Let me know what you think:


3 people walk into a hotel. They ask to get a room for the night, and the hotel clerk says it'll be $30.

Each of them pays $10. $10 * 3people = $30

Later on the clerk realizes, "hey it should have only been $25"
The clerk sends a messenger to their room with $5, but the messenger pockets $2.

The messenger gives each of the room members $1.
$1 + $1 + $1 = $3. $3for them + $2 for the theif = $5

now...
each room member has payed the initial $10 - $1 for the mixup = $9.
so... it's safe to assume each room member payed $9.

$9per person * 3people = $27.
$27 + $2to the thief = $29.

$29 does NOT equal $30.
where did the extra $1 go?

I'm tired of this non-paradox.
$27 + $2to the thief = $29.
You don't add the $2, you subtract it to get the $25 that the hotel gets. They paid a net of $27, $25 of which goes to the hotel and $2 of which goes to the messenger. The remaining $3 was returned to them. Algebraically,

n + 2 = 3p, where n is the net cost of the hotel room ($25), and p is the amount paid per person.

ok Borg, here is one.

There are three light bulbs in a room, and three light switches outside the room. You are outside, and want to match up which switch goes with which light bulb. You can only travel into the room once, and cannot come back in again. You can do anything you want upon entering the room. How can you set the situation so that you will know which switch goes with which light bulb?

ok Borg, here is one.

There are three light bulbs in a room, and three light switches outside the room. You are outside, and want to match up which switch goes with which light bulb. You can only travel into the room once, and cannot come back in again. You can do anything you want upon entering the room. How can you set the situation so that you will know which switch goes with which light bulb?
Turn on two light switches. Enter. When you're in, you immediately know that the unlit bulb belongs to the one off switch. Unscrew and remove one of the lit bulbs. Exit. Turn off one of the lit switches. If you still see light coming from under the door, you know you turned off the removed bulb. If you don't, you know the presently "on" switch belongs to the now-empty light socket.

That would work but only if there was light visible around/under the door. What if you could not see the door?

(you are close with your first answer)

That would work but only if there was light visible around/under the door. What if you could not see the door?

(you are close with your first answer)
In that case, I would probably turn on one light switch, then enter. I'd know which switch the lit bulb belonged to. Then I'd remove one of the unlit bulbs and short out the socket, exit, and turn on another switch. I could tell if I turned on the shorted one by if the circuit breaker blows.

(My original answer was more elegant and satisfied your original conditions. ;))

Creative!... that would work.

The standard answer is to turn on two switches for a few minutes and then turn one of them off. Walk into the room and see which one is on and which bulb that is off is still warm.

My dad loved these kind of puzzles... most of his were verbal (and kind of simple) and he really enjoyed "getting" people with them.

I'll post a few of his "silly puzzles" if anyone is interested in annoying their friends and family with them.

Creative!... that would work.

The standard answer is to turn on two switches for a few minutes and then turn one of them off. Walk into the room and see which one is on and which bulb that is off is still warm.
Ah! But I use compact fluorescents. They take a lot longer to get warm at all, and they certainly don't get as hot as incandescents. Doing it that way would be damn near impossible once white LEDs become standard.

This just proves, though, that there is more than one answer to any practical problem.

True... I "dated" myself (and dad) on that one. I doubt he ever owned a compact florescent bulb.

A good one to use on someone (has to be verbal... doesn't work here on the forums) was one of his favorites.

A bus with 12 people on it stopped and let off 3 and picked up 5. Then the bus stopped and let off 1 and picked up 3. On the next stop 10 got off and 6 boarded. The next stop 2 got off and 8 got on. The next stop 6 got off and 2 got on. On it's following stop 4 got on and 1 got off.









Then he would ask.... how many times did the bus stop?

Another one that I guess would work here on the boards....

You are in a house and all four sides face south, you see a bear in the window. What color is it? Why?

White. Your house is built on the North Pole.

That is correct.

I would not expect you to miss that one Borg, but I have been surprised at some people that did.

Another silly one... (again, works better verbally)

If a rooster lays an egg on the peak of a north/south facing roof. There is no wind and the pitch is the same on each side. Which way will the egg roll?

Roosters don't lay eggs!

These are too easy, Phart. ;)

You would be surprised who misses them (try 'em out on some friends)

OK... last one...

PURELY VERBAL

Ask a friend to spell "silk". Then ask them what cows drink. You will be surprised how many will answer "milk"


And a old "groaner" to call it a night on.


What do you call a cow with no legs?

And a old "groaner" to call it a night on.


What do you call a cow with no legs?
ground beef!:lolhit:

Curse you BorgHunter! When I saw 16 replies to this thread I thought it would be a wonderful conversation of interesting responses. But instead you completely seemed to destroy my riddle.

I'm just going to walk away now.