New Riddles With Answers - page 50 of 53
Open me, you need a mirror to see me. Close me, you can't see me at all.
Your eyes are separated by your nose (the 'road'). Since they both face forward, they cannot see each other.
If you have this and then share it, it's instantly gone.
Think about the literal properties of a 'a secret.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
What is found at the end of a rainbow?
This refers to the literal placement of the character in the spelling of the words 'April' and 'March'.
What type of dress can you never wear?
Think about the literal properties of a 'an address.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
A woman kills her sister after meeting a man at their mother's funeral. Why?
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
A King gives children seeds to grow; a girl with an empty pot wins. Why?
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
What breaks as soon as you speak its name?
Think about the literal properties of a 'silence.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
The more you make of me, the more you leave behind.
Think about the literal properties of a 'fingerprints.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
I've been all around the world, and yet I never leave the corner.
Think about the literal properties of a 'a stamp.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
What is a seven-letter word that becomes a "one" when you remove four?
Think about the literal properties of a 'someone.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Mr. Owens was killed Friday afternoon. The chef claimed he was making breakfast. Who is guilty?
Think about the literal properties of a 'the chef '. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
I am hard at the beginning and soft in the middle; you need a lot of air to blow me.
Think about the literal properties of a 'gum.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
I am often bought for consumption, but no one will ever consume me.
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
I can fly without wings and weep without eyes. Dark follows me everywhere. What am I?
Think about the literal properties of a 'clouds.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
A woman in a hotel room is startled by a knock. A man apologizes, saying he thought it was his room. Why was she frightened?
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
What has a single eye but is unable to see?
Think about the literal properties of a 'a needle.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
I am a box that has no locks but holds keys. My keys have the power to unlock your deepest senses. What am I?
Think about the literal properties of a 'a piano.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Remove first and second, and all others, and I am unchanged.
Think about the literal properties of a 'a postman.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Three doctors say James is their brother; James says he has no brothers.
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
Single thumb, four fingers, not alive.
Think about the literal properties of a 'a glove.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Around for years, but never older than a month.
Think about the literal properties of a 'the moon.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Something you can hold without using your arms.
Think about the literal properties of a 'your breath.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Begins and ends with T and has T inside it.
Think about the literal properties of a 'a teapot.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Has to be broken before you can use it.
Think about the literal properties of a 'an egg.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Sits when it stands, jumps when it walks.
Think about the literal properties of a 'a kangaroo.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
I live in light, but if light shines on me, I die.
A shadow only exists when light is present but blocked. If you shine a light directly 'on' it (remove the blockage), it disappears.
Stone inside a tree, helps words live; stand still and have less the more I move.
A pencil contains graphite ('lead' from a mine) encased in wood (from a tree). It gets shorter as you use it.
Two fathers and two sons catch one fish each, but only bring home three.
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
Measure 1 cup using a 3-cup and 5-cup container.
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
Loses its head every morning, gets it back at night?
Think about the literal properties of a 'a pillow.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Monkey and squirrel climb a coconut tree; who gets the banana first?
Think about the literal properties of a 'neither '. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
No legs, brown, has a head and tail?
Think about the literal properties of a 'a penny.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Paul is 9ft tall, wears size 12 shoes, and works at a butcher shop. What does he weigh?
Think about the literal properties of a 'meat.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Logic puzzle: 14 boys, 8 blue shirts, 2 neither, 5 boys in blue. Total class?
Think about the literal properties of a 'nineteen.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Parents have 6 sons, each has one sister. How many in the family?
Think about the literal properties of a 'nine .'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Word with five letters that becomes smaller if you add two letters?
Think about the literal properties of a 'short '. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Sundial has the least moving parts; what has the most?
Think about the literal properties of a 'an hourglass '. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Odd one out: Snap, letter, mood, or stun?
This refers to the literal placement of the character in the spelling of the words 'April' and 'March'.
Cat crosses a river without getting wet or using a device.
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
Photo riddle: "I have no siblings, but this man's parent is my parent's son."
Think about the literal properties of a 'his son.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Most romantic part of the ocean?
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
Use me to stop, take me to smoke, pool's first stroke.
Think about the literal properties of a 'brake/break.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Some say I am green, red, or yellow. Some play with us; others spray us.
Think about the literal properties of a 'pepper.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Statements: "I have at least one daughter," "I have less than ten," "I have more than ten." Only one is true.
Think about the literal properties of a 'nan'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
Hiked south 3 miles, east 3, north 3. Back at camp, I see a bear. What color is it?
Think about the literal properties of a 'white'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
The first is higher, the second is wet; the whole ties or causes a cramp.
Think about the literal properties of a 'a hyphen.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
The eyes will harvest, but the hand will sow.
