Messy Math

What is the answer to this problem?

48 / 2(9 + 3) = ?

It depends. Usually, math has one right answer, but in this case, the order of operations can get a little quirky.

There are two ways to solve this. First, like so:
48 / 2 × (9 + 3) = ?
48 / 2 × (12) = ?
24 × 12 = 288

But another, arguably valid way is:
48 / 2 × (9 + 3) = ?
48 / 2 × (12) = ?
48 / 24 = 2

Thanks to KnowYourMeme for providing a great overview on this one. Math StackExchange has more discussion.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Colored As A Maiden Tweaked

Colored as a maiden tweaked,
Time was naught when I began;
Through the garden I was sneaked,
I alone am the fall of man.

What am I?

An apple.

Posted in Riddles

Remove My Middle And Still I Remain

Begin with a word, five letters to my name,
Remove the first and last but I am the same
Take out my middle and still I remain.

What word am I?

Empty. (mpt, emty or mt depending on your interpretation)

Posted in Riddles

No Eyes But Once Could See

I do not have eyes but I once could see. I used to have thoughts but now I’m empty.

A skull.

Posted in Riddles

Three Philosophers Under a Tree

Three philosophers are taking a nap under a tree. While they’re asleep, a small boy smears their noses with red berries. When they awake, they each begin to laugh, thinking the other two are laughing at each other.

But then one philosopher stops laughing, realizing his nose is red too. How did he come to this conclusion?

Let’s call the philosopher’s A, B and C. A reasoned that B was confident his nose wasn’t red. If B saw A’s nose wasn’t red, he would be surprised that C was laughing, because C would have nothing to laugh at. But B wasn’t surprised, therefore, A correctly reasoned his nose was smeared.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Five Pigeons on a Fence

Five pigeons are sitting on a fence. The farmer comes out and shoots one. How many are left?

None, the rest flew away at the sound of the gunshot. Or one (the dead pigeon).

Posted in Brain Teasers

Dumbstruck Beekeeper

Which word does not belong?

beekeeper, dumbbell, dumbstruck, untruthful

Dumbbell. All of the other words have only one of the vowels (a, e, i, o, u).

Posted in Brain Teasers

Glittering Points Downward Thrust

Glittering points
That downward thrust,
Sparkling spears
That never rust.

An icicle.

Posted in Riddles

Books By Charles Dickens

Pair these words to make nine titles of books by Charles Dickens:

A LITTLE    1 RUDGE
B PICKWICK  2 COPPERFIELD
C EDWIN     3 TIMES
D BARNABY   4 CHUZZLEWIT
E NICHOLAS  5 PAPERS
F HARD      6 HOUSE
G BLEAK     7 DROOD
H DAVID     8 DORRIT
I MARTIN    9 NICKLEBY

A 8 = LITTLE DORRIT
B 5 = PICKWICK PAPERS
C 7 = EDWIN DROOD
D 1 = BARNABY RUDGE
E 9 = NICHOLAS NICKLEBY
F 3 = HARD TIMES
G 6 = BLEAK HOUSE
H 2 = DAVID COPPERFIELD
I 4 = MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT

Posted in Brain Teasers

It Has No Eye

If a man made it, it has an eye.
If a tree made it, it has no eyes.

What is it?

A needle.

By Sef Daystrom

Posted in Riddles