1. Funny Emails Sent to Me by Funny People.... One of the more interesting aspects of this website, is I get all sorts of comments. Here is an assortment... the kid sitting two seats down from me is gay!!!!!!Mr Mullen said this was a craker from zoecould u please send me more lateral thinking puzzels and sulutions. my hole family plays along. THANXhiWhat is the solution to petals around the rose? I got the right answer but I don't know how.yall are geniuses.i love the way you state your qustionsIt was a fearful mistake done by us...it is actually a blunder to read this...WTF??poopdear sir/madam ur collection of puzzle is worthful. THANKYOU 4 SAVING THE TIME TO JUMP BTWEEN LINKS 4 ANSWERS.Please send me Analytical Thinking and Arithmetic Reasoning, English language questions and their solutionsThe Problems were quite challenging. The idea of partioning different levels is appreciable.Please Keep posting new Problems.what does FOLJ stand for?xxxI has the microfilmit is confuesing manI'm sexymy name is blake and i have no freinds help mehi i really like your semantics but i would like to know were they are originate are this from this country or another >??? thank youPlease go through the mailhow do we give the answers if we do know them?more questian shiuld includedWhy are the qestions so easy??????????????????????littel bit tough but its nice questions give morethese were all rubishgoodncfnethttWe need some more lateral questions like this. Just one page you have given.hi my name is lilee and i dont like this one bit...i knew like all the answeres to these problems and i wasnt very happy about that...i wanted a challenge!! I think the question about the girl being kept in the cellar is a little inappropriate in light of the joseph Fritzel stuff especially. I do like the site in general though.only sick people can come up with that answer of the cellar- problem. There are other test a-like these to test you sens of psychic health. When you come up with the solution, it means you really need some psychiatric help.that was the most hard and retarded logic puzzles i have ever done. No. {no offence)im interested for you email meSO HARD LOGIC PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!how about wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wet wetAlthough these are very difficult puzzles, but there is no addition of new puzzles. There shoud be some new addition as well. Thanks.I am involved in a trivial pursuit. I have been given a clue related to lateral thinking and can't solve it.....give some more easy questions. and this is very useful to all students who are some what week in their fastness.this is an awful site....i think yu can do much better.....i think this site needs more color...and my friend pooh said he think yu luk gud...and he gotta go teacher cuminits me jenna hall agian and i just wanted to tell yu once again that ur site is awful and im bein pressured to cum on this site....my friend pooh sai he's single and he dnt like the gurl he sittin by gotta goPls send me samples of Superintendents Test for a review.the puzzle of babby falling from window is didn't understoodput up another harder level this is too chap for me and some of these r quite old, i think u need to start inventing.but it was gret any way thanks Editors Note: This guy guessed the answers to three problems, and all three guesses were incorrect.f**k u Editors Note: This guy guessed the answers to three problems. All fourteen guesses were incorrect.i dont get it please tell me the answer Editors Note: No email address, no reference to a particular problem, simply a cry for help sent randomly into the internet that will apparently go unanswered.Want more clients and customers? We will help them find you by putting you on the 1st page of Google. Email us back to get a full proposal Editors Note: This site is already at the top. Plus I really don't want customers. Customers ruin everything.We noticed that you are not at the top of the search engines for a number of your key terms. We have helped companies similar to yours to achieve top organic rankings. Please reply to this message and we will prepare a special proposal for you, to show you how we can achieve similar results for you. Editors Note: Really? Which terms?Hi, I sent you an email about a link I would like to place on your site, and I never heard back from you. Did you get my email? Editors Note: Yes. Yes I did.I was wondering if it would be alright to use your website as a tutor training resource to show tutors other lateral thinking puzzles. I didn't want to infringe on your work without your permission. Editors Note: How cool is that???? Most of