uncle had merely lent it, he could just have it right back.

[papayahed]

They could imagine that the uncle's camel actually belonged to their father. Or, perhaps, the uncle could just lend it to them. That would make twenty camels, and thus the brothers could receive their alloted numbers:
1/2=50%=10 camels
1/4=25%=5 camels
1/5=20%=4 camels

There would still one camel (5%) remaining amongst the 20, and since the uncle had merely lent it, he could just have it right back.

Nice!

[kasie]

That's right, billl - over to you.

[billl]

OK, I'm gonna try and come up with something. Maybe I'll have to check out a puzzle website or something, because I can't remember any...

In the meantime, please, if anyone else has a good one, go right ahead and post it!

(EDIT: I will be back online and will at the very least cut and paste something from a website probably between 7 and 12 hours from now, if no one else has a good one...)

[billl]

Which wartime U.S. president is famous for:

1) side-burns
2) top hat
3) blonde hair
4) not finishing his term

[billl]

OK, I am gonna just give the answer to that latest puzzle that I made up by myself. The answer is:

Abe Lincoln

[billl]

HERE IS THE NEXT PUZZLE!

This is copy and pasted from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_dollar_riddle)


Three guests check into a hotel room. The clerk says the bill is $30, so each guest pays $10. Later the clerk realizes the bill should only be $25. To rectify this, he gives the bellhop $5 to return to the guests. On the way to the room, the bellhop realizes that he cannot divide the money equally. As the guests didn't know the total of the revised bill, the bellhop decides to just give each guest $1 and keep $2 for himself.

Now that each of the guests has been given $1 back, each has paid $9, bringing the total paid to $27. The bellhop has $2. If the guests originally handed over $30, what happened to the remaining $1?

I'm sorry, I feel cheap for doing this.... But I wanted to give you guys an interesting, PROFESSIONAL, brain-teaser...

[Leland Gaunt]

You don't need to add the 2 and 27 because the 2 is already included within the 27...I think.

[billl]

Yep--for the guests, that $2 that the bellhop is holding is an overpayment on their part, and it is included in the $27. Good work--people can check the Wikipedia link up there for the fleshed-out answer...

...but it is just a trick going on when it is suggested that the $2 be added to the $27 for some reason. The $2 is actually just what is left over from the $5, after the customers got their $3. If the bellhop, in a fit of honesty, went back and gave the $2 to one of the guests (or divied it up somehow, e.g. $o.66 each), then we would see that the guests had no longer overpaid the two dollars. Their $27 total payment would finally be reduced to the $25 that they actually owed.

[prendrelemick]

Here's a quick easy one while we're waiting for billl

8 9 6 3 2 1 4 ?

[billl]

I have to do another (non-researched) one? I will keep trying, because this is a great thread, but I am having trouble remembering another one. I like the more social/conversational mood here, where we are posting from our memory of these puzzles, but I might have reached my limit. But I will keep trying, because I probably will come up with something eventually :)

[billl]

Here's a quick easy one while we're waiting for billl

8 9 6 3 2 1 4 ?

I find this one neither quick nor easy.

[billl]

7!

Re-arranging the sequence as consecutive top-to-bottom columns, we get:
8 2
9 1
6 4
3 ?
Paired thusly, it seems that adding 7 to 3 will give us 10, just as the other pairs do. Nice one, did you make that one up yourself?

Assuming that I am correct (and there might very well be some other solution you had in mind...), I will next post a classic 'puzzle' that I finally managed to remember.

[billl]

Game Show Problem

You have been called down from the audience to participate on a game show. The host stands with you before three large curtains, numbered 1, 2, and 3. Behind one of the curtains, there is a check for $10,000. The other two curtains have nothing behind them. You must decide which curtain you think conceals the prize.

After you have chosen (for example, curtain number 1), the host gives you one more chance to change your mind. But before you decide whether or not to change, the host will pull aside one of the curtains that you have not chosen (for example, curtain number 2), in order to show that there is nothing behind it.

