What happened in 1961 that will not happen again for over 4000 years?
Answer:
The year's date reads the same when turned upside down. That will not happen again until 6009.
22. RISE OR FALL?
A man and a cannon ball are in a boat that is floating in a lake. The person throws the cannon ball into the water. How does the level of the water in the lake change or does it change at all?
Answer:
The water level lowers. It will be a tiny amount especially if the lake is large. When the cannon ball is in the boat the weight of the ball pushes the boat into the water which raises the water level. The boat with the man in it will take up a certain amount of space that would otherwise be occupied by water. It is a well known principle of science that the cannon ball will cause the boat to takeup additional space equal to a volume of water that weighs the same as the cannon ball. Since the cannon ball is much denser than water, that volume of water will be much greater than the volume of thecannon ball. But when the ball is put into the water it takes up a volume of water equal to its own volume. Less space is taken up bythe lake, so the water level goes down.
23. HOW TO DIVIDE PROPERLY?
A rich old Arab has three sons. When he died, he willed his 17 camels to the sons, to be divided as follows: First Son to get 1/2 of thecamels, Second Son to get 1/3rd of the camels, Third Son to get 1/9th of the camels. The sons are sitting there trying to figure out how this can possibly be done, when a very old wise man goes riding by. They stop him and ask him to help them solve their problem. Without hesitation he divides the camels properly and continues riding on his way. How did he do it?
Answer:
The old man temporarily added his camel to the 17, making a total of 18 camels. 1/2 of 18 = 9; 1/3 of 18 = 6; 1/9 of 18 = 2 for a total of 17. He then takes his camel back and rides away......!!!!
24. GROWING YOUNGER
In 1990, a person is 15 years old. In 1995 that same person is 10 years old. How is this possible?
Answer:
It is possible in B.C.(Before Christ). Of course, it is rubbish when A.D. is reckoned.
25. THANKS FOR THREATENING.
A man walks into a bar and asks the barman for a glass of water. The barman pulls out a gun and points it at the man. The man says 'Thankyou' and walks out. Why? This puzzle has claims to be the best of the genre. It is simple in its statement, absolutely baffling and yet with a completely satisfying solution. Most people struggle very hard to solve this one yet they like the answer when they hear it or have the satisfaction of figuring it out.
Answer:
The man had hiccups. The barman recognized this from his speech and drew the gun in order to give him a shock. It worked and cured the hiccups- so the man no longer needed the water. This is a simple puzzle to state but a difficult one to solve. It is a perfect example of a seemingly irrational and incongruous situation having a simple and complete explanation. Amazingly this classic puzzle seems to work in different cultures and languages.
26. HALF WAY ONLY
There is a man that lives on the top floor of a very tall building. Everyday he gets the elevator down to the ground floor to leave the building to go to work. Upon returning from work though, he can only travel half way up in the lift and has to walk the rest of the way unless it's raining! WHY?
Answer:
The man is very very short and so can only reach half way up the liftbuttons! However, if it is raining then he will have his umbrella with him and so can press the higher buttons with it.
27. SWITCHES AND BULBS.
Switch and Bulb In your room there are three light switches in the OFF position. The corresponding 3 bulbs are in the upstair room. You may "switch on" or "switch off" any of the switches but you may only go upstairs to inspect the bulbs only once. How can you determine the switch for each bulb with one inspection?
Answer:
Turn switch 1 and 2 on for a while .. about 5 mins or so. Then turn switch 2 off. After that go upstair and inspect the bulbs by touching them. The lit bulb is controlled by switch 1. Of the two unlit bulbs, the hot bulb is controlled by switch 2 and the unlit and cold bulb is controlled by switch 3.
28. FALLACY IN DIFFERENTIATION.
The derivative of x2, (x squared) with respect to x, is 2x. However, suppose wewrite x2 (x squared) as the sum of x, x's, and then take the derivative: Let f(x) = x + x + ... x (x times)Then f'(x) = d/dx[x + x + ... x] (x times) = d/dx[x] + d/dx[x] + ... d/dx[x] (x times) = 1 + 1 + ... 1 (x times) = x. This argument appears to show that the derivative of x2,(x squared) with respect to x, is actually x. Where is the fallacy?
Answer:
The fallacy lies in ignoring the fact that the number of x's being added is not constant. Not only is x changing, the number of x's is also changing.
29. LARGEST NUMBER USING THREE 9's.
Using three 9's What is the Largest number that can be written using 9, three times?
Answer:
The answer is [9 power(9power9)] .i.e.[ 9**(9**9)].
30. LOCKS AND KEYS.
You want to send a valuable object to a friend. You pack it inside a large box, which has a locking ring around it, where you can put several locks and can send it. Unfortunately, your friend does not have any keys for these locks and also you should not send the keys separately for fear of its being copied out. Nevertheless, you must send it safely. How?
Answer:
Just attach locks to the ring and send it to your friend. Your friend attaches his/her own lock and sends it back. You remove your locks and send it again to your friend. He/She removes his/her lock and opens the parcel.