these problems are as old as my sciatica, so I take no pride in that. What I mean is somehow, somewhere, I made life a little more miserable for a struggling young student or two. Ha! Heh heh heh...my student tom powell sovled the problem about the surgeont and the three arms in ten minutes and twenty two seconds . is this a new record ? Editors Note: OK, so some students may enjoy these problems, but they probably don't need anyone adding to their misery.pls send me daily problems. Editors Note: Well I am glad people don't have too high expectations from free internet content presented with zero advertisements.Nice work guys!!!! Can you send me more logical problems if you can? If not, I respect that and I am very grateful for the existing riddles. :-) Editors Note: There is only one of me! Sheesh...Hi , I came across your puzzles collection on folj.com . Thats awesome my friend. Really nice collection . Keep it up. Hope next time , more addition can be seen in it. You Rooooooooooooooock Dude. Editors Note: Shaweet!Absolutely cracking good site!!! I have sent this site to all my children, as they remembered the puzzle involving the zebra and the different colored houses!!! They did this one long ago on that long computer paper, on their stomachs on the floor, griding it out!! I cannot solve much of anything! Don't know what kind of thinking I do, except play the piano, which is moving math, and pole vaulting to an answer, with no steps in-between, which will not help in many situations! Thank you so much for this site! Cheers! Editors Note: I have no idea exactly what this lovely old bean means, but I love it anyway. Show Solution | Comments (0) Solution: The puzzle presents a collection of humorous and varied comments from users regarding lateral thinking puzzles. The overarching theme is the users' desire for more challenging puzzles and their mixed reactions to the existing ones. The solution lies in recognizing that the comments reflect a spectrum of opinions about the puzzles, ranging from appreciation to frustration.
2. How to Update Profile? How does one navigate to the Profile page to update his password? Show Solution | Comments (1) Solution: To navigate to the Profile page to update your password, first log into your account on the website or app. Then, click on the Profile link at the top of the page. Once on the Profile page, find the section for password management and follow the prompts to update your password.
3. If Mississippi Wore a New Jersey, What Would Delaware? If Mississippi wore a New Jersey, what would Delaware? Show Solution | Comments (2) Solution: If Mississippi wore a New Jersey, it suggests that the states are represented by their abbreviations. Mississippi is abbreviated as MS, and New Jersey as NJ. Therefore, if Delaware, abbreviated as DE, were to wear something similar, it would wear an 'E' for Delaware, making the answer 'E'.
4. Two Condoms, Three Partners You are about to have intercourse with three consenting adult partners, one after another. Exactly two of them are HIV-positive and one is HIV-negative, but you do not know which is which until the moment you are with that partner. You have exactly two condoms. A condom may be reused, but any surface that has touched an HIV-positive partner (or another surface that has) will certainly transmit the virus to the next HIV-negative person it contacts. You must plan the order of use, putting on, removing, turning inside-out, etc., so that when all three acts are finished no HIV-negative person (including yourself) has been exposed to the virus. Is it possible, and if so, how? Show Hint Show Solution | Comments (4) Hint: Think of the two condoms as two layers you can rearrange. Try to keep one surface that never touches an infected partner until the very last moment. Solution: Yes, it is possible. Number the condoms C₁ (inner) and C₂ (outer): Put on C₁, then pull C₂ over it (double-layer). Have intercourse with the first partner. If this partner is HIV-positive, only the outside of C₂ is contaminated. Remove C₂ and set it aside (its outer surface may be contaminated). Keeping C₁ on, have intercourse with the second partner. If this partner is HIV-positive, only the outside of C₁ is now contaminated; its inner surface (still against your skin) is clean. Turn C₂ inside-out so that its previously clean inner surface is now on the outside, and pull it back over C₁. Have intercourse with the third partner. Throughout the process exactly one condom surface that has never touched an HIV-positive partner (the former inside of C₂) is the only surface that contacts the HIV-negative partner. Therefore no uninfected person is exposed.