So, what should you do:

1) choose the other curtain (in the example, curtain number 3)
or
2) keep to your original choice (e.g. curtain number 1)

and Why?


(I hope I explained this one well, please ask if anything needs clarification...)

[Sapphire]

I know you have to change, but I always thought it went against all common sense :nod: No matter how good the explination :lol: It's a bit like the hare and the turtle...

The first time you have a 1 in 3 chance to get it right. The second time, when you choose the other curtain, you have a 1 in 2 chance. BUT that goes for both doors, so that wasn't the explination
Erm...
The chance you have it right the first time, is 1/3. So you probably have it wrong (2/3). After the curtain with nothing behind it is opened, you better switch to the one that is left (neither chosen the first time or openend). But what the chances are for that one, I'm not sure. I just know they're better :crazy:

If anybody knows how to explain this more clearly, please do!

[prendrelemick]

7!

Re-arranging the sequence as consecutive top-to-bottom columns, we get:
8 2
9 1
6 4
3 ?
Paired thusly, it seems that adding 7 to 3 will give us 10, just as the other pairs do. Nice one, did you make that one up yourself?

Assuming that I am correct (and there might very well be some other solution you had in mind...), I will next post a classic 'puzzle' that I finally managed to remember.

I just went clockwise round the number pad on my keyboard:D but 7 is right.

[MarkBastable]

This is a maddening one, actually - because the odds are completely dependent on when you assess them.

You could say that once you're down to two curtains, it's fifty-fifty which is the prize curtain, so why change.

But actually, that's not quite true - and it's because you've been made to choose before you get to that point.

Imagine there are a million curtains. You choose one. They take away all but one of the others.

At that point it's pretty obvious that the chances of you having picked the right one are one-in a-million. And pretty obviously, you'd swap, because they know which is the right one, so you'd tend to believe that they've got it right because you got it wrong.

The same principle applies with three curtains, but the odds are shorter. The fact remains, however, that it's absolutely certain they've picked the right one of two if you haven't already picked it, but only one in three that you picked the right one in the first place.

[OrphanPip]

It's a famous math problem, called the Monty Hall problem, Sapphire was close.

If you don't switch your probability of getting the prize remains 1/3.

If you do switch the probability is 2/3.

It's counter intuitive, but the laws of probability happen to be counter intuitive ;).

Think of the possibilities if you always pick 1.

Results if Switch/ Don't Switch
0 /cash
cash /0
cash /0

[prendrelemick]

Mark Haddon's "The curious incident of the dog in the night" has that puzzle in it, (and the explanation)

[Sapphire]

The riddle from the Sphynx of Thebe

Which creature in the morning goes on four legs,
at mid-day on two,
and in the evening upon three,
and the more legs it has,
the weaker it be?

Remember, you'll be strangled by the Sphynx when you're unable to answer correctly :p

[OrphanPip]

Mark Haddon's "The curious incident of the dog in the night" has that puzzle in it, (and the explanation)

Studies show that only 13% of people get that question right on first encounter. The more options, (according to the studies over 7 doors is the point where most people intuitively grasp that you should always switch), the easier it becomes for people to grasp the concept. Our brains work in funny ways.

Edit: I'd be more surprised if someone on this forum doesn't know the answer to the Sphynx's riddle.

[prendrelemick]

The riddle from the Sphynx of Thebe

Which creature in the morning goes on four legs,
at mid-day on two,
and in the evening upon three,
and the more legs it has,
the weaker it be?

Remember, you'll be strangled by the Sphynx when you're unable to answer correctly :p

Course if you get it right, you may kill your father and marry your mother. :hand:

[kasie]

Terry Pratchett in Pyramids has a wonderful breakdown of how the Sphinx got the riddle wrong: for the answer to be accurate, the question should have been something like 'What goes upon four legs for about half an hour in the morning, two for most of the day and three for twenty minutes or so in the evening?' The Sphinx goes away muttering that the riddle had always worked before and he couldn't understand why this victim had not only got away but had left him/her thoroughly confused and needing to find a new riddle.