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
I run, and it runs. When I stop, it still runs.
Think about the literal properties of a 'a watch.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
How can you stand physically behind your mother while she stands behind you?
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
What is in a minute once and twice in a moment, but not in a thousand years?
This refers to the literal placement of the character in the spelling of the words 'April' and 'March'.
You eat me first, but then you get eaten.
The 'broken glass' was a fish tank. Without water, the fish died on the floor.
How is the number seven different from other numbers between one and ten?
This is a lateral thinking puzzle where the solution relies on a non-obvious interpretation of the words used.
Think of snow and clouds. What does a cow drink?
Think about the literal properties of a 'water.'. The riddle uses metaphors to describe its physical form or function.
What is something that belongs to you that everyone else uses?
Your name is your personal property, but people use it to address you more often than you use it to address yourself.
I am surrounded by wood, but I came from a mine. Everyone uses me.
A pencil contains graphite ('lead' from a mine) encased in wood (from a tree). It gets shorter as you use it.
I am in the middle of April and March, but not at the beginning or end of either.
This refers to the literal placement of the character in the spelling of the words 'April' and 'March'.
I have water but no fish, mountains but no trees, towns but no homes.
A map is a symbolic representation; it shows the locations of mountains and water without being made of rock or containing actual fish.
A prisoner is told: "If you tell the truth, I will shoot you; if you tell a lie, I will stab you." What should he say?
This creates a paradox. If the guard stabs him, his statement was true, but the guard should have shot him for telling the truth.
What can you feed to make it live, but give it a drink and it will die?
Fire needs fuel (food) to stay alive but is extinguished by water (a drink).
What type of room has no windows or doors?
A mushroom is a fungus, but the word contains 'room'. It doesn't have the structural features of a building like windows.
If you dropped me from a tall building, I would be fine. If you put me in the water, I would die.
Paper is light enough to survive a fall without breaking, but water will dissolve its fibers and 'kill' its form.
In the first stages of my life, I am taller than I will be in my last stages.
A candle is tall when first lit (young) and becomes shorter as it burns down (gets older).
Who buys this but has no use for it, makes it but doesn�t need it, and uses it but can�t feel it or see it?
The carpenter makes it for profit, the buyer buys it for someone else, and the person inside is dead and cannot see or feel it.
What has a corkscrew on one side and a power socket on the other?
This describes a pig's anatomy: a curly 'corkscrew' tail and a snout that resembles a two-pronged 'power socket'.
There are two of us, and we are sisters. We are on different sides of a road, but we are unable to view each other.
Your eyes are separated by your nose (the 'road'). Since they both face forward, they cannot see each other.
What has both wheels and flies but is not an aircraft?
This is a play on the word 'flies'. A garbage truck has wheels and attracts literal flies (insects) due to the trash it carries.
What is one time that a man can have an empty coat pocket, but have something in it at the same time?
A hole is technically 'something' that exists in the fabric, but it means the pocket contains no items, making it empty.
Payoff 2n (St. Petersburg). Charge to play?
The mathematical expectation is infinite, but most people wouldn't pay more than �20. This illustrates that humans value money based on 'utility' rather than just the raw expected amount.
Rule: Circle=Yellow. Cards: C, S, Y, R. Check?
You check the Circle (to see if back is Yellow) and the Red card (to see if front is a Circle, which would break the rule). Yellow and Square can't invalidate the rule.
Probability to be the last to try pitcher?
This is a property of a 'random walk' on a circle. Every person is equally likely to be the last one reached before the circle is completed.
Surprise test impossible logic?
If the test hasn't happened by Thursday, the students know it must be Friday (so it's not a surprise). This logic continues backward to Monday, 'proving' it can never be a surprise.
Sphere or Torus using rocks?
On a sphere, any two 'great circles' must intersect. On a torus, you can have a loop that goes around the center and another through the hole that never meet.
9 correct predictions in a row. Psychic?
The company sends 5,000 emails: 2,500 say Team A wins, 2,500 say Team B. They keep splitting the winners until one small group (like Kelly) has seen a perfect streak.
Describe a chicken in computer programming.
In coding, a function is something that takes an input and provides an output. Grain is the parameter, and the Egg is the return value.
Hourglass weigh more falling or at rest?
When sand is in the air, its weight isn't recorded by the scale. However, the force of the sand hitting the bottom is greater than its static weight, resulting in a net increase during the flow.
Pays payout in Yen. Charge to play?
The expected value is the average of all outcomes: (1+2+3+4+5+6)/6 = 21/6 = 3.5. To make a profit, the 'house' must charge more than the expected payout.
5 black spins. Is red "due"?
The roulette wheel has no memory. Each spin is a fresh event with the same probability (ignoring the green zero), regardless of what happened before.
