Riddles and Brain Teasers

Finley’s Flaky Friends

Finley’s friends all chipped in to buy her a wedding gift. At first, ten friends agreed to contribute the same amount. Then two “friends” dropped out. The remaining eight had to add another dollar each to cover the cost of the gift. How much did the gift cost?

Show the answer »

$40.Let x be the amount the ten friends initially agreed to pay. We can then make the following equation:10x = 8x + 8Solving for x gives us $4, thus the gift cost 10 × $4, or $40.

$40.

Let x be the amount the ten friends initially agreed to pay. We can then make the following equation:

10x = 8x + 8

Solving for x gives us $4, thus the gift cost 10 × $4, or $40.

Posted in Brain Teasers

From Cold To Warm In Four Steps

How do you get from cold to warm in four steps, changing only one letter at a time to form a new word at each step?

Show the answer »

cold
cord
word
worm
warmAn alternative is:
cold
cord
word
ward
warmYet another option, thanks to Beth:
cold
cord
card
ward
warm

cold
cord
word
worm
warm

An alternative is:
cold
cord
word
ward
warm

Yet another option, thanks to Beth:
cold
cord
card
ward
warm

Posted in Brain Teasers

How Old Is Amir?

Amir has three children. One is the same age as the first number in his age, another is the same age as the second number in his age, and the third is the same age as the sum of the two numbers in his age. None of the children are the same age and the total of everyone’s ages is 45. How old is Amir?

Show the answer »

27. His children are 2, 7, and 9.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Oh, Oh, Oh, No

What number do the three letters O, H and N represent in order to make this addition problem correct?

OH
OH
OH
OH +
-----
NO

Show the answer »

O = 2
H = 3
N = 9

23
23
23
23 +
-----
92

Posted in Brain Teasers

Wolves and Owls

You are in the woods with owls and wolves. There are 22 eyes and 32 legs. How many owls and wolves are there?

Show the answer »

5 owls and 5 wolves, (not 6 owls because 2 of the eyes and legs are yours).2 * owls + 2 * wolves = 20 eyes
2 * owls + 4 * wolves = 30 legs
owls + wolves = 10 eyes → owls = 10 – wolves
owls + 2 * wolves = 15 → 10 – wolves + 2 * wolves = 15 → wolves = 5
owls + 5 = 10 → owls = 5

5 owls and 5 wolves, (not 6 owls because 2 of the eyes and legs are yours).

2 * owls + 2 * wolves = 20 eyes
2 * owls + 4 * wolves = 30 legs
owls + wolves = 10 eyes → owls = 10 – wolves
owls + 2 * wolves = 15 → 10 – wolves + 2 * wolves = 15 → wolves = 5
owls + 5 = 10 → owls = 5

Posted in Brain Teasers