400 Puzzles

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18Three friends divided some

bullets equally. After all of them Therefore the total bullets
shot 4 bullets the total number before division is = 3 * X = 18
of bullets remaining is equal to
the bullets each had after
division. Find the original
number divided. Find sum of digits of D.
Answer Let
A= 19991999
18 B = sum of digits of A
C = sum of digits of B
Assume that initial there were D = sum of digits of C
3*X bullets.
(HINT : A = B = C = D (mod 9))
So they got X bullets each after
division. Answer
All of them shot 4 bullets. So The sum of the digits od D is

now they have (X - 4) bullets 1.
each.
Let E = sum of digits of D.
But it is given that,after they
shot 4 bullets each, total It follows from the hint that A =
number of bullets remaining is E (mod 9)
equal to the bullets each had
after division i.e. X
Therefore, the equation is

3 * (X - 4) = X
3 * X - 12 = X
2 * X = 12
X=6
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Consider,
A = 19991999
Also,
2000
< 2000
1999 = 1 (mod
2000
= 2 * 9)
2000
1000
so 19991999 = 1
= 1024200 * (mod 9)
6000
10
< 10800 * 106000 Therefore we conclude that

E=1.
= 106800 There is a 50m long army platoon
marching ahead. The last person in
the platoon wants to give a letter to
the first person leading the
i.e. A < 106800 platoon. So while the platoon is
marching he runs ahead, reaches
i.e. B < 6800 * the first person and hands over the
9 = 61200 letter to him and without stopping
he runs and comes back to his
i.e. C < 5 * 9 original position.
= 45
In the mean time the whole
i.e. D < 2 * 9 platoon has moved ahead by 50m.
= 18
The question is how much distance
i.e. E <= 9 did the last person cover in that
time. Assuming that he ran the
i.e. E is a whole distance with uniform
single digit number.
speed. (50+X)*(50-X) = X*X

Submitted
Answer Solving, X=35.355 meters
The last person covered Thus, total distance covered by

120.71 meters. the last person
= (50+X) + X
It is given that the platoon and = 2*X + 50
the last person moved with = 2*(35.355) + 50
uniform speed. Also, they both = 120.71 meters
moved for the identical amount
of time. Hence, the ratio of the
distance they covered - while Note that at first glance, one
person moving forward and might think that the total
backword - are equal. distance covered by the last
person is 100 meters, as he ran
Let's assume that when the last the total lenght of the platoon
person reached the first person, (50 meters) twice. TRUE, but
the platoon moved X meters that's the relative distance
forward. covered by the last person i.e.
assuming that the platoon is
Thus, while moving forward the stationary.
last person moved (50+X)
meters whereas the platoon
moved X meters. If you take a marker & start
from a corner on a cube, what
Similarly, while moving back the is the maximum number of
last person moved [50-(50-X)] edges you can trace across if
X meters whereas the platoon you never trace across the
moved (50-X) meters. same edge twice, never
remove the marker from the
Now, as the ratios are equal, cube, & never trace anywhere
(50+X)/X = X/(50-X)
on the cube, except for the • If the Engineer is younger

corners & edges? than the Doctor, then the
Engineer and the Doctor
Answer are not blood relatives.
• If the Engineer is a
9 female, then she and the
Doctor are blood
To verify this, you can make a relatives.
drawing of a cube, & number
each of its 12 edges. Then, Can you tell who is the Doctor
always starting from 1 corner & and the Engineer?
1 edge, you can determine all Answer
of the possible combinations for
tracing along the edges of a Mr. Bajaj is the Engineer and
cube. either his wife or his son is
the Doctor.
There is no need to start from
other corners or edges of the Mr. Bajaj's wife and mother are
cube, as you will only be not blood relatives. So from 3, if
repeating the same the Engineer is a female, the
combinations. The process is a Doctor is a male. But from 1, if
little more involved than this, the Doctor is a male, then the
but is useful for solving many Engineer is a male. Thus, there
types of spatial puzzles. is a contradiction, if the
Engineer is a female. Hence,
One of Mr. Bajaj, his wife, their either Mr. Bajaj or his son is the
son and Mr. Bajaj's mother is Engineer.
an Engineer and another is a
Doctor. Mr. Bajaj's son is the youngest
of all four and is blood relative
• If the Doctor is a male, of each of them. So from 2, Mr.
then the Engineer is a Bajaj's son is not the Engineer.
male. Hence, Mr. Bajaj is the
Engineer. Thus, Sam is married to Tina.
Now from 2, Mr. Bajaj's mother As Cam does not play bridge,
can not be the Doctor. So the Billy's husband must be Laurie.
Doctor is either his wife or his
son . It is not possible to Hence, Carrie is married to
determine anything further. Cam.
Three men - Sam, Cam and There are 3 persons X, Y and

