Brain Twisters

Brain Twisters

“That’s the way things come clear. All of a sudden. And then you realize how obvious they’ve been all along.”

Madeleine L’Engle

I enjoy riddles and wordplay. Maybe you might enjoy these three with your kids or grandkids. The last riddle, by the way, came from a scrap of newsprint entitled, “Puzzler!” which I found in my grandfather’s wallet from 1942.

The answers are found at the bottom. Have fun!

• You are running in a 10K and see the finish line just ahead. You sprint for it, just passing the runner in 107th place before you cross the line. What place did you finish?

• What two numbers can you multiply together to get four? What two numbers can you multiply to get nine? What two numbers can you multiply together to get five?

• Three men engage a hotel room, paying $30, or $10 each. Several minutes later, the clerk discovers an overcharge mistake. Taking five one-dollar bills, he sends a bellhop up to the room to correct the error. The bellboy pockets two of the bills and gives each of the guests one dollar. The room has now cost each guest $9, or a total of $27. That with the two dollars the bellhop stole only makes $29. What happened to the other dollar?

Answers

• You placed 107th, you just passed the runner who would have been 107th and now you are!

• 2 and 2, 3 and 3, and 1 and 5.

• There are still thirty dollars, twenty-five at the front desk and five distributed between the bellboy and the three guests. Why doesn’t it work out that way in reverse? You tell me, I majored in English!

-Hank