6. There is a Pattern C a R R There is a pattern C A R R and the question is, what is the next letter in the pattern. The choices were S I X Y. He also gave numbers for the question and answers, so the numbers for C A R R are 3 1 18 18 and the answers could be 9 19 24 25, which are S I X Y. Show Solution | Comments (2) Solution: Y
7. Who Killed Sharky? Sharky, the head of an underworld gang, has been murdered. Detective Sharp questions Sharky’s four henchmen—Socko, Fats, Lefty, and Muscles—and records their statements: a) Socko: “Lefty killed Sharky.” b) Fats: “Muscles did not kill Sharky.” c) Lefty: “Muscles was shooting craps with me when Sharky was knocked off.” d) Muscles: “Lefty did not kill Sharky.” Detective Sharp establishes that exactly one of these four statements is true, while the other three are false. Using this information, determine: Who killed Sharky? Show Hint Show Solution | Comments (1) Hint: Assume each henchman’s statement is either completely true or completely false. Test each statement as the single true one and look for a consistent scenario. Solution: If Muscles’ statement (“Lefty did not kill Sharky”) is the one true statement, then Lefty is innocent. Socko’s claim that Lefty killed Sharky is therefore false, and Fats’s statement that Muscles did not kill Sharky is also false—meaning Muscles did kill Sharky. Lefty’s alibi for Muscles is likewise false, so Muscles had no alibi. All three remaining statements are false, satisfying the condition that exactly one statement is true. Any other choice for the single true statement leads to a contradiction. Hence, Muscles is the murderer.
9. An Artist Needs to Arrange Seven Paintings on the Wall An artist needs to arrange seven paintings on the wall of a room in an art gallery. the apaintings must be placed in consecutive order, 1st through 7th. Four of the paintings--Picasso, Benton, Tamayo, RIvera--are landscapes. THe rest van Gogh, GOya, matisse--are portraits. 1. the fifth painting must be a portrait. 2. portraits cannot be next to one another. 3. THe Goya is second. 4. If benton is the first, the the Tamayo is seventh. 5.THe RIvera cannot be placed in a lower numbered position than the Van Gogh. 6. The Picasso cannot be next to the Goya. Show Solution | Comments (3) Solution: 1st - Benton, 2nd - Goya, 3rd - Rivera, 4th - Picasso, 5th - Van Gogh, 6th - Tamayo, 7th - Matisse
10. 1 1 2 3 5 8 What is the next number in this pattern? 1 1 2 3 5 8 Show Solution | Comments (1) Solution: The sequence is the Fibonacci sequence, where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones. The next number after 8 is 5 + 8, which equals 13.
12. John Was Watching Television. Just After the Midnight News.. John was watching television. 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.." "WRONG again, snorted John. He was correct but how did he know? Show Solution | Comments (1) Solution: John knew that the weather forecast was incorrect because it stated that it would rain for the next two days, but then it would be bright and sunny in 72 hours, which is three days later. Therefore, it contradicts itself by suggesting it would stop raining before the end of the forecast period, and also, 72 hours from midnight would still be dark.
13. Invert the 10-Coin Triangle Ten identical coins are arranged on the table in the shape of a triangle that points downward, as shown below:* * * * * * * * * *By moving exactly three coins to new positions, turn the triangle so that it points upward (its apex at the top and a base of four coins at the bottom).All other coins must stay where they are, and no extra coins may be added or removed.How can you do it? Show Hint Show Solution | Comments (2) Hint: Focus on the three coins that are closest to the centre of the figure; they will all need to move. Solution: Number the starting positions from left to right, top to bottom:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Move the following three coins:Coin 2 → position of 10 (the current apex).Coin 3 → position of 8 (left coin in the third row).Coin 6 → position of 9 (right coin in the third row).The new layout is: * (coin 2) * * (coins 3 and 6) * * * (coins 1,5,4) * * * * (coins 7,8,9,10)This forms a triangle with its point at the top and a base of four coins at the bottom, satisfying the conditions with only three moves.