Laurie - are married to Carrie, Z. On some day, X lent tractors
Billy and Tina, but not to Y and Z as many as they
necessarily in the same order. had. After a month Y gave as
many tractors to X and Z as
Sam's wife and Billy's Husband many as they have. After a
play Carrie and Tina's husband month Z did the same thing. At
at bridge. No wife partners her the end of this transaction each
husband and Cam does not one of them had 24.
play bridge.
Find the tractors each originally
Who is married to Cam? had?
Answer
Answer
One way to solve it is by
Carrie is married to Cam. making 3 equations and solve
them simultaneously. But there
"Sam's wife and Billy's is rather easier way to solve it
Husband play Carrie and Tina's using Backtracing.
husband at bridge."
It's given that at the end, each
It means that Sam is not had 24 tractors (24, 24, 24) i.e.
married to either Billy or Carrie. after Z gave tractors to X & Y
as many as they had. It means into groups of 100 each as

that after getting tractors from Z follow:
their tractors got doubled. So (1..100), (101..200), (201..300),
before Z gave them tractors, ....... (901..1000)
they had 12 tractors each and Z
had 48 tractors. (12, 12, 48) For the first group, sign-maker
will need 11 zeroes.
Similarly, before Y gave tractors For group numbers 2 to 9, he
to X & Z, they had 6 & 24 will require 20 zeroes each.
tractors respectively and Y had And for group number 10, he
42 tractors i.e. (6, 42, 24) will require 21 zeroes.
Again, before X gave tractors to The total numbers of zeroes

Y & Z, they had 21 & 12 required are
tractors respectively and X had = 11 + 8*20 + 21
39 tractors i.e. (39, 21, 12) = 11 + 160 + 21
= 192
Hence, initially X had 39
tractors, Y had 21 tractors
and Z had 12 tractors. There are 9 coins. Out of which
one is odd one i.e weight is less
A certain street has 1000 or more. How many iterations
buildings. A sign-maker is of weighing are required to find
contracted to number the odd coin?
houses from 1 to 1000. How
many zeroes will he need? Answer
Answer It is always possible to find odd

coin in 3 weighings and to tell
The sign-maker will need 192 whether the odd coin is heavier
zeroes. or lighter.
Divide 1000 building numbers

1. Take 8 coins and weigh 4 coin and is

against 4. lighter.
o If both are not  If L3 is light,
equal, goto step 2 L3 is the odd
o If both are equal, coin and is
goto step 3 lighter.
2. One of these 8 coins is o If (H1, H2, L1) is

the odd one. Name the heavier side on the
coins on heavier side of scale, either H1 or
the scale as H1, H2, H3 H2 is heavier.
and H4. Similarly, name Weight H1 against
the coins on the lighter H2
side of the scale as L1,  If both are
L2, L3 and L4. Either one equal, there is
of H's is heavier or one of some error.
L's is lighter. Weigh (H1,  If H1 is heavy,
H2, L1) against (H3, H4, H1 is the odd
X) where X is one coin coin and is
remaining in intial heavier.
weighing.  If H2 is heavy,
H2 is the odd
one of L2, L3, L4 is heavier.
lighter. Weigh L2
against L3.
 If both are
equal, L4 is o If (H3, H4, X) is
the odd coin heavier side on the
and is lighter. scale, either H3 or
 If L2 is light, H4 is heavier or L1
L2 is the odd
is lighter. Weight H3 1. On the first day 1 medal

against H4 and 1/7 of the remaining
 If both are m - 1 medals were
equal, L1 is awarded.
the odd coin 2. On the second day 2
and is lighter. medals and 1/7 of the
 If H3 is heavy, now remaining medals
H3 is the odd was awarded; and so on.
coin and is 3. On the nth and last day,
heavier. the remaining n medals
 If H4 is heavy, were awarded.
H4 is the odd
coin and is How many days did the contest
heavier. last, and how many medals
were awarded altogether?
Answer
3. The remaining coin X is Total 36 medals were

the odd one. Weigh X awarded and the contest was
against the anyone coin for 6 days.
used in initial weighing.
o If both are equal, On day 1: Medals awarded = (1
there is some error. + 35/7) = 6 : Remaining 30
o If X is heavy, X is medals
the odd coin and is On day 2: Medals awarded = (2
heavier. + 28/7) = 6 : Remaining 24
o If X is light, X is the medals
odd coin and is On day 3: Medals awarded = (3
lighter. + 21/7) = 6 : Remaining 18
medals
In a sports contest there were On day 4: Medals awarded = (4
m medals awarded on n + 14/7) = 6 : Remaining 12
successive days (n > 1). medals
On day 5: Medals awarded = (5 Find the number.

