Tom wants to send Sally an expensive ring through the mail because they live thousands of miles apart. The only problem is that everything sent through the mail is stolen unless there is a lock put on it. Tom has a box that is large enough to contain the ring and the box can be fitted with multiple locks. Both Tom and Sally have plenty of locks and keys but they don’t have any of the same locks or keys.
How can Tom send Sally the ring without it getting stolen?
Riddle AnswerThere was once a reclusive inventor who became so annoyed with unwanted visitors ringing his doorbell that he decided to discourage them by inventing a new one.
The device consisted of a row of six push buttons mounted on the front door, wired in such a way that only one of the buttons would ring the bell. If an incorrect button was pressed (even simultaneously with the correct one) the bell would be temporarily deactivated.
Only his close friends were told the identity of the correct button. Everyone else had to deduce it from an inscription on the front door which read ‘Exactly one button is somewhere to the left of the one, that is three to the right of the one, that is somewhere to the right of the one, that is next to the one, that is two away from the one that is first mentioned. Ring the only button of the six that is not mentioned above.’
What was the position of the correct button?
Riddle AnswerA woman wants to buy something at an auction where you bid grams of gold instead of money. She owns a length of gold chain (with 2 ends) made of 23 interlocking loops, each weighing 1 gram.
She wants to go to a jeweler before the auction to cut the minimum number of loops that would allow her to pay any sum from 1 to 23. For example, she could pay a 13 gram price with a 12 link chain and a single link. After much thought, she figures out a way to do it by cutting just 2 of the loops in the chain.
How many loops are in the pieces of chains that she has after the 2 cuts?
Riddle AnswerRob and Bob are arch enemies. They decide to have a fight to the death one day when a fairy appears. The fairy says it will give them both one wish. Bob wishes, “I wish for twice whatever Rob asks for.”
What can Rob ask for to ensure he wins the fight?
Riddle AnswerA singles tennis tournament is held in which 30 men participate. If a player is eliminated as soon as he loses a match, how many matches are required to determine the winner?
Riddle Answer