Friday, February 9, 2007

Anser to mind teaser #3, answering mind teaser involving riddles

Answer to mind teaser #3


Since Itchy saw one of the dice, the other one is either a six (1/6 chance) or a non-six (5/6 chance.)
This means that if the scenario is repeated several times over, you would expect that on 5 out of every six occasions there would be one six and one non-six on the board in which case the hidden die is not a six. On the sixth occasion there are 2 sixes on the board so that either one may be revealed and still leave one six hidden. That means that out of every 7 occasions where a six can be revealed, 2 will result in a six remaining hidden.
Answer: Probability = 2/7

How do I answer mind teasers in the form of riddles?

This forces you to think logically, and laterally. It is not always easy to see the answer to these types of mind teasers, so the best way to solve these ones is to practise a lot.

For example, the riddle: Where will you find roads without cars, forests without trees and cities without houses?

It is not easy to see the answer at first. It forces your mind to ponder what it is.

In fact, the answer is: a map.

There is simply no way to teach this. It is a matter of perception and practise. To help you practise, here is this week’s mind teaser.

Mind teaser #4

Strange Death

A man and a woman were driving in their car when it broke down. The man decided to go for help at a gas station a few miles back. He made sure nobody was in the car, rolled all the windows up, and locked all of the sedan's doors. He went off, but when he came back, his wife was dead, and there was a stranger in the car. No physical damage was done to the car, so how did the stranger get in?

remember - answer comes in week's time.

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