+7/7) = 6 : Remaining 6 medals
Answer
On day 6: Medals awarded 6
The answer is 381654729
I got this answer by writing
small program. If anyone know One way to solve it is Trial-&-
any other simpler method, do Error. You can make it bit easier
submit it. as odd positions will always
occupy ODD numbers and
A number of 9 digits has the even positions will always
following properties: occupy EVEN numbers. Further
5th position will contain 5 as 0
• The number comprising does not occur.
the leftmost two digits is
divisible by 2, that The other way to solve this
comprising the leftmost problem is by writing a
three digits is divisible by computer program that
3, the leftmost four by 4, systematically tries all
the leftmost five by 5, and possibilities
so on for the nine digits of
the number i.e. the 1/3 rd of the contents of a
number formed from the container evaporated on the 1st
first n digits is divisible by day. 3/4th of the remaining
n, 2<=n<=9. contents of the container
• Each digit in the number evaporated on the second day.
is different i.e. no digits
are repeated. What part of the contents of the
• The digit 0 does not occur container is left at the end of the
in the number i.e. it is second day?
comprised only of the
digits 1-9 in some order.
Answer Vipul was studying for his

examinations and the lights
Assume that contents of the went off. It was around 1:00
container is X AM. He lighted two uniform
candles of equal length but one
On the first day 1/3rd is thicker than the other. The thick
evaporated. candle is supposed to last six
(1 - 1/3) of X is remaining i.e. hours and the thin one two
(2/3)X hours less. When he finally
went to sleep, the thick candle
On the Second day 3/4th is was twice as long as the thin
evaporated. Hence, one.
(1- 3/4) of (2/3)X is remaining
i.e. (1/4)(2/3)X = (1/6) X For how long did Vipul study in
candle light?
Hence 1/6th of the contents of
the container is remaining Answer
Vipul studied for 3 hours in

candle light.
Assume that the initial lenght of

both the candle was L and Vipul
studied for X hours.
In X hours, total thick candle

burnt = XL/6
In X hours, total thin candle
burnt = XL/4
After X hours, total thick candle

remaining = L - XL/6
After X hours, total thin candle
remaining = L - XL/4
To begin with, you want to know
Also, it is given that the thick the total number of days: 365 x
candle was twice as long as the 50 = 18250.
thin one when he finally went to
sleep. By experimentation, the
(L - XL/6) = 2(L - XL/4) following formula can be
(6 - X)/6 = (4 - X)/2 discovered, & used to
(6 - X) = 3*(4 - X) determine the amount earned
6 - X = 12 - 3X for any particular day: 1 + 2(x-
2X = 6 1), with x being the number of
X=3 the day. Take half of the 18250
days, & pair them up with the
Hence, Vipul studied for 3 other half in the following way:
hours i.e. 180 minutes in candle day 1 with day 18250, day 2
light. with day 18249, & so on, & you
will see that if you add these
pairs together, they always
If you started a business in equal Rs.36500.
which you earned Rs.1 on the
first day, Rs.3 on the second Multiply this number by the total
day, Rs.5 on the third day, Rs.7 number of pairs (9125), & you
on the fourth day, & so on. have the amount you would
have earned in 50 years.
How much would you have
earned with this business after Math gurus may use series
50 years (assuming there are formula to solve it.(series:
exactly 365 days in every 1,3,5,7,9,11.....upto 18250
year)? terms)
A worker earns a 5% raise. A
Answer year later, the worker receives
a 2.5% cut in pay, & now his
Rs.333,062,500 salary is Rs. 22702.68
seconds.
What was his salary to begin Total time gaps between first
with? and last ticks at 6'o = 5
Answer (i.e. between 1 & 2, 2 & 3, 3 &
4, 4 & 5 and 5 & 6)
Rs.22176
So time gap between two ticks
Assume his salary was Rs. X = 30/5 = 6 seconds.
He earns 5% raise. So his

salary is (105*X)/100 Now, total time gaps between
first and last ticks at 12'o = 11
A year later he receives 2.5% Therefore time taken for 12
cut. So his salary is ticks = 11 * 6 = 66 seconds
((105*X)/100)*(97.5/100) which (and not 60 seconds)
is Rs. 22702.68
Hence, solving equation 500 men are arranged in an