[MarkBastable]

Can we take this one as answered, and move on?

[billl]

Yeah, if anybody has a new one, then they are the hero! C'mon, show us!

EDIT: Oh Yeah, SPOILER!!!! ...the thing in the 'Sphinx' riddle is a person. In the early "morning" portion of life, the person is crawling on all fours. Then, at their strongest and most vigourous, the person is walking and running on two feet. Finally, the older, weaker version must incorporate a cane, and is thus 3-legged.

This is maybe the most famous riddle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddle_of_the_sphinx#The_Riddle_of_the_Sphinx) of all time,
and it is part of the journey of a famous Greek King (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus), for those out there who don't already know.

[prendrelemick]

Yeah, if anybody has a new one, then they are the hero! C'mon, show us!

EDIT: Oh Yeah, SPOILER!!!! ...the thing in the 'Sphinx' riddle is a person. In the early "morning" portion of life, the person is crawling on all fours. Then, at their strongest and most vigourous, the person is walking and running on two feet. Finally, the older, weaker version must incorporate a cane, and is thus 3-legged.

This is maybe the most famous riddle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddle_of_the_sphinx#The_Riddle_of_the_Sphinx) of all time,
and it is part of the journey of a famous Greek King (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus), for those out there who don't already know.

Of course if the child is being carried by his mum, or riding a horse, or being pushed in a 8 wheeled buggy by a nanny wearing roller skates, the permutations of legs, heads, wheels and tails become more complicated.

[Sapphire]

How about a little murder mystery?

A man was found murdered one Sunday morning.
His wife immediately called the police.
The police questioned the wife and staff and was given these alibis:

The Wife said she was in bed reading a book.
The Cook claimed she was cooking breakfast.
The Gardener claimed he was planting seeds.
The Maid claimed she was getting the mail.
The Butler claimed he polishing the silver.

The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?

[Scheherazade]

Was it the Maid? Because the post is not delivered on Sundays?

[Sapphire]

:hurray: That is the one :D

[Scheherazade]

I am uploading an attachment for the next one (another one from my childhood).

Here is the question: At a church, the priest arranges the bags containing their gold as shown in the attachment and every morning and evening, he comes in to count them to make sure that none is missing.

He first counts vertically: 10 bags.

He, then, counts vertically up to the left end point of the cross: 10 bags.

And, finally, he counts again up to the right end point of the cross: 10 bags.


After much observation, a thief decides that he can beat the priest's method. He takes away two bags and changes the position of one. Next morning, when the priest comes and counts the bags again three times as mentioned above, he is satisfied as counts give the same results as usual: 10 bags.

Which bags did the thief steal and which one did he repositioned?

[prendrelemick]

Take extreme left and right hand bags. Then move the top bag to the bottom.

[prendrelemick]

Earthquakes are a very common occurence, yet ours is the only planet in the solar system that has them. Why?

[MarkBastable]

Earthquakes are a very common occurence, yet ours is the only planet in the solar system that has them. Why?

Because on Mars they'd be marsquakes.


Assuming I'm right - and if I'm not, skip this next one until I do get one right, the question is:

What connects the following...?


Toledo, émigré, Miami, alfalfa, Esso, Motorola, spaghetti and dildo

[Scheherazade]

Any takers?

What connects the following...?


Toledo, émigré, Miami, alfalfa, Esso, Motorola, spaghetti and dildo

[Sapphire]

All words have at least 2 letters which are the same:
Toledo - o
émigré - é
Miami - m (and i)
alfalfa - l (f and a)
Esso - s
Motorola - o
spaghetti - t
dildo - d

[Scheherazade]

All words have at least 2 letters which are the same:
I thought about that too but I am hoping that there is something more -deeper and earth-shattering- to the puzzle, you know?