14. 8 Queens Place 8 queens on a chess board so that no queen can kill another in a single move. Show Solution | Comments (5) Solution: One possible solution is to place the queens at the following coordinates: (1, 5), (2, 3), (3, 1), (4, 7), (5, 2), (6, 8), (7, 4), and (8, 6). This arrangement ensures that no two queens threaten each other, as they are positioned such that no two queens share the same row, column, or diagonal.Another valid arrangement is:B B B B B B B QB B B Q B B B BQ B B B B B B BB B Q B B B B BB B B B B Q B BB Q B B B B B BB B B B B B Q BB B B B Q B B B
15. Escape From a Stalled Elevator You are alone in a modern electric elevator that has stopped between two floors. The ceiling escape hatch is locked from the outside, the emergency telephone is dead and you have confirmed that no one will even start looking for you for at least 48 hours. The lights are still on, so the car has power, but you must get out on your own. You are wearing normal business clothes and have only the following items: a 16 oz (0.5 L) bottle of water a mobile phone (no reception) a bean burrito wrapped in aluminium foil a ball-point pen a pencil dress shoes with laces wool socks slacks, dress shirt, underwear, leather belt with metal buckle, wool jacket a wrist-watch a handful of loose papers a small pocket-knife (screw-driver tip on the blade) a packet of breath mints a plastic comb Using nothing but these items and the elevator itself, describe a safe method to escape from the cab. (For the purposes of the puzzle you may assume an ordinary centre-opening passenger elevator built to current safety codes.) Show Hint Show Solution | Comments (6) Hint: The ceiling hatch is the strongest part of the car. Instead, think about how the elevator doors know when they are lined up with a landing. Solution: All modern elevators use a mechanical linkage that couples the car doors to the landing (hall) doors only when the car is within a few centimetres of a floor. That linkage – the car-door clutch – sits directly above the car doors and can be reached once the interior control panel is removed. The idea is therefore to open the car doors first, then manually release the hall-door interlock. Use the pocket-knife as a screwdriver to remove the two or four small screws that hold the push-button panel in place. Pull the panel a few centimetres forward; you will now have an opening large enough to get a hand and forearm inside the door header. Feel above the centre of the doorway for a spring-loaded metal paddle – the car-door clutch. Push it toward the centre of the car to disengage it. With the paddle held disengaged, slide the two car doors apart. Jam one dress shoe in the track so they cannot close or re-latch. The landing doors are now visible but still locked. Through the same opening locate the small hook or lever on the hall-door interlock. Slip the metal tongue of your belt (or the aluminium burrito foil twisted into a cord) around the lever and pull it up to release the lock. While holding the interlock open, slide the landing doors apart with your free hand. Once they begin to move they will run easily. Step out onto the floor level that is highest (usually the upper one), remove the shoe, and allow both sets of doors to close normally behind you. You have escaped without damaging the equipment and without putting yourself in danger of a fall down the shaft.
16. On a Certain Train... On a certain train, the crew consists of the brakeman, the fireman, and the engineer. Their names listed alphabetically are Jones, Robinson and Smith. On the train are also three passengers with corresponding names, Mr. Jones, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Smith. The following facts are known: a. Mr. Robinison lives in Detroit b. The brakeman lives exactly halfway between Detroit and Chicago c. Mr. Jones earns exactly $20,000 a year d. Smith oncea beat the fireman at the billiards e. The brakeman s next door neighbor, one of the three passengers mentioned, earns exactly three times as much as the brakeman f. The passenger living in Chicago has the same name as the brakeman. What is the engineer s name? Show Solution | Comments (4) Solution: The engineer's name is Smith. Mr. Robinson lives in Detroit, and the brakeman lives halfway between Detroit and Chicago, which means the brakeman must be Jones. Since the passenger in Chicago shares the name with the brakeman, Mr. Jones must be in Chicago, leaving Mr. Smith as the engineer. Additionally, since Mr. Jones earns $20,000 a year, he cannot be the brakeman's neighbor who earns three times as much, confirming that Mr. Smith is the engineer.