((105*X)/100)*(97.5/100) = array of 10 rows and 50
22702.68 columns according to their
X = 22176 heights.
At 6'o a clock ticks 6 times. The
time between first and last ticks is Tallest among each row of all
30 seconds. How long does it tick are asked to come out. And the
at 12'o. shortest among them is A.
Similarly after resuming them to

Answer their original positions, the
shortest among each column
66 seconds are asked to come out. And the
tallest among them is B.
It is given that the time between
first and last ticks at 6'o is 30 Now who is taller A or B ?
Answer
In Mr. Mehta's family, there are
one grandfather, one
grandmother, two fathers, two
mothers, one father-in-law, one
mother-in-law, four children,
three grandchildren, one
brother, two sisters, two sons,
two daughters and one
daughter-in-law.
How many members are there

No one is taller, both are in Mr. Mehta's family? Give
same as A and B are the minimal possible answer.
same person. Answer
As it is mentioned that 500 men There are 7 members in Mr.

are arranged in an array of 10 Mehta's family. Mother & Father
rows and 50 columns of Mr. Mehta, Mr. & Mrs. Mehta,
according to their heights. his son and two daughters.
Let's assume that position
numbers represent their Mother & Father of Mr. Mehta
heights. Hence, the shortest |
among the 50, 100, 150, ... |
450, 500 is person with height Mr. & Mrs. Mehta
50 i.e. A. Similarly the tallest |
among 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..... 48, 48, |
50 is person with height 50 i.e. One Son & Two Daughters
B When Alexander the Great
attacked the forces of Porus, an
Now, both A and B are the Indian soldier was captured by
person with height 50. Hence the Greeks. He had displayed
both are same. such bravery in battle, however,
that the enemy offered to let and hence false. If his

him choose how he wanted to statement is false, he will be
be killed. They told him, "If you put to the sword, which will
tell a lie, you will put to the make it true. A Paradox !!!
sword, and if you tell the truth
you will be hanged." A person wanted to withdraw X
rupees and Y paise from the
The soldier could make only bank. But cashier made a
one statement. He made that mistake and gave him Y rupees
statement and went free. What and X paise. Neither the person
did he say? nor the cashier noticed that.
Answer After spending 20 paise, the

person counts the money. And
The soldier said, "You will put to his surprise, he has double
me to the sword." the amount he wanted to
withdraw.
The soldier has to say a
Paradox to save himself. If his Find X and Y. (1 Rupee = 100
statement is true, he will be Paise)
hanged, which is not the sword
After spending 20 paise, he has

double the amount he wanted
to withdraw. Hence, the
equation is
Answer
As given, the person wanted to

withdraw 100X + Y paise.
But he got 100Y + X paise.
Y - 2X = 1
2 * (100X + Y) We get X = 26 & Y = 53
= 100Y + X - 20
Now, its obvious that he wanted
200X + 2Y = to withdraw Rs. 26.53
100Y +X - 20
The game of Tic-Tac-Toe is
199X - 98Y = being played between two
-20 players. Only the last mark to
be placed in the game as
98Y - 199X = 20 shown.
Now, we got one equation; but

there are 2 variables. We have
to apply little bit of logic over
here. We know that if we
interchange X & Y, amount gets
double. So Y should be twice of
X or one more than twice of X
i.e. Y = 2X or Y = 2X+1
Case I : Y=2X
Solving two equations
simultaneously
98Y - 199X = 20
Y - 2X = 0
We get X = - 20/3 & Y = - 40/2
Case II : Y=2X+1
Solving two equations
simultaneously
98Y - 199X = 20
Can you tell which one is false?

Who will win the game, O or X? Also, how many men, women
Can you tell which was the and children are there at the
sixth mark and at which party
position? Do explain your
answer.
At the Party:
Assume that both the players
1. There were 9 men and are intelligent enough.
children.
2. There were 2 more
women than children.
3. The number of different
man-woman couples Answer
possible was 24. Note
that if there were 7 men O will win the game. The
and 5 women, then there sixth mark was X in square 9.
would have been 35 man-
woman couples possible.
The 7th mark must be placed in
Also, of the three groups - square 5 which is the win
men, women and children situation for both X and O.
- at the party: Hence, the 6th mark must be
4. There were 4 of one placed in a line already
group. containing two of the opponents
5. There were 6 of one marks. There are two such
group. possibilities - the 6th mark
6. There were 8 of one would have been either O in
group. square 7 or X in square 9.
Exactly one of the above 6 As we know both the players

statements is false. are intelligent enough, the 6th
mark could not be O in square women or there are 3 men and

