Riddles and Brain Teasers

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 = 288But another, arguably valid way is:
48 / 2 × (9 + 3) = ?
48 / 2 × (12) = ?
48 / 24 = 2Thanks to KnowYourMeme for providing a great overview on this one. Math StackExchange has more discussion.

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

Passes Before The Sun

What passes before the sun but makes no shadow?

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Air.

Posted in Riddles

The Barber of Seville

The Barber of Seville shaves all men living in Seville.
No man living in Seville is allowed to shave himself.
The Barber of Seville lives in Seville.

Who shaves the Barber of Seville?

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Nobody. The Barber of Seville is a woman. Female barbers are rare, but they exist.And for more fun with barbers, check out the Barber paradox.

Nobody. The Barber of Seville is a woman. Female barbers are rare, but they exist.

And for more fun with barbers, check out the Barber paradox.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Chimadena

What does this represent?

chimadena

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Made in china. The word “made” is wedged between the word “china” (chi-na)

Posted in Brain Teasers

Tagged with rebus

Measured But Not Seen

What can be measured but not seen?

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Time. Or my toes when I’ve had one too many donuts…

Posted in Riddles

Earthen Home Not a Den

This earthen home is not a den.
I’ve seen impressive rows of them.
As lost as any man becomes,
he always finds his way back home.

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A grave.

By Sef Daystrom

Posted in Riddles

Alone I’m Unknown

Alone I’m unknown,
With my twin I’m twenty,
And triplets make me a warning.

What am I?

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The letter ‘X’. A single x is often used in math as an unknown, along with Mr. X. Two together (XX) make the Roman numeral 20, and three signifies a warning for adult only content, or a warning to other programmers of a problem in source code.

Posted in Riddles

Tagged with What am I?