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Cranial Fermentator Loyal user 238 Posts |
I discovered this puzzle in an old magic magazine (it was either "M-U-M" or "The Linking Ring") in a collumn by the late Williard Smith. I am not sure if it was original to him or an old chestnut that I just wasn't familiar with. Since I'm primarily a performance poet, I converted it into a rhyming riddle and presented it in a show I did, entitled "Meter, Math & Magic" It's meant to be recited in front of an audience, and you can actually demonstrate " the solution". If anyone can use it, please do and have fun:
"Here's a little riddle for you to contemplate: What is it if you take four from four and left with eight? If figuring out a solution is giving you trouble, Remember whatever amount you remove, what remains is double. And here is a final clue, I'd like to say: The answer to this riddle is literately a cliche'." |
Cranial Fermentator Loyal user 238 Posts |
I posted this "rhyming math riddle" way back in March. Inspite of quite a few views, no one yet has attempted to provide a solution. I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me if the answer is just too obvious, the riddle too confusing, or just plain boring to prompt a response. Thanks so much!
Paul |
Cranial Fermentator Loyal user 238 Posts |
I posted this "rhyming math riddle" way back in March. Inspite of quite a few views, no one yet has attempted to provide a solution. I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me if the answer is just too obvious, the riddle too confusing, or just plain boring to prompt a response. Thanks so much!
Paul |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
It could be worse Paul, you might have asked something pertinant and gotten no useful replies.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Sapient Regular user 126 Posts |
Sounds something like a hole. You remove four cubic feet fro a four cubic foot hole, and you have an eight cubic foot hole.
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-08-05 15:08, Sapient wrote: Agreed, It's the cliche and double parts that left me silent.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Lambertmoon Loyal user 240 Posts |
The hole sounds good but where does the cliche fit in?
The only cliche that came to mind that has to do with double the amount is: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" But I don't think that is applicable to the rhyme. |
Sapient Regular user 126 Posts |
Well, there is a old riddle. I don't know if it could be considered cliche, but it goes, "What gets bigger the more you remove from it?".
I'm not convinced that "hole" is that answer. Rather, I think it is some other thing which signifies the absence of something else. Perhaps it is debt? |
Cranial Fermentator Loyal user 238 Posts |
Thanks for responding!
A hole is a good quess, but not the answer I had in mind. The solution is CORNERS. If you cut off the four corners of a square or rectangle, you would be left with a shape with eight corners. In fact, the act of cutting off each corner always leaves you with two more. The cliche'I referred to in the rhyme is "CUTTING CORNERS" , an overused and trite expression. |
Cranial Fermentator Loyal user 238 Posts |
Thanks for responding!
A hole is a good quess, but not the answer I had in mind. The solution is CORNERS. If you cut off the four corners of a square or rectangle, you would be left with a shape with eight corners. In fact, the act of cutting off each corner always leaves you with two more. The cliche'I referred to in the rhyme is "CUTTING CORNERS" , an overused and trite expression. |
Sapient Regular user 126 Posts |
That is a much better answer. Very nice.
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Lambertmoon Loyal user 240 Posts |
Works for me.
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