7. Instead, he would have 8 women.
placed O in square 5 and would
have won. If there are 8 men and 3
women, then there is 1 child.
Hence, the sixth mark must be Then Statements (4) and (5)
X placed in square 9. And the both are false, which is not
seventh mark will be O. Thus O possible.
will win the game.
Hence, there are 3 men, 8
Answer women and 6 children.
Statement (4) is false.
Statement (4) is false. There
are 3 men, 8 women and 6 There is a shortage of
children. tubelights, bulbs and fans in a
village - Kharghar. It is found
Assume that Statements (4), that
(5) and (6) are all true. Then,
Statement (1) is false. But then • All houses do not have
Statement (2) and (3) both can either tubelight or bulb or
not be true. Thus, contradictory fan.
to the fact that exactly one • exactly 19% of houses do
statement is false. not have just one of
these.
So Statement (4) or Statement • atleast 67% of houses do
(5) or Statement (6) is false. not have tubelights.
Also, Statements (1), (2) and • atleast 83% of houses do
(3) all are true. not have bulbs.
• atleast 73% of houses do
From (1) and (2), there are 11 not have fans.
men and women. Then from
(3), there are 2 possible cases -
either there are 8 men and 3
What percentage of houses do Thus, 42% houses do not have

not have tubelight, bulb and tubelight, bulb and fan.
fan? Mr. Subramaniam rents a
Answer private car for Andheri-Colaba-
Andheri trip. It costs him Rs.
42% houses do not have 300 everyday.
tubelight, bulb and fan.
Mr. Subramaniam that there
Let's assume that there are 100 One day the car driver informed
houses. Hence, there should be were two students from Bandra
total 300 items i.e. 100 who wished to go from Bandra
tubelights, 100 bulbs and 100 to Colaba and back to Bandra.
fans. Bandra is halfway between
Andheri and Colaba. Mr.
From the given data, we know Subramaniam asked the driver
that there is shortage of atleast to let the students travel with
(67+83+73) 223 items in every him.
100 houses.
On the first day when they
Also, exactly 19 houses do not came, Mr. Subramaniam said,
have just one item. It means "If you tell me the
that remaining 81 houses mathematically correct price
should account for the shortage you should pay individually for
of remaining (223-19) 204 your portion of the trip, I will let
items. If those remaining 81 you travel for free."
houses do not have 2 items
each, there would be a How much should the individual
shortage of 162 items. But total student pay for their journey?
of 204 items are short. Hence, Answer
atleast (204-162) 42 houses do
not have all 3 items - tubelight, The individual student should
bulb and fan. pay Rs. 50 for their journey.
Note that 3 persons are O U

travelling between Bandra and T
Colaba.
------------
The entire trip costs Rs. 300 to -
Mr. Subramanian. Hence, half
of the trip costs Rs. 150. S T E M | D E M I S
E
For Andheri-Bandra-Andheri,
only one person i.e. Mr. | D M O C
Subramaniam is travelling.
Hence, he would pay Rs. 150. ------------
-
For Bandra-Colaba-Bandra,
three persons i.e Mr. T U I S
Subramaniam and two
students, are travelling. Hence, S T E M
each student would pay Rs. 50.
---------
Substitute digits for the letters -
to make the following Division
true Z Z Z
E
Z U M
M
-------
-
I S
T
Note that the leftmost letter
can't be zero in any word. Also,
there must be a one-to-one O U

mapping between digits and T
letters. e.g. if you substitute 3 4 1 3
for the letter M, no other letter
can be 3 and all other M in the ------------
puzzle must be -
Answer -------------
C=0, U=1, S=2, T=3, O=4, S T E M | D E M I S

M=5, I=6, Z=7, E=8, D=9 E 2 3 8 5 | 9 8
5 6 2 8
It is obvious that U=1 (as
U*STEM=STEM) and C=0 (as | D M O C
I-C=I). | 9 5 4 0
S*O is a single digit and also ------------

S*T is a single digit. Hence, -
their values (O, S, T) must be 2, -------------
3 or 4 (as they can not be 0 or
1 or greater than 4). T U I S
3 1 6 2
Consider, STEM*O=DMOC,
S T E M
where C=0. It means that M
2 3 8 5
must be 5. Now, its simple.
O=4, S=2, T=3, E=8, Z=7, I=6
---------
and D=9.
-
----------
Z Z Z
E
7 7 7 8
Z U M For every minute, hour hand