:smilewinkgrin:

[Sapphire]

:lol: I know... it is just that I can not find it :wink5: So I figured I should just state the obvious :angel:

[hoope]

Because on Mars they'd be marsquakes.

:lol:


Earthquakes are a very common occurence, yet ours is the only planet in the solar system that has them. Why?

Well am not quite sure but i guess coz earth is the only blue planet i.e the only planet that has water.. and so this water causes some thunderstroms underground .. breaks down things under... Hence makes the earthquakes .. !
That is what some philosophers believe in .. like the Greek philosopher Democritus .. I read it somewhere .. so am not sure if its correct .. After all its just a hypothesis.

[MarkBastable]

All words have at least 2 letters which are the same:
Toledo - o
émigré - é
Miami - m (and i)
alfalfa - l (f and a)
Esso - s
Motorola - o
spaghetti - t
dildo - d

Nope. It's more lateral than that. And more fun.

[Scheherazade]

Last syllables are the musical notes?

Toledo, émigré, Miami, alfalfa, Esso, Motorola, spaghetti and dildo

[MarkBastable]

Ha!

Last syllables are the musical notes?

Yep. The notes of a scale, in fact.

Damn - it usually takes longer than that.

[Sapphire]

That must be it :D

Smart :)

[Scheherazade]

A quick one:

Which is the odd one out?

409 - 715 - 265 - 708 - 283 - 742

[billl]

It's bad luck answering these, because then you have to come up with a new one.

[hoope]

A quick one:

Which is the odd one out?

409 - 715 - 265 - 708 - 283 - 742

maybe.. just maybe the 409:D

[billl]

409 is the only trio of numbers that features an enclosed space in the written symbol for each of them (maybe that's why it stood out...).

[hoope]

409 is the only trio of numbers that features an enclosed space in the written symbol for each of them (maybe that's why it stood out...).

So that is two against one ..
Way do go Bill:thumbsup:

Comman Scher . .. tell us we r right - hehehe

[Scheherazade]

No, it is not 409.

It is a little more complicated than visual features of the numbers given.

[Silas Thorne]

It must be 708 then. The individual digits in the others all add up to 13, but this adds up to 15. ;)

[Scheherazade]

It must be 708 then. The individual digits in the others all add up to 13, but this adds up to 15. ;)Correct!

[Silas Thorne]

Ah...I'll have to think of something then....I'll try not to be too long...

Got it! This is a fun one. Try to do this without an online search. It will be fun. :)

What English word is nine letters long, and can remain an English word at each step as you remove one letter at a time, right down to a single letter. List the letter you remove each time and the words that result at each step.

[Scheherazade]

What English word is nine letters long, and can remain an English word at each step as you remove one letter at a time, right down to a single letter. List the letter you remove each time and the words that result at each step?I

in

sin

sing

sting

string

staring

starting

startling (9 letters)


I got stuck on the "a/an" path for a while.


Next:

A piggybank contains £7.37. It is made up of four different denominations of coins and the largest denomination is 50p. There is exactly the same number of each coin. How many of each coin is there and what are their values?

[Scheherazade]

Next:

A piggybank contains £7.37. It is made up of four different denominations of coins and the largest denomination is 50p. There is exactly the same number of each coin. How many of each coin is there and what are their values?No takers?

[papayahed]

I have to find out the english coin denominations first.:smilielol5:

[Scheherazade]

I have to find out the english coin denominations first.:smilielol5::goof:

Sorry about that!

1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1 and £2.

[billl]

Here's the coin denomination for British currency 1 2 5 10 20 50 (also, 25, I guess?).

I used brute force, and tried adding groups of four of these numbers and then dividing 737 by their sum. Finally, I got this:

737 divided by (50+10+5+2) = 11

So, the piggybank contains 11 each of 50p, 10p, 5p, and 2p coins. I stopped checking once I found this answer, so I can't say for sure if there's not another answer.

[Scheherazade]

(also, 25, I guess?).No 25p here.

