Problem of the Week

A riddle problem is a question or statement intentionally phrased so as to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning, typically presented as a game. Below is a list of the past problem of the week riddles in descending chronological order.

Tell Us The Day!

POW: 11-13-2023

A group of campers have been on vacation so long, that they've forgotten the day of the week. The following conversation ensues. Darryl: What's the day? I don't think it is Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Tracy: Well that doesn't narrow it down much. Yesterday was Sunday. Melissa: Yesterday wasn't Sunday, tomorrow is Sunday. Ben: The day after tomorrow is Saturday. Adrienne: The day before yesterday was Thursday. Susie: Tomorrow is Saturday. David: I know that the day after tomorrow is not Friday. If only one person's statement is true, what day of the week is it?

Answer: It is Wednesday. If it was any other day of the week, more than one statement would be true. To solve the riddle, evaluate each person's statement and write down what day it could be according to the statement. David's statement indicates it could be any day of the week except for Wednesday. When you list the days that it could be according to everyone's statement, it turns out Wednesday is the day mentioned only one time. Darryl: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday Tracy: Monday Melissa: Saturday Ben: Thursday Adrienne: Saturday Susie: Friday David: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday

When Can You Add Two To Eleven And Get One

POW: 11-06-2023

When can you add two to eleven and get one as the correct answer?

Answer: When you add two hours to eleven o'clock, you get one o'clock.

In A Certain City, Five Percent Of All The People In Town Have Unlisted Phone Numbers

POW: 10-30-2023

In a certain city, 5% of all the people in town have unlisted phone numbers. If you select 100 names at random from that city's phone directory, how many people selected will have unlisted phone numbers?

Answer: None. If their names are in the phone directory, they do not have unlisted phone numbers!

If You Have Two Coins Which Total 35 Cents And One Of The Coins Is Not A Dim

POW: 10-16-2023

If you have two coins which total 35 cents and one of the coins is not a dime, what are the two coins?

Answer: A quarter and a dime. One coin is not a dime, but the other one is.

Three Playing Cards In A Row

POW: 10-02-2023

Three playing cards in a row. Can you name them with these clues? There is a two to the right of a king. A diamond will be found to the left of a spade. An ace is to the left of a heart. A heart is to the left of a spade. Now, identify all three cards.

Answer: Ace of Diamonds, King of Hearts, Two of Spades.

A Horse Is Tied To A Post By A Rope

POW: 09-18-2023

A horse is tied to a five-meter rope in front of an old saloon. Six meters behind the horse is a bale of hay. Without breaking his rope, the horse is able to eat the hay whenever he chooses. How is this possible?

Answer: The rope is not tied to anything else.

I Am A Three Digit Number

POW: 09-11-2023

I am a three digit number. My tens digit is five more than my ones digit. My hundreds digit is eight less than my tens digit. What number am I?

Answer: Number 194.

Three Squares Out Of Eight Sticks Riddle

POW: 09-04-2023

Take eight small sticks, four of which are half the length of the other four. How can you make three equal squares out of the sticks?

Answer: Use the longer four sticks to be sharing sides between the squares and at the end their should be three intertwined squares.

There Are 2 Ducks In Front Of 2 Other Ducks

POW: 08-28-2023

There are 2 ducks in front of 2 other ducks. There are 2 ducks behind 2 other ducks. There are 2 ducks beside 2 other ducks. How many ducks are there?

Answer: Just four, in a square formation.

Measuring An Angle Under A Magnifying Glass

POW: 08-21-2023

Jim was examining an angle measuring 14 and 1/2 degrees, using his magnifying glass that magnifies everything two times. Under the glass, how large would that angle measure?

Answer: 14 and 1/2 degrees. Explanation, angles remain constant when magnified. A square has 4-90 degree corners, if you zoom in (magnify) a square, it's still a square.