M travels 1/2 degrees.
7 1 5 5 Hence, for X minutes it will
travel X/2 degrees.
-------
- At 4.00 PM, the angle between
-------- minute hand and hour hand is
120 degrees. Also, after X
I S minutes, minute hand and hour
T hand are exactly aligned. So
6 2 3 the angle with respect to 12 i.e.
Also, when arranged from 0 to Vertical Plane will be same.
9, it spells CUSTOMIZED. Therefore,
6 * X = 120 + X/2
At what time after 4.00 p.m. is 12 * X = 240 + X
the minutes hand of a clock 11 * X = 240
exactly aligned with the hour X = 21.8182
hand? X = 21 minutes 49.5 seconds
Answer Hence, at 4:21:49.5 minute

hand is exactly aligned with the
4:21:49.5 hour hand.
Assume that X minutes after A soldier looses his way in a

4.00 PM minute hand exactly thick jungle. At random he
aligns with and hour hand. walks from his camp but
mathematically in an interesting
For every minute, minute hand fashion.
travels 6 degrees.
Hence, for X minutes it will First he walks one mile East
travel 6 * X degrees. then half mile to North. Then
1/4 mile to West, then 1/8 mile and so on... (a geometric series
to South and so on making a with r = (-1/4) )
loop.
(1) * ( 1 - (-1/4)n )
Finally how far he is from his = ---------------------------
camp and in which direction? ( 1 - (-1/4) )
Answer = 1 / ( ( 1- (-1/4) )
= 4/5
The soldier is 0.8944 miles
away from his camp towards So the soldier is 4/5 miles away
East-North. towards East and 2/5 miles
away towards North. So using
It is obvious that he is in East- right angled triangle, soldier is
North direction. 0.8944 miles away from his
camp.
Distance travelled in North and
South directions Raj has a jewel chest
= 1/2 - 1/8 + 1/32 - 1/128 + containing Rings, Pins and Ear-
1/512 - 1/2048 + and so on... (a rings. The chest contains 26
geometric series with r = (-1/4) ) pieces. Raj has 2 1/2 times as
many rings as pins, and the
number of pairs of earrings is 4
(1/2) * ( 1 - (-1/4)n ) less than the number of rings.
= ---------------------------
( 1 - (-1/4) ) How many earrings does Raj
have?
= 1 / ( 2 * ( 1 - (-1/4) ) )
= 2/5 Answer
Similarly in East and West 12 earrings

directions
= 1 - 1/4 + 1/16 - 1/64 + 1/256 - Assume that there are R rings,
P pins and E pair of ear-rings. pair.

Submitted
It is given that, he has 2 1/2
times as many rings as pins. Answer
R = (5/2) * P or P = (2*R)/5
6,48,64,800 ways
And, the number of pairs of
earrings is 4 less than the There are total 16 pieces which
number of rings. can be arranged on 16 places
E = R - 4 or R = E + 4 in 16P16 = 16! ways.
(16! = 16 * 15 * 14 * 13 * 12 *
Also, there are total 26 pieces. ..... * 3 * 2 * 1)
R + P + 2*E = 26
R + (2*R)/5 + 2*E = 26 But, there are some duplicate
5*R + 2*R + 10*E = 130 combinations because of
7*R + 10*E = 130 identical pieces.
7*(E + 4) + 10*E = 130
7*E + 28 + 10*E = 130 • There are 8 identical
17*E = 102 pawn, which can be
E=6 arranged in 8P8 = 8! ways.
• Similarly there are 2
Hence, there are 6 pairs of Ear- identical rooks, 2 identical
rings i.e. total 12 Ear-rings knights and 2 identical
How many ways are there of bishops. Each can be
arranging the sixteen black or arranged in 2P2 = 2! ways.
white pieces of a standard
international chess set on the Hence, the require answer is
first two rows of the board? = (16!) / (8! * 2! * 2! * 2!)
= 6,48,64,800
Given that each pawn is
identical and each rook, knight
and bishop is identical to its A person with some money
spends 1/3 for cloths, 1/5 of the
remaining for food and 1/4 of

the remaining for travel. He is Grass in lawn grows equally
left with Rs 100/- thick and in a uniform rate. It
takes 24 days for 70 cows and
How much did he have with him 60 days for 30 cows to eat the
in the begining? whole of the grass.
Answer How many cows are needed to

eat the grass in 96 days?
Rs. 250/- Answer
Assume that initially he had Rs. 20 cows

