Four Chains in One Loop

You have four chains. Each chain has three links in it. Although it is difficult to cut the links, you wish to make a single loop with all 12 links. What is the fewest number of cuts you must make to accomplish this task?

Three cuts. Cut each link in one chain. Separate them, and use the links to join the ends of the three intact chains.

Posted in Brain Teasers

What Number Comes Next 6 1 3 1 4

What number comes next?

6 1 3 1 4 _

5. The numbers are the alphabetical positions of the letters in the word FACADE.

F – 6th
A – 1st
C – 3rd
A – still 1st
D – 4th
E – 5th

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Turn Two Into Five

How do you turn 2 into 5?

Turn it upside down and look at it in a mirror.

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The Pattern of Numbers

These series follow a pattern.
2 4 8
1 17 476
65 20987 3571890

This series does not follow the pattern
18 79 45

What is the pattern?

The numbers must be in ascending order. This can be a fun one to have people work out in person, as they test out three-number series and you can tell them whether or not they satisfy the pattern.

Thanks to Patrick for sending this in and thanks to this video from Veritasium for inspiring Patrick.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Cannot Hear or Even See

I cannot hear or even see,
But sense light and sounds there may be,
Sometimes I end up on a hook,
I can be combined with a book.

What am I?

A worm. Worms don’t have eyes or ears, but they can sense light and their bodies can detect vibrations in the ground. Fishers use worms as bait and the term bookwork is used for someone who loves to read.

Posted in Riddles

Lines in the Rebus

What does this represent?

| R | E | A | D | I | N | G |

Reading between the lines

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Grow In Trees and Have No Teeth

I grow in trees, eat living things but have no teeth and give birth to something that looks nothing like me. What am I?

A bird. They are hatched and raised in trees (nests), don’t have teeth in the traditional meaning of teeth and they lay eggs, which look nothing like a bird.

A butterfly / caterpillar could also work.

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Hide in Daylight But Prefer the Sun

I hide in the daylight but prefer the sun,
I have no fingers but can hold a gun,
I have three eyes but cannot see,
I live on land but in a tree,
I’m spotted in pink and cannot grow,
When you look away is when I show.

What am I?

Hint: There’s a different answer for each line

This riddle is a compilation of several riddles. The answers for each line are as follows:

1. Shadow
2. Holster
3. Traffic light
4. Bird
5. The letter ‘i’
6. Your side profile

Posted in Riddles

Enjoyed By Some, Despised By Others

I am enjoyed by some, despised by others. Some take me for granted, some treasure me like a gift. I last forever, unless you break me first.

Marriage.

Posted in Riddles

A Fruity Series

What is the next letter in this fruity series?

a a a p p ?

Y.

The series consists of the letters of papaya in alphabetical order.

Posted in Brain Teasers