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cardguy Inner circle Queens, New York 1171 Posts |
Lateral thinking puzzles are often strange situations which require an explanation. They are solved through a dialogue between the quizmaster who sets the puzzle and the solver or solvers who try to figure out the answer. The puzzles as stated generally do not contain sufficient information for the solver to uncover the solution. So a key part of the process is the asking of questions. The questions can receive one of only three possible answers - yes, no or irrelevant.
When one line of enquiry reaches an end then another approach is needed, often from a completely new direction. This is where the lateral thinking comes in. Some people find it frustrating that for any puzzle it is possible to construct various answers which fit the initial statement of the puzzle. However, for a good lateral thinking puzzle, the proper answer will be the best in the sense of the most apt and satisfying. When you hear the right answer to a good puzzle of this type you should want to kick yourself for not working it out! This kind of puzzle teaches you to check your assumptions about any situation. You need to be open-minded, flexible and creative in your questioning and able to put lots of different clues and pieces of information together. Once you reach a viable solution you keep going in order to refine it or replace it with a better solution. This is lateral thinking! I will play the part of the quizmaster. Everyone is allowed to ask questions. Remember that I am only allowed to answer "yes", "no", or "irrelevent". If you know the answer to the puzzle because you are already familiar with it please refrain from posting an answer. I want people who have never heard it before to ask questions and be involved. You can ask as many questions as you want in a post. I will check back regularly to answer questions. If you believe you have the solution after analyzing the questions and answers you can post a solution freely, and I'll let everyone know if it is correct. Often incorrect guesses at the solution can be very helpful. That is why you are allowed to post them openly. The following puzzle is a very popular one, and not too difficult. If the response to this one is good then I'll post a few more afterwards. "The Man in the Elevator" There is a man that lives on the tenth floor of an apartment building. Every morning he takes the elevator down to the lobby and walks to work. Every evening when he comes home he takes the elevator to the seventh floor, and then takes the stairs for the rest of the way. This man hates walking and going up the stairs and doesn't care or need to exercise. Why does he do it? Let the questions begin!
Frank G. a.k.a. Cardguy
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TomasB Inner circle Sweden 1144 Posts |
Does he take the stairs even when it has been raining?
/Tomas |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Okay, let's drop out the old answer of;
"a dwarf or midget too stupid to use a cane" and ask some questions... could this pertain to a living person in our society today?
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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cardguy Inner circle Queens, New York 1171 Posts |
Very funny guys, I guess this one was too easy.
Jon got it, he is a dwarf. He can't reach the 10th floor button in the elevator. I guess I need to challenge you guys. I will put up a new post very soon...
Frank G. a.k.a. Cardguy
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leonard Regular user North Carolina 148 Posts |
A man is found shot dead in a room with fifty-three bicycles. What happened?
Again, yes/no questions only. |
Scott Cram Inner circle 2678 Posts |
Are the "bicycles" in question playing cards?
(If so, that should be 53 Bicycles - note the capitalization.) |
leonard Regular user North Carolina 148 Posts |
Scott,
I agree, but didn't want to make it too easy. |
Dave Le Fevre Inner circle UK 1666 Posts |
And the extra Bike was because he was cheating.
And that's why he was shot. Dave
The Ozzy Osbourne of the 34x27
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Mind you if he was found in the UK it would only be 52 Bicycles.
Why? |
Dave Le Fevre Inner circle UK 1666 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-10-09 08:20, magicgeorge wrote: Because he's Derren Brown, and he was playing Russian Roulette? Dave
The Ozzy Osbourne of the 34x27
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
Close.
Because in the UK the only people to use Bicycle decks are magicians so they wouldn't need the extra card to cheat. Actually yours is probably better, Dave |
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