So, the piggybank contains 11 each of 50p, 10p, 5p, and 2p coins. I stopped checking once I found this answer, so I can't say for sure if there's not another answer.11 is the answer I have got as well, Bill.

Your turn! :)

[billl]

A mother is three times as old as her twin daughters. Two years from now, the sum of their ages (all three ladies) will be 111. How old are they now?


EDIT: I SCREWED UP ON THE ORIGINAL POST (I accidentally used "One year from now." Sorry for any time wasted!)

[billl]

Note: There has been an edit to my previous post!

[MarkBastable]

They're currently 21 and 63.


(M + 2d + 6 = 111 and M = 3d, all of which resolves to 5d = 105. That was fun - I haven't done that sort of maths since Descartes was late home from school having lost his coordinates.)

[billl]

Your answer is correct, glad you liked it! Perhaps you can craft a puzzle out of the Cartesian confusion you've mentioned. Anyhow, I'm off the hook again.

[MarkBastable]

What connects Lewis Carroll, Edgar Allen Poe, Aldous Huxley, Tom Mix, Carl Gustav Jung and Tony Curtis?

[Sapphire]

writers: Lewis Carroll (great riddles BTW ;) ), Edgar Allen Poe, Aldous Huxley
actors: Tom Mix, Tony Curtis
psychiatrist: Carl Gustav Jung
So it is not their job ...

They're all dead... but I think there's more to it :lol:.

[Scheherazade]

What connects Lewis Carroll, Edgar Allen Poe, Aldous Huxley, Tom Mix, Carl Gustav Jung and Tony Curtis?Does the order they come in matter, Mark?

So far, I looked into psuedonyms, DOBs, DODs, consonant/vowel patters but I could not come up with anything. :-/

[billl]

They are all white men. Who have been photographed.

[MarkBastable]

Does the order they come in matter, Mark?



Nope.


They are all white men. Who have been photographed.

Also, Muhammad Ali, né Cassius Clay. And Marlene Dietrich.

[billl]

Is it something about the names (the spelling or pronunciation, etc.)? Would I be wasting my time by exploring their biographies?

[MarkBastable]

Is it something about the names (the spelling or pronunciation, etc.)? Would I be wasting my time by exploring their biographies?

No, and completely.

[billl]

If it isn't about the names, and it isn't about the lives of the people the names refer to, then there's some nuance or something I'm missing. Would some help with that nuance (or something) be a dead give-away?

[Scheherazade]

While cooking in the kitchen, I was wondering whether they were all dyslexic but that would come under biographies, I guess.

Since it has nothing to do with the spelling of their names and their biographies, is it possible that a third party is involved?

Are they somebody's heros maybe? Or blacklisted somewhere or by someone?

Did they appear in paintings? I.e., like Marilyn Monroe's by Warhol?

Or an advertisement campaign? I.e., like Steve McQueen in Ford's?

(I am afraid this has turned into 20-Qs).

[billl]

I cheated. Pretty cool, but tough. *Maybe* I should have gotten it...

[MarkBastable]

I cheated. Pretty cool, but tough. *Maybe* I should have gotten it...

Thank you for not giving it away.

It may get easier as I add names, day by day.

[billl]

Actually, the song is called "A Day in the Life".

[billl]

Well, here it is, then. I needed a little help from my internet search engine, but I was thus able to fix the nuanced hole existing between the names and the biographies of the listed individuals. The answer to Mark's latest head-scratcher is this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/67/Pepper%27s.jpg

I've been trying to cook up one on my own, but in the meantime, here's something I just remembered that sort of fits the thread (although many may have heard it already):

Why are manhole covers round, and not square?

[MarkBastable]

Oh. Okay. I thought that, as you'd cheated, we were going to carry that one for a bit, but no matter.

...off you go then.