17. Tiling a Framed Rectangle You have an equal number of black and white square tiles. You lay the black tiles in a solid rectangle. Around this rectangle you place the white tiles so that they form a border exactly one tile thick on all four sides, using every white tile and leaving no gaps or leftovers. If every tile you own is used in this construction, what are all the possible total numbers of tiles you could have? Show Hint Show Solution | Comments (2) Hint: Write equations for the area of the inner (black) rectangle and the surrounding (white) border, then look for integer solutions. Solution: Let the inner (black) rectangle have dimensions m × n (in tiles). Its area is mn tiles. The outer rectangle, after the one-tile-thick white border is added, has dimensions (m + 2) × (n + 2). Hence the number of white tiles is (m + 2)(n + 2) − mn = 2m + 2n + 4. Because the numbers of black and white tiles are equal, we require mn = 2m + 2n + 4. Rewriting, (m − 2)(n − 2) = 8. The positive factor pairs of 8 give all solutions: m − 2 = 1, n − 2 = 8 ⇒ (m, n) = (3, 10) m − 2 = 2, n − 2 = 4 ⇒ (m, n) = (4, 6) m − 2 = 4, n − 2 = 2 ⇒ (m, n) = (6, 4) (same total as previous) m − 2 = 8, n − 2 = 1 ⇒ (m, n) = (10, 3) (same total as first) The corresponding numbers of black (and hence white) tiles are: 3 × 10 = 30 ⇒ total tiles = 2 × 30 = 60 4 × 6 = 24 ⇒ total tiles = 2 × 24 = 48 Therefore the only possible totals are 48 or 60 tiles.
18. A Dying Father Has to Divide His Property Equally Among 4 There was a question on property, a dying father has to divide his property equally among 4 children without changing the shape of the property, the property is in 3 rectangle blocks like L shape ( eg 1 square box into 4 pieces, remove 1 piece - looks like L shape) Show Solution | Comments (1) Solution: The L-shaped property can be divided into four equal-area sections by making three cuts: one vertical cut through the middle of the vertical part of the L, and two horizontal cuts that split the bottom part into equal areas, ensuring each section has the same area while maintaining the L shape.
19. Fresnos Planting Puzzle un hortelano tenia 10 fresnos que deberá sembrar de manera que cada una de las bardas de su terreno cuadrangular quedare de tres fresnos ¿como le hizo? Show Solution | Comments (0) Solution: El hortelano puede plantar los fresnos en las esquinas del cuadrado y en el medio de cada lado. De esta manera, cada barda tendrá tres fresnos: uno en cada esquina y uno en el medio de cada lado.
20. Weighing Without a Scale how can we weigh the shirt, without having a weight but we have only pans? Show Solution | Comments (0) Solution: You can use the pans to balance the shirt against known weights or other items of known weight until equilibrium is reached.
21. Burning String Duration How long must a string be in order for it to burn for 3 minutes and 30 seconds? Show Solution | Comments (0) Solution: The length of the string depends on its material and thickness. However, if we assume a specific burn rate, we can calculate the required length. For example, if a string burns at a rate of 1 meter per minute, then to burn for 3 minutes and 30 seconds (which is 3.5 minutes), the string must be 3.5 meters long.
25. Anagram Puzzle: POLMOMICE What word can be formed by rearranging the letters in 'POLMOMICE'? Show Solution | Comments (0) Solution: The word that can be formed is 'COMPLEXION'.
26. Identifying a Conclusion Indicator All nervous dogs are dogs unsuitable for a family with a new baby, and all dogs trained to fight other dogs to the death are nervous dogs. In view of the previous facts it follows that all dogs trained to fight other dogs to the death are dogs unsuitable for a family with a new baby.Which of the sentences below is true about the phrase “In view of the previous facts it follows that”?It refers or points backwards to the first two sentences.It refers or points forward to the clause “all dogs trained to fight other dogs to the death are dogs unsuitable for a family with a new baby.”It functions as a conclusion indicator and would be classified as a conclusion indicator.All of the other answers are true. Show Solution | Comments (0) Solution: The correct answer is D. “In view of the previous facts it follows that” simultaneously:Points backward to the two preceding premises (A).Points forward to the conclusion clause (B).Serves as a standard conclusion indicator linking premises to conclusion (C).
27. Logical Deduction with Variables Given the statements: P and Q (Q or R), if P then S, not S, if R then A, not A. What can you conclude? Show Solution | Comments (0) Solution: From the statements, we have:P and Q (Q or R)If P then SNot SIf R then ANot ASince 'if P then S' and 'not S', we conclude 'not P'.From 'P and Q (Q or R)', if 'not P', then 'Q or R' must be true.Since 'if R then A' and 'not A', we conclude 'not R'.Therefore, R must be false.
