Snakes and Mice

On a remote (imaginary) island, there are 11 snakes and a single mouse. As you’d expect, snakes eat the mice. But contrary to what you’d expect, when a snake eats a mouse, it turns into one.

The snakes live by only two rules:

1. Don’t get eaten.
2. Eat mice as long as rule #1 isn’t violated.

How many snakes and mice will there be left on the island?

10 snakes, 1 mouse.

If there were only a single snake and mouse, the snake could eat the mouse, then turn into one, leaving a single mouse.

If there were two snakes and a single mouse, rule 2 would keep either of the snakes from eating the mouse to avoid being eaten themselves.

With three snakes and one mouse, one of the snakes could eat a mouse and be safe as a mouse thanks to rule 2.

This pattern continues. With an even number of snakes, nothing happens. With an odd number of snakes, one snake can eat the mouse.

Thus, with 11 snakes, one snake would eat the mouse, turn into one and leave 10 snakes and 1 mouse.

Posted in Brain Teasers

All Those Legs

Two legs sat upon three legs with one leg in his lap.
In comes four legs, grabs one leg, and runs off with him.
Up jumps two legs, grabs up three legs, throws it after four legs,
and makes him bring back one leg.

Who are we?

One leg is a leg of mutton. Two legs is a person. Three legs is a stool. Four legs is a dog.

Posted in Riddles

A Silent Murder Witness

Emily witnessed a murder in early January but didn’t call the police. Why?

It was a murder of crows.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Four Letters and a Fruit or Vegetable

I have four letters in my name,
I am a fruit or a vegetable,
I look like a giant green onion,
I end with the letter k.

What am I?

The leek. It has four letters, has been considered both a fruit and a vegetable, looks like a green onion and ends with the letter k.

Posted in Riddles

Cheese Made Backwards

What cheese is made backwards?

Edam cheese.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Right Behind You Creeps on the Ground

It’s right behind you,
And creeps on the ground,
It follows you home,
But does not make a sound.
Careful when you turn around.

What is it?

Your shadow.

Posted in Riddles

Least Sleepy Month

In what month do people sleep the least?

February, because there are fewer days.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Six Apples

A mother of three children had six apples. She gave two to each and yet 4 remained. How was this possible?

She gave the same 2 apples to each child in succession.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Travel a Lot Meet Both Rich and Poor

I travel a lot and meet both the rich and the poor, but nobody knows where I am going next. I’m invisible but you can see what I do. Who or what am I?

Wind (or anything blown by the wind). It moves all over, reaches the rich and the poor equally and no one knows exactly which way the next gust of wind will blow. You can’t see the wind, but you can see what it blows, like leaves or dust.

Posted in Riddles
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A Descending Nudge

A descending nudge,
Or a marvelous jibe,
An abode on excursion,
And a bashing immersion,
We all live in this tribe.

What am I?

Sports. A descending nudge is a touchdown (nudge = touch, descending = down), a marvelous jibe is a grand slam, an abode on excursion is a home run and a bashing immersion is a slam dunk. All of these phrases are found in sports, more specifically American football, baseball and basketball.

Posted in Riddles