[prendrelemick]

1 you can roll them into place

2 They can't fall down the manhole if you missalign them when fitting.

3 Because the manhole is round.

[billl]

1 you can roll them into place

2 They can't fall down the manhole if you missalign them when fitting.

3 Because the manhole is round.

Yeah, I had your number two in mind in particular--I remember being impressed by the idea that the square cover could be manipulated so as to fall into the hole (by setting one side at a diagonal, and slipping within the hypotenuse), whereas the round cover couldn't.

[prendrelemick]

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/prendrelemick/envelope.jpg


Here is a quick one from my second year junior school. Draw an envelope without taking your pen from the paper, and without going over a line twice.

Answer by posting the correct order the numbered lines must be drawn.

[MarkBastable]

6 1 2 4 5 8 3 7

[Scheherazade]

5, 8, 3, 1, 2, 4, 7, 6 would work too.

Since we can tell that is the correct answer, would you like to post the next question, Mark?

[MarkBastable]

What connects Peter Pan, Joy Division and a corner of the Netherlands?

[Sapphire]

Being from the Netherlands, I should know this :blush:

I connect Peter Pan (Cpt. Hook) to Joy Division by co-founder Peter Hook, and Joy Division to the Netherlands by the Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn. He recently made a movie about the group.
That won't do though, for I cannot connect Mr. Corbijn to Peter Pan...

So I draw a blank :confused:

[MarkBastable]

Being from the Netherlands, I should know this :blush:

I connect Peter Pan (Cpt. Hook) to Joy Division by co-founder Peter Hook, and Joy Division to the Netherlands by the Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn. He recently made a movie about the group.
That won't do though, for I cannot connect Mr. Corbijn to Peter Pan...

So I draw a blank :confused:

You've got so much of it, it's taken me a moment to figure out why you haven't got the bit that I would have thought was easiest for you - but I think it's because you're thinking in Dutch.

I can't bring myself to say you've solved it. On the other hand, there's not enough left to keep it going, so I'll kill this bit of it and present a supplementary bit that anyone here could take a shot at.

Captain Hook appears in Peter Pan.
Peter Hook was the bass player in Joy Division
Holland has a crooked peninsula called De Hoek (the Hook of Holland, in English) which means 'the Corner'


Supplementary Bit

The root of the Dutch - or to be strictly accurate, the Low German - word hoek shows up in two slightly corrupted forms in common English idioms. And in both cases the n from the indefinite article that used to precede it has moved to the beginning of the word itself so 'een hoek' becomes 'a nook'. So - that gives you one of them - every nook and cranny.

What's the other? As I say, it's a slightly different corruption of the vowel sound.

[prendrelemick]

Here are my thoughts in progress.

There's a "nock" at the blunt end of an arrow, which sort of hooks on to the bowstring.

Or a nick or niche which is a sort of nook or indeed a cranny.

A neck curves like a corner

Other right sounding words begin with a "k", so are probably from a different source.

[MarkBastable]

Here are my thoughts in progress.

There's a "nock" at the blunt end of an arrow, which sort of hooks on to the bowstring.

Or a nick or niche which is a sort of nook or indeed a cranny.

A neck curves like a corner

Other right sounding words begin with a "k", so are probably from a different source.

You're going the right way, but I'm looking for an idiomatic phrase - a cliché even - that I guarantee you've heard hundreds of times, and probably used quite often.

[prendrelemick]

In the nick of time? (He blurted out) not sure how it conects to corner though.


I'm sure archers are always getting "nocked up."

[MarkBastable]

In the nick of time? (He blurted out) not sure how it conects to corner though.



Actually, that might be the same root. But the one I'm thinking of quite obviously, in context, means 'corner'.

[billl]

crook?

("by hook or by crook")


EDIT: Whoops. Never mind--same vowel sound.

[Basil]

prendrelemick mentioned the word neck, but I'm guessing Mark wanted the phrase "neck of the woods."

If that is correct, someone else can post a new one. I'll try to come up with one to post at some future time.

[MarkBastable]

prendrelemick mentioned the word neck, but I'm guessing Mark wanted the phrase "neck of the woods."

If that is correct, someone else can post a new one. I'll try to come up with one to post at some future time.

