Ruzzle/Riddle Thread

Nice job, it is a die.

You are also extremely close to understanding the last bit. ;) ndp solved it for the ground, so what about that last side when nothing's touching the ground?

Edit: Ndp, oxymoron, there you go.

It's always 1 to 6, - Numbers on the die itself
it's always 15 to 20, - Sums of all numbers except grounded
it's always 5, - Number of sides showing when Die is on ground
but it's never 21,
unless it's flying. - All sides equal 21 when the die is in the air, because all sides are visible

Excellent guys. :D
 
Last edited:
Here's another:

An old farmer died and left 17 cows to his three sons. In his will, the farmer stated that his oldest son should get 1/2, his middle son should get 1/3, and his youngest son should get 1/9 of all the cows. The sons, who did not want to end up with half cows, sat for days trying to figure out how many cows each of them should get.

One day, their neighbour came by to see how they were doing after their father's death. The three sons told him their problem. After thinking for a while, the neighbour said: "I'll be right back!" He went away, and when he came back, the three sons could divide the cows according to their father's will, and in such a way that each of them got a whole number of cows.

The Question: What was the neighbour's solution?
 
An oldy, I hope everyone hasn't heard this one. *Let other people answer if you know it :D*

---Think of words that end in -GRY, Angry and Hungry are two, but there are three words in the Common Tongue, what is the third word? If you have listened closely, I have already told you what the word is.

edit- That was weak. I'll get a better one.
 
Last edited:
Jinoda said:
The Question: What was the neighbour's solution?
Click to expand...


I would start from the lowest share 1/9 (rounded up) = 2 cows
second share 1/3 = 6 cows
1/2 = 9

Everybody gets more then ist legal share, so they wouldn't complain.
 
1-6 the numbers
15-20 the sum of shown numbers
5 is number of sides shown on ground
21 is total sum of shown numbers when die is mid flight ie off the ground
 
Here's another:

An old farmer died and left 17 cows to his three sons. In his will, the farmer stated that his oldest son should get 1/2, his middle son should get 1/3, and his youngest son should get 1/9 of all the cows. The sons, who did not want to end up with half cows, sat for days trying to figure out how many cows each of them should get.

One day, their neighbour came by to see how they were doing after their father's death. The three sons told him their problem. After thinking for a while, the neighbour said: "I'll be right back!" He went away, and when he came back, the three sons could divide the cows according to their father's will, and in such a way that each of them got a whole number of cows.

The Question: What was the neighbour's solution?
Click to expand...

This is a fraction puzzle. Kind of like the sharing-$5-between-three-people puzzle.

The neighbour brings in an extra cow. So there are 18 cows. The sons divide 18 into their shares.

18*1/2 = 9
18*1/3 = 6
18*1/9 = 2

9+6+2 = 17. So the neighbour just takes his horse away.

Why does this work? Why couldn't the sons just divide the 17 cows into 9, 6 and 2 without the need of the extra cow?

Lets assume that the sons where intelligent. The first son takes 8 cows, the second takes 5 and the third takes 1. Keep in mind that the first son knows he is entitled to at least 8.5 cows. The second son is entitles to at least 5.67 cows and the third son is entitled to at least 1.89 cows. So at the moment (after they have taken 8, 5 and 1 cow) they still haven't got their fair share's worth of cows. After 8, 5 and 1 cow is taken by the respective sons, there is 17 - (8+5+1) = 3 cows left over. So each son takes 1 more cow. Now the first son has 0.5 extra cow, the second son has 0.33 extra cow, and the third son has 0.11 extra cow. So each son is happy that he got more than he was entitled to!!!!

This is the way to do it without bringing the neighbours cow into the problem.


The reason why the sons could all-of-a-sudden work it out with the extra cow is because they did't have to worry about the fractions anymore.
 
ndp said:
An oldy, I hope everyone hasn't heard this one. *Let other people answer if you know it :D*

---Think of words that end in -GRY, Angry and Hungry are two, but there are three words in the Common Tongue, what is the third word? If you have listened closely, I have already told you what the word is.

edit- That was weak. I'll get a better one.
Click to expand...
What made you say "Common Tongue" instead of "English Language"?

(I also just mentioned the answer)
 
Oh, I get it. I'll try not to give it away, but is the word you're looking for starts with T right? And has six letters?
 
Okay, another division.
Using two cuts, rearrange this cross into two squares of equal size.
cross0ts.jpg
 
oxymoron said:
The neighbour brings in an extra cow. So there are 18 cows. The sons divide 18 into their shares.

18*1/2 = 9
18*1/3 = 6
18*1/9 = 2

9+6+2 = 17. So the neighbour just takes his horse away.
Click to expand...
I guess the real puzzle is how the neighbour changes a cow into horse? :p
 
geodesic said:
Okay, another division.
Using two cuts, rearrange this cross into two squares of equal size.
cross0ts.jpg
Click to expand...
Okay - I can't be arsed to post a picture - but if you label the 12 corners A to L in a clockwise direction, then cut straight lines between A and G, and then D and J then you can rearrange the four pieces into two equal squares.
 
oxymoron said:
Ah, maybe I'm wrong. Now that I read it again, there is another possibililty.

How about: "what"
Click to expand...
I'd go with your first answer - the 6-letter one.
One reason I don't think it is "what" is 'cos if it is then what ndp posted wasn't a question but a statement. But he used a "?" to clearly denote a question.

Or maybe I'm just trying to be too clever :eek:
 
Huh, that didn't take long. Well done.
Okay, good thing I got another puzzle ready. :p
puzzle2om.jpg

Cut this square into four pieces all them same shape, all equal size, along the lines, so that each piece contains 3 red squares.
This is a variation on a puzzle I've seen before, but I couldn't find it, so there may be more than one solution - but there is at least 1. ;)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top