The Japanese IQ Test

Supposedly this is given as a test in Japan. I have no idea if that’s accurate.

There are 8 people who have to cross the river on a raft.

1. Policeman
2. Thief
3. Father
4. Boy 1
5. Boy 2
6. Mother
7. Girl 1
8. Girl 2

The rules are:

Only two people can cross at a time.
Only the adults can operate the raft.
The father can’t be with the girls unless the mother is there.
The mother can’t be with the boys unless the father is there.
The thief can’t remain with anyone unless the policeman is present.

How do you get them all across?

Instead of working it out by hand, here’s a flash version.

Click on the circle to start. Click on a person to put them on the raft and click on the lever to make the raft cross.

Here’s how I did it in 17 steps. Can you do it faster? Let me know in the comments.

1. Policeman (P)
2. Thief (T)
3. Father (F)
4. Boy 1 (B1)
5. Boy 2 (B2)
6. Mother (M)
7. Girl 1 (G1)
8. Girl 2 (G2)

1. P, T →
2. ← P

3. P, B1 →
4. ← P T

5. F, B2 →
6. ← F

7. F, M →
8. ← M

9. P, T →
10. ← F

11. M, F →
12. ← M

13. M, G1 →
14. ← P T

15. P, G2 →
16. ← P

17. P, T →

Posted in Brain Teasers

Insect Shipments

There once was a strange man who loved wordplay, he had a very important and successful business that would take insect shipments from all across the world and distribute them to zoos across the US.

What was the name of his company?

ImportANT

Posted in Riddles

Waiting For a Man To Die

I cannot be other than what I am
Until the man who made me dies
Power and glory will fall to me finally
Only when he last closes his eyes.

A prince.

Posted in Riddles

In Different Ways It’s Proudly Shown

In different ways, it’s proudly shown,
though many like it to have been sewn.
It’s never torn from being worn,
but when it’s torn, it should be burned.

A flag. They are displayed proudly in a variety of ways and are sewn on shirts. They are discarded from being too worn, but if torn or worn, they’re burned out of respect.

By Sef Daystrom

Posted in Riddles

I Am What Remains

I am what remains of what
was once a living whole,
dug in deep, protruding, though,
and unobtainable.

A stump.

By Sef Daystrom

Posted in Riddles
Tagged with

What Begins and Has No End?

What begins and has no end? What is the ending of all that begins?

Death or decay.

Posted in Riddles

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

Jim and Wanda’s Apples

Jim and Wanda both have some apples. If Jim gives Wanda an apple, they will both have the same number of apples. However, if Wanda gives Jim an apple, Jim will have twice as many as Wanda. How many apples do Jim and Wanda each have?

Jim has 7 apples and Wanda has 5 apples.

Posted in Brain Teasers

Square Root Equations

Arrange the digits 1 through 9 into an equation so that the first number is the square root of the second number. (Two possible variations)

5672 = 321,489

OR

8542 = 729,316

Posted in Brain Teasers

Many are Perplexed While Seeking Me

Many get perplexed in life while seeking me. Others put their life in danger and others give up. If you find me you are satisfied. What am I?

Hint: It is in every house.

You. Hundreds of books have been written about people searching for themselves. Some methods are quite dangerous. Still others give up. But if you figure out who you are, you will be satisfied.

Lastly, the word you is in the phrase everY hOUse.

Posted in Riddles