Lateral Thinking: 10 Puzzles

[mcauleyab]

I think it's time for me to make my puzzle-writing debut, so here are a few logic problems to kick things off. I'll give 25 credits for the first correct answer for each question.

1. A man manages to visit 30 different countries in one day. He is welcomed in each country, and leaves each one of his own free will. However, he does all this despite not holding a valid passport - how come?

2. A woman opens a bottle she bought from the supermarket, and immediately dyes - why?

3. A man is at work, going about his daily job when he notices a small split in his trousers. Because of this split, he knows he is about to die - why?

4. A man walks into a bar and asks for a drink. The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at the man. Instead of being alarmed, he man says "Thanks!" and walks out the bar - why?

5. A woman is completely alone on an island with no food, no water and no materials with which to make a boat or raft. Yet she does not fear for her life at all - why?

6. A completely different man walks into a completely different bar. Before he can say a thing, he falls to the ground, unconscious - why?

7. Why are 1994 Australian $1 coins worth more than 1989 Australian $1 coins?

8. Lilian dies at sea, while Michelle dies in a mountain range. Yet everyone is so much happier about the manner of Lilian's death - why?

9. A plane is carrying a large sum of money, as well as the usual passengers. However, the plane is hijacked and the hijacker demands the money be handed over to him. He also asks for two parachutes. He straps one of the parachutes on his back, leaving the other one in the plane, grabs the money and jumps out the plane, letting it continue on its journey. The hijacker escapes, but the question is - why did he ask for 2 parachutes?

10. You are refereeing an FA Cup match between Sunderland and Watford. 5 of the players (3 from Sunderland, 2 from Watford) are named Steve. 3 of the players (1 from Sunderland, 2 from Watford) are called William, and both goalkeepers are named Greg. Using logic, what is the referee's name?

Hopefully this provides some amusement - enjoy!

[Nutty_ZA]

2. She bought a bottle of hair dye and dyed her hair?
4. The man had hiccoughs and the barman scared him to cure them
5. She is not shipwrecked but on holiday on an Island
6. The bar in question is a bar of Metal and he knocked himself out
7. The value of a dollar was woth more in in 1994 than in 1989
9. He had an accomplice on board and knew that the plane would crash?
10. Well, in my case, the Referee is called Clive

[Nutty_ZA]

I just thought,
3. The man is wearing protective clothing of some sort.. i.e. Bio Harzard or Radiation... the split has allowed hazourdous material into his protective cocoon

[salocius]

5. She is on a traffic island

[Nutty_ZA]

Originally Posted by salocius

5. She is on a traffic island

Yep, that sounds more likely

[Benny]

1. He was a postman delivering to foreign embassies.
2. Nutty got it. (It needs to be spoken so the spelling doesn't give it away!)
3. Nutty got it. An alternate version has astronaut as the answer.
4. Nutty got it.
5. salocius got it.
6. Nutty got it.
7. Nutty got it.
8. They were both fish or women in diving gear?
9. He had a hostage, and asked for two knowing that nobody would risk tampering with the parachute that could be given to the hostage. When the two arrived he just took one and off he went, leaving the hostage behind.
10. Nutty got it. To clarify for others, it would be Benny in my case.

[mcauleyab]

:shock: Wow, you guys are good! Would have thought that it would have taken a little more time for them all to have been got! At least Q7 and Q8 seems to have stumped everyone....hehe.

To recap...

Q1 - Benny is correct - he is a postman visiting foreign embassies, as an embassy is considered to be part of the controlling nation (e.g. the Swedish embassy in America is considered Swedish territory).

Q2 - Nutty was right first. Pretty obvious really, unless you don't check spelling too carefully.

Q3 - Nutty was right first. I was thinking of an astronaut myself, but Biohazard/Radiation suit is just as correct

Q4 - Nutty again - sure fire cure for hiccups!

Q5 - salocius is correct - it can't be a holiday island, because she is totally alone

Q6 - Nutty is correct. A nice heavy metal bar.....THWACK!

Q7 - No-one is correct so far! (Sorry Nutty!) I can't give many more clues without giving it away, except maybe adding that 2005 Eurodollars are worth more than 2003 Eurodollars for the exact same reason....

Q8 - No-one has got it so far

Q9 - Benny is correct. By pretending that he was going to take a hostage, he knew that they wouldn't risk trying to slip him a defective parachute.

Q10 - Nutty was first correct. Again, very easy if you read the question carefully!

OK, so that's 125 credits for Nutty so far, 50 for Benny and 25 for salocius - on their way very soon!

[salocius]

7. Because there are more of them!!

Think quantity not year.

1994 and 1989 refer to the number of $1 coins not the year, so 1,994 x $1 coins is $1994 which is more than $1989

[Nutty_ZA]

Originally Posted by salocius

7. Because there are more of them!!

Think quantity not year.

1994 and 1989 refer to the number of $1 coins not the year, so 1,994 x $1 coins is $1994 which is more than $1989

Thanks mcauleyab...

Great Thinking Salocius...