Puzzle 301
Disastrous Dave was washing windows on a multi-storey office building when he took a fall off a fifty foot ladder, directly onto the concrete pavement below.
Amazingly, Dave didn't get hurt at all.
How can this be possible?
workings
hint
answer
print
Share link: https://www.brainbashers.com/puzzle/ziwr
Hint
Where was Dave standing when he fell?
Answer
Dave fell off the very bottom rung of the ladder!
Puzzle 302
Entry Exam Section D - Logic Puzzles
Here is a snippet of section D of the curious multiple-choice entrance exam into the exclusive BrainBashers puzzle club.
Q1. Which is the first question where c) is the correct answer?
a) Q3
b) Q4
c) Q1
d) Q2
Q2. Which is the first question where a) is the correct answer?
a) Q4
b) Q2
c) Q3
d) Q1
Q3. Which is the first question where d) is the correct answer?
a) Q1
b) Q2
c) Q4
d) Q3
Q4. Which is the first question where b) is the correct answer?
a) Q2
b) Q4
c) Q3
d) Q1
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
workings
hint
answer
print
Share link: https://www.brainbashers.com/puzzle/zvxi
Answer
Q1. d)
Q2. c)
Q3. a)
Q4. b)
Reasoning
Let's look at Q1 first, and check each possible option:
If Q1's answer was a):
…we'll leave checking this for now, because…
If Q1's answer was b):
…we'll leave checking this for now, because…
If Q1's answer was c):
it would reference itself, and we'd learn nothing new, and we'd then have to check Q2.
So, let's start with Q2 first instead of Q1.
If Q2's answer was a):
an immediate contradiction, as Q4 can't be the first answer with a) as we've assumed Q2's answer is a).
If Q2's answer was b):
an immediate contradiction, as Q2 can't be the first answer with a) as we've assumed Q2's answer is b).
If Q2's answer was c):
Q3's answer would be a)
Q1's answer would be d)
confirming Q2's answer as c)
leaving Q4's only possible answer as b)
no contradiction.
If Q2's answer was d):
Q1's answer would be a) (*)
Q3's answer would be c)
Q4's answer would be d)
Q1's answer would be b)
but this contradicts the section marked (*).
Therefore, the only possible answer with no contradiction is when Q2's answer is c).
We can then follow Q2's answer, which leads to the answers to Q1 to Q3. Q4 must then reference itself.
Puzzle 303
These 4-letter words can each have a letter added and then be rearranged to make a new 5-letter word.
In order, the letters added spell a 9-letter word.
herb
bang
keen
suit
quad
whey
cell
toil
wild
Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone
workings
hint
answers
print
Share link: https://www.brainbashers.com/puzzle/zcdd
Hint
In order, the added letters spell TELESCOPE.
Answers
The added letters spell TELESCOPE.
herb + t becomes berth
bang + e becomes began
keen + l becomes kneel
suit + e becomes suite
quad + s becomes squad
whey + c becomes chewy
cell + o becomes cello
toil + p becomes pilot
wild + e becomes wield
Puzzle 304
Fill in the missing numbers with the digits 1 to 9. A diamond shape in the middle means that the four numbers around it add to 20.
Each uses a different way to add to 20, if there is already 1 + 3 + 7 + 9, then there will not be another using the digits 1, 3, 7 and 9 (in any order).
The same digit isn't allowed to touch, even diagonally.
Puzzle Copyright © Elliott Line
This puzzle appeared in Mensa's EnigmaSig (195.08) and is used with permission.
workings
hint
answer
print
Share link: https://www.brainbashers.com/puzzle/zrsr
Hint
The diamond on the right side can only be 2 + 3 + 7 + 8 (as another 9 would touch the existing 9).
Answer
< previous next >
Note: BrainBashers has a Dark Mode option. For BrainBashers, I'd recommend not using your browser's built-in dark mode, or any dark mode extensions (sometimes you can add an exception for a specific website).