....Yep.

[MarkBastable]

What connects


arms to the Contras
a ranch near Dallas
a robot gunslinger
a man with no name

[Sapphire]

The Hook one was clever :) I am quite certain I would have never connected Hoek/Corner with Hook - you do pronounce it fairly similar indeed. It reminds me of a show here on the radio, where people hear Dutch lyrics in (mostly) English songs. It always surprises me how whole sentences (with completely different meanings) can turn up that way!

I am not familiar with the term "the Contras", but I'll jump to conclusions and take that it is short for contradiction :p From contradiction it is a small step to unresolvable differences, which can lead to people getting up (in?) arms.
I can imagine the fight between these special "Contras" took place on a ranch near Dallas and involved a robot gunslinger and a man with no name (Western!). But all this is just my imagination running wild, so I'll leave it to somebody else to give an answer fundated on facts :nod:

[prendrelemick]

The Cardinal Points.
Oliver North
Southfork
Clint Eastwood
Westworld. (Yul Brenner)

[prendrelemick]

Here's a quickie I just thought of.

What comes between an egg and the number 40

[Sapphire]

Maybe a bit far fetched, but could it be shapes:
4+0=40
and as the egg is zero-shaped it would be the number 4?

But that is not "between" an egg and the number 40...

[prendrelemick]

Nope!

But shapes are relevant.

[prendrelemick]

After the number 40 there could be a low value playing card

[Sapphire]

I guess that is a huge clue, but I do not know any card games with an "egg" or a "40" in it... That is, taken that this is a sequence for a card game - it could be a number of other things of course.

Sorry, drawing a blank again :blush:

egg - 40 - low value playing card

[billl]

I'm thinking that the answer could be "The numbers 1-39," but I really hope I'm wrong because I don't have a follow-up puzzle figured out. Yeah, anyhow, probably wrong...?

[prendrelemick]

Sapphire was on the right track noticing that a zero is egg shaped. Hundreds of years ago someone else noticed this too, (A French speaker I would guess,) and a new word slipped into the language. It is only used in a sporting context though.

[kasie]

Deuce? No, that's 40-40, isn't it? Vantage? Love?

[prendrelemick]

Almost there! - Game, set, but not quite the match!

[hoope]

This is really hard.. i have been asking everyone home :(

Does it has something to do with the life span of the egg.. which might be 40 days or weeks.. or from the production time ... whatevaaa.. i can't come up with anything..

[Sapphire]

Kasie made me think of tennis. I remembered something about "love" sounding like "l'oeuf" (French for egg) - so zero would become "egg".
But in tennis there is 15 and 30 between "egg" and 40... and no "low value playing card" after it... :(

[billl]

Well, 15 and 30 seems like a good (possible) answer, ie. there could be two things.

[kasie]

15-40, 30-40, deuce (40-40), vantage Miss Williams. Deuce can be used in card games for the two of whatever suit, like ace for one, I think?) - You can tell I'm not much into games of any sorts, can't you!

If this is indeed the correct answer, please could someone else provide the next puzzle? I'm away and off-line for a week - IOU a puzzle, in that case.

[MarkBastable]

What connects the Beatles, Prince and the Move - but not the Stranglers?

[prendrelemick]

Sorry for delay I have been away. Kasie and Sapphire got it between them. 15 and 30 was the answer . Love (the tennis love that is,) is reputed to be a corruption of L'oeuf

[prendrelemick]

What connects the Beatles, Prince and the Move - but not the Stranglers?

Thoughts so far.

Could this be to do with Fruit?

Blackberry Way.

Strawberry Fields.

Cherry Moon.

BUT why not the Stranglers? Peaches are a friut too

[prendrelemick]

Is there a difference between a berry and a fruit?

[MarkBastable]

You're practically there.

Strawberry Fields, Blackberry Way and Raspberry Beret. As opposed to Peaches.

[prendrelemick]

Ok here is a quick crossword clue I've just made up.