10 pennies in 3 cups, each has odd number.
Put 1 in the first, 1 in the second, and 8 in the third... but wait, the trick is nesting. Put 1 in cup A, 2 in cup B, and nest B inside cup C (which has 7). Now C has 9 (odd).
Spoon tea into coffee, mix, spoon back. More what?
Since you started and ended with the same volume in each cup, any 'tea' that stayed in the coffee must have been replaced by an exactly equal volume of 'coffee' in the tea.
Max slices from 4 straight cuts?
The formula is (n^2 + n + 2) / 2. For n=4, that is (16 + 4 + 2) / 2 = 11. This assumes cuts can overlap and pass through previous cuts.
Ways to arrange 8 books on a shelf?
The number of permutations is n factorial (n!). For 8 books, it is 8 * 7 * 6 * 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 = 40,320.
1 poisoned bottle in 1000. Prisoners needed?
Give each prisoner a unique combination of bottles to sip from based on binary (0 and 1). The specific combination of prisoners who get sick creates a binary code for the poisoned bottle number.
P1 (4 of kind), P2 (3 of kind). Worst possible hand?
If Player 1 has four of a kind and Player 2 has three of a kind, there must be at least three cards of the same rank on the shared board. Your hand will use those same three cards.
Break stick at 2 random points. Triangle prob?
Using the 'triangle inequality' theorem, no piece can be longer than 0.5m. Visualizing this on a 2D plot of possible break points shows the 'success' area is 1/4 of the total area.
Monkey climbs rope with matching weight. Weight?
The force the monkey exerts to climb increases the tension in the rope equally on both sides. Thus, both the monkey and the counterweight accelerate upward together.
Reverses left/right but not up/down?
If you point your finger to the right, the mirror image points to the right. The reversal is actually in the 'depth' (front to back) dimension relative to the mirror's surface.
Camel 3000 bananas, 1k km. Max reach?
The camel must leave 'caches' of bananas. To minimize the 'cost' of travel, he moves the bananas in stages until the total supply matches his max capacity for the remaining distance.
Get fair toss from biased coin.
If you toss twice, the probabilities of HT and TH are both (p * (1-p)). Since these are equal, assigning one to 'Heads' and the other to 'Tails' creates a fair 50/50 result.
Spheres with 6cm holes. Which has more volume?
The volume of a spherical ring depends only on the height of the hole (h). The formula V = (pi * h^3) / 6 shows the radius (R) of the original sphere cancels out.
200 fish, 99% Gold. Remove how many for 98%?
In 200 fish, 198 are gold (99%). To make them 98%, the 2 non-goldfish must represent 2% of the total. 2 is 2% of 100. So you must have 100 fish total (remove 100 gold).
Brothers Chris (FL) and Connor (OR) same time. How?
Florida has a tiny portion in Central Time, and Oregon has a portion in Mountain Time. During the DST 'fall back' hour, the times can align perfectly across the country.
Irrational number ^ irrational power = rational?
Consider x = sqrt(2)^sqrt(2). If x is rational, we are done. If x is irrational, then x^sqrt(2) = (sqrt(2)^sqrt(2))^sqrt(2) = sqrt(2)^2 = 2, which is rational.
1st sits random. Last gets assigned seat prob?
This is a classic probability puzzle. Either the first person takes your seat, or they take their own, or they take someone else's which triggers a chain that eventually hits yours or theirs.
Does washer hole expand or shrink when heated?
Thermal expansion is like a photographic enlargement. Every part of the object, including the 'empty' hole, expands proportionally.
How many barbershops are in the USA?
Estimate based on one barber per ~2,500 people. With a US population of 330 million, 130,000 is a standard Fermi estimation result.
100 cheating husbands. Execution day?
If there was 1 cheater, his wife would know immediately. If 2, they wait to see if the other wife acts. By the 100th day, the lack of action by others proves your own husband is one.
Truth 3/4 times. Says 6 on a die. Prob it's a 6?
The probability he says 6 AND it is 6 is (1/6 * 3/4). The probability he says 6 but it isn't 6 is (5/6 * 1/4). Use Bayes to find the ratio.
5 bandits split 100 coins. Senior proposal?
The senior bandit knows he only needs two other people to agree. He offers 1 coin to those who would get nothing in the next-best scenario to secure their vote.
Families stop childbearing after 1st boy. Sex ratio?
Every individual birth has a 50/50 chance. No matter the 'stopping rule,' the total expected number of boys and girls in the population will remain equal.
How many squares on an 8x8 chessboard?
Don't just count the 1x1 squares. You must sum all possible sizes: 1x1 (64), 2x2 (49), 3x3 (36), 4x4 (25), 5x5 (16), 6x6 (9), 7x7 (4), and 8x8 (1).