X
He spent 1/3 for cloths =. (1/3) * g - grass at the beginning
X r - rate at which grass grows,
Remaining money = (2/3) * X per day
y - rate at which one cow eats
He spent 1/5 of remaining grass, per day
money for food = (1/5) * (2/3) * n - no of cows to eat the grass
X = (2/15) * X in 96 days
Remaining money = (2/3) * X -
(2/15) * X = (8/15) * X From given data,
g + 24*r = 70 * 24 * y ---------- A
Again, he spent 1/4 of g + 60*r = 30 * 60 * y ---------- B
remaining maoney for travel = g + 96*r = n * 96 * y ---------- C
(1/4) * (8/15) * X = (2/15) * X
Remaining money = (8/15) * X - Solving for (B-A),
(2/15) * X = (6/15) * X (60 * r) - (24 * r) = (30 * 60 * y) -
(70 * 24 * y)
But after spending for travel he 36 * r = 120 * y ---------- D
is left with Rs. 100/- So
(6/15) * X = 100 Solving for (C-B),
X = 250 (96 * r) - (60 * r) = (n * 96 * y) -
(30 * 60 * y) digit number and it contains 3

36 * r = (n * 96 - 30 * 60) * y pairs of 11. So it must not be
120 * y = (n * 96 - 30 * 60) * y having 0 and 1 in it. Hence, the
[From D] only possible combination for
120 = (n * 96 - 1800) 2nd, 3rd and 4th digits is (5, 2,
n = 20 9)
Hence, 20 cows are needed to Also, 1st digit is thrice the last
eat the grass in 96 days. digit. The possible
There is a safe with a 5 digit combinations are (3, 1), (6, 2)
number as the key. The 4th and (9, 3), out of which only (6,
digit is 4 greater than the 2) with (5, 2, 9) gives 3 pairs of
second digit, while the 3rd digit 11. Hence, the answer is
is 3 less than the 2nd digit. The 65292.
1st digit is thrice the last digit. Four friends - Arjan, Bhuvan,
There are 3 pairs whose sum is Guran and Lakha were
11. comparing the number of sheep
that they owned.
Find the number.
Answer It was found that Guran had ten
more sheep than Lakha.
65292
If Arjan gave one-third to
As per given conditions, there Bhuvan, and Bhuvan gave a
are three possible combinations quarter of what he then held to
for 2nd, 3rd and 4th digits. They Guran, who then passed on a
are (3, 0, 7) or (4, 1, 8) or (5, 2, fifth of his holding to Lakha,
9) they would all have an equal
number of sheep.
It is given that there are 3 pairs
whose sum is 11. All possible How many sheep did each of
pairs are (2, 9), (3, 8), (4, 7), (5, them possess? Give the
6). Now required number is 5 minimal possible answer
2A/3 = A/15 + B/5 + 4G/5

Answer 2A/3 = A/15 + A/9 + 4G/5 (as
B=5A/9)
30A = 3A + 5A + 36G
22A = 36G
11A = 18G
Arjan's sheep = Lakha's sheep

2A/3 = A/60 + B/20 + G/5 + L
2A/3 = A/60 + A/36 + 11A/90 +
L (as B=5A/9 and G=11A/18)
2A/3 = A/6 + L
A/2 = L
A = 2L
Arjan, Bhuvan, Guran and
Lakha had 90, 50, 55 and 45 Also, it is given that Guran had
sheep respectively. ten more sheep than Lakha.
G = L + 10
Assume that Arjan, Bhuvan, 11A/18 = A/2 + 10
Guran and Lakha had A, B, G A/9 = 10
and L sheep respectively. As it A = 90 sheep
is given that at the end each
would have an equal number of Thus, Arjan had 90 sheep,
sheep, comparing the final Bhuvan had 5A/9 i.e. 50 sheep,
numbers from the above table. Guran had 11A/18 i.e. 55 sheep
and Lakha had A/2 i.e. 45
Arjan's sheep = Bhuvan's sheep.
sheep Consider a number 235, where
2A/3 = A/4 + 3B/4 last digit is the sum of first two
8A = 3A + 9B digits i.e. 2 + 3 = 5.
5A = 9B
How many such 3-digit
Arjan's sheep = Guran's sheep numbers are there?
numbers. If the last digit is 4,