Buried after tax.

[iamnobody]

internet?

[prendrelemick]

Yep, your turn.

[iamnobody]

What comes next?

88, 225, 365, 687, ?

[jajdude]

Dunno, though I can tell what the numbers refer to.

[Serena03]

What comes next?

88, 225, 365, 687, ?

4333 for the number of days it takes Jupiter to go around the sun and so forth the remaining planets.

[iamnobody]

You got it! Your turn.

[Serena03]

11 24 11
10 25 13
13 27 ?

Which number should replace the question mark?

[iamnobody]

10???

[Serena03]

^I'm sorry, that is incorrect.

[MarkBastable]

...12

[Serena03]

^correct

[MarkBastable]

Okay. Give me a day to come up with the next one...

[billl]

Hmm. Are you looking for the exact date, or the day of the week on this one?

[MarkBastable]

If two is blue, and three is white, and four is black in the UK but green in the US, what colour is one?

[Scheherazade]

Red?



__________________

[MarkBastable]

Red?



__________________


...Why?

[Scheherazade]

...Why?Oh, you know very well why!

I have no idea what these colours represent even though I checked many boardgames, sports, emergency alert codes, lottery and so on; looking at the colours already mentioned, I think 1 is either red or yellow. However, it'd be nice to know the reason behind it as well!

[MarkBastable]

Well, given the colours I've mentioned, there's a good chance the answer would be red as opposed to, say, ochre or taupe. However, I want the why.

[JuniperWoolf]

Are the colors those that represent various political parties ordered from most to least popular? That's what they could mean in Canadian politics.

[OrphanPip]

Are the colors those that represent various political parties ordered from most to least popular? That's what they could mean in Canadian politics.

How so? The Tories are blue, but the Libs are red, NDP orange, Greens green, and BQ light blue.

[JuniperWoolf]

Oh nvm, I thought that Tories were red and Libs were blue ('cuz of the American liberal = blue, conservative = red thing) with greens pulling up the rear. I totally forgot about the NDP.

[billl]

This answer is not correct, according to the one source I tracked down, but since the information is somewhat variable, I'll throw it out there:

Silver.

(Silver/Gray is the most popular color for new automobiles. It has been for some time, but in 2009 white and black ranked ahead of blue.)

[MarkBastable]

All very inventive, but not right.

Would y'all like a clue?

[kasie]

? States of emergency?

[MarkBastable]

"It's a trap!"

[prendrelemick]

Is it Star wars related?

[Scheherazade]

However, I want the why.Bummer. I was hoping that I could get away with guessing the colour randomly.

:rolleyes:

I see the thread has been revived.
? States of emergency?I have already checked that but could not find anything feasable. I also checked many board games and sports but to no avail.

[billl]

Dalek-Related?

(If this is right, I can only guess that the black/green distinction would be the result of some sort of editing decision. And I would again go with Silver, I guess. Maybe Red?)


EDIT: Never mind, White is the new Supreme Dalek.

[MarkBastable]

Less Dalek and more K9.

[prendrelemick]

Greyhound racing colours?

Each "trap" has a different colour.

[MarkBastable]

Greyhound racing colours?

Each "trap" has a different colour.

...Yep (http://www.inspiredvirtual.com/Development_Images/main_images/main_virtual_greyhound.jpg).

[prendrelemick]

Cut off my head and I apeer, cut off my tail and I apear.
Cut off both and I mostly hear.

[Scheherazade]

...Yep (http://www.inspiredvirtual.com/Development_Images/main_images/main_virtual_greyhound.jpg).:prrr:
Cut off my head and I apeer, cut off my tail and I apear.
Cut off both and I mostly hear.Pearl?

[prendrelemick]

yepp!

[Scheherazade]

Another straightforward puzzle:

A clock that was correct at midnight started losing three and a half minutes every hour. It stopped two hours ago, showing "13.11". Keeping in mind that it ran less than 24 hours, what is the correct time now?