Best Riddles of June 2011 | Best Riddles and Brain Teasers

#1 - Alexander Puzzle

Alexander is stranded on an island covered in forest.

One day, when the wind is blowing from the west, lightning strikes the west end of the island and sets fire to the forest. The fire is very violent, burning everything in its path, and without intervention the fire will burn the whole island, killing the man in the process.

There are cliffs around the island, so he cannot jump off.

How can the Alexander survive the fire? (There are no buckets or any other means to put out the fire)

View Answer Discuss

Alexander picks up a piece of wood and lights it from the fire on the west end of the island.

He then quickly carries it near the east end of he island and starts a new fire. The wind will cause that fire to burn out the eastern end and he can then shelter in the burnt area.

Alexander survives the fire, but dies of starvation, with all the food in the forest burnt....lolzzz

#2 - Probability Riddle Loaded Revolver

Henry has been caught stealing cattle, and is brought into town for justice. The judge is his ex-wife Gretchen, who wants to show him some sympathy, but the law clearly calls for two shots to be taken at Henry from close range. To make things a little better for Henry, Gretchen tells him she will place two bullets into a six-chambered revolver in successive order. She will spin the chamber, close it, and take one shot. If Henry is still alive, she will then either take another shot, or spin the chamber again before shooting.

Henry is a bit incredulous that his own ex-wife would carry out the punishment, and a bit sad that she was always such a rule follower. He steels himself as Gretchen loads the chambers, spins the revolver, and pulls the trigger. Whew! It was blank. Then Gretchen asks, 'Do you want me to pull the trigger again, or should I spin the chamber a second time before pulling the trigger?'

What should Henry choose?

View Answer Discuss

Henry should have Gretchen pull the trigger again without spinning.

We know that the first chamber Gretchen fired was one of the four empty chambers. Since the bullets were placed in consecutive order, one of the empty chambers is followed by a bullet, and the other three empty chambers are followed by another empty chamber. So if Henry has Gretchen pull the trigger again, the probability that a bullet will be fired is 1/4.

If Gretchen spins the chamber again, the probability that she shoots Henry would be 2/6, or 1/3, since there are two possible bullets that would be in firing position out of the six possible chambers that would be in position.

#3 - Statement Riddle

'Ferrari driver' easily beats the 'force Indian driver' in a two-car race.How did Indian newspapers truthfully report so to look as 'force Indian drive' had outdone the 'Ferrari driver'

Think ?

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The Indian newspaper reported (correctly) that the 'Ferari driver' came in next to last while the 'force india driver' came in second..

#4 - A Riddle

A bus driver was heading down a street in Delhi. He went right past a stop sign without stopping, he turned left where there was a 'no left turn' sign and he went the wrong way on a one-way street. Then he went on the left side of the road past a cop car. Still - he didn't break any traffic laws. Why not?

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He was walking

#5 - Extraordinary Riddle

Something Extraordinary happened on May 6th 1978 at 12:34am what was that?

View Answer Discuss

At that moment, the time, and day could be written as '12:34 5/6/78'

#6 - Find Next Number

What is the next number?

77, 49, 36, 18 ?

View Answer Discuss

The next one is 8
77 : 7*7 = 49
49 : 4*9 = 36
36 : 3*6 = 18
18 : 1*8 = 8

#7 - Secret Code puzzle

A man wanted to get into his work building, but he had forgotten his code. However, he did remember five clues. These are what those clues were:

The fifth number plus the third number equals fourteen.

The fourth number is one more than the second number.

The first number is one less than twice the second number.

The second number plus the third number equals ten.

The sum of all five numbers is 30.

What were the five numbers and in what order?

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7, 4, 6, 5, 8

#8 - Famous Probability puzzle SHOOT

Mr. Black, Mr. Gray, and Mr. White are fighting in a truel. They each get a gun and take turns shooting at each other until only one person is left. Mr. Black, who hits his shot 1/3 of the time, gets to shoot first. Mr. Gray, who hits his shot 2/3 of the time, gets to shoot next, assuming he is still alive. Mr. White, who hits his shot all the time, shoots next, assuming he is also alive. The cycle repeats. If you are Mr. Black, where should you shoot first for the highest chance of survival?

View Answer Discuss

He should shoot at the ground.

If Mr. Black shoots the ground, it is Mr. Gray's turn. Mr. Gray would rather shoot at Mr. White than Mr. Black, because he is better. If Mr. Gray kills Mr. White, it is just Mr. Black and Mr. Gray left, giving Mr. Black a fair chance of winning. If Mr. Gray does not kill Mr. White, it is Mr. White's turn. He would rather shoot at Mr. Gray and will definitely kill him. Even though it is now Mr. Black against Mr. White, Mr. Black has a better chance of winning than before.

#9 - Find The Next Number

What are the next three numbers in this series?

4, 6, 12, 18, 30, 42, 60, 72, 102, 108, ?, ?, ?

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The series lists numbers that are flanked by two prime numbers.

4 (3 and 5 are prime)
6 (5 and 7 are prime)
12 (11 and 13 are prime)
18 (17 and 19 are prime)
30 (29 and 31 are prime)
42 (41 and 43 are prime)
60 (59 and 61 are prime)
72 (71 and 73 are prime)
102 (101 and 103 are prime)
108 (107 and 109 are prime)

thus

138 (137 and 139 are prime), 150 (149 and 151 are prime), 180 (179 and 181 are prime

#10 - Mothers Name Humour Puzzle

A cat had three kittens: January,March and May. What was the mother's name.

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What
It stated 'WHAT' was the mothers name.