Answer there are four numbers. If the
last digit is 5, there are five
There are 45 different 3-digit numbers. And so on.....
numbers.
Thus, total numbers are
The last digit can not be 0. 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9
= 45
If the last digit is 1, the only
possible number is 101. (Note Altogether then, there are 45
that 011 is not a 3-digit number) different 3-digit numbers, where
last digit is the sum of first two
digits.
If the last digit is 2, the possible
numbers are 202 and 112. Find the smallest number such
that if its rightmost digit is
If the last digit is 3, the possible placed at its left end, the new
numbers are 303, 213 and 123. number so formed is precisely
50% larger than the original
number.
If the last digit is 4, the possible Answer
numbers are 404, 314, 224 and
134. The answer is 285714.
If the last digit is 5, the possible If its rightmost digit is placed at

numbers are 505, 415, 325, its left end, then new number is
235 and 145. 428571 which is 50% larger
than the original number
Note the pattern here - If the 285714.
last digit is 1, there is only one
number. If the last digit is 2, The simplest way is to write a
there are two numbers. If the small program. And the other
last digit is 3, there are three way is trial and error !!!
Two identical pack of cards A drawn from Pack A

and B are shuffled throughly.
One card is picked from A and Probability of not drawing King
shuffled with B. The top card of Hearts from Pack A = 50/51
from pack A is turned up. If this (as Queen of Hearts is not to
is the Queen of Hearts, what be drawn)
are the chances that the top Probability of having King of
card in B will be the King of Hearts on the top of the Pack B
Hearts? = 1/53
Answer So total probability of case 2 =

(50/51) * (1/53) = 50 / (51 * 53)
52 / 2703
Now adding both the
There are two cases to be probability, the required
considered. probability is
= 2 / (51 * 53) + 50 / (51 * 53)
CASE 1 : King of Hearts is = 52 / (51 * 53)
drawn from Pack A and shuffled = 52 / 2703
with Pack B = 0.0192378
There are 3 ants at 3 corners of
Probability of drawing King of a triangle, they randomly start
Hearts from Pack A = 1/51 (as moving towards another corner.
Queen of Hearts is not to be
drawn)
Probability of having King of What is the probability that they
Hearts on the top of the Pack B don't collide?
= 2/53
Answer
So total probability of case 1 =
(1/51) * (2/53) = 2 / (51 * 53) Let's mark the corners of the
triangle as A,B,C. There are
CASE 2 : King of Hearts is not
total 8 ways in which ants can

move.
1. A->B, B->C, C->A

2. A->B, B->C, C->B
3. A->B, B->A, C->A
4. A->B, B->A, C->B
5. A->C, C->B, B->A
6. A->C, C->B, B->C
7. A->C, C->A, B->A
8. A->C, C->A, B->C
Out of which, there are only two

cases under which the ants
won't collide :
• A->B, B->C, C->A

• A->C, C->B, B->A
Find all sets of consecutive

integers that add up to 1000.
Submitted by : James
Barberousse
Answer
There is a 4-character code,
There are total 8 such series: with 2 of them being letters and
the other 2 being numbers.
1. Sum of 2000 numbers
starting from -999 i.e.
How many maximum attempts
summation of numbers
would be necessary to find the
from -999 to 1000.
correct code? Note that the
(-999) + (-998) + (-997)
code is case-sensitive.
+ ..... + (-1) + 0 + 1 + 2
Answer
+ ..... + 997 + 998 + 999
+ 1000 = 1000
The maximum number of
attempts required are
16,22,400
from -197 to 202.
There are 52 possible letters - a
(-197) + (-196) + (-195)
to z and A to Z, and 10 possible
+ ..... + (-1) + 0 + 1 + 2
numbers - 0 to 9. Now, 4
+ ..... + 199 + 200 + 201
characters - 2 letters and 2
+ 202 = 1000
numbers, can be selected in
52*52*10*10 ways. These 4
characters can be arranged in
summation of numbers 4
C2 i.e. 6 different ways - the
from -54 to 70.
number of unique patterns that
(-54) + (-53) + (-52) +
can be formed by lining up 4
..... + (-1) + 0 + 1 + 2 +
objects of which 2 are
..... + 68 + 69 + 70 =
distinguished one way (i.e. they
1000
must be letters) and the other 2
are distinguished another way
(i.e. they must be numbers).
from -27 to 52.
Consider an example : Let's
(-27) + (-26) + (-25) +
.....downloaded
You have + (-1) + 0this
+ Paper
1 + 2from
+ "software_jobs" Yahoo Group(Files section) 30
assume that @ represents for 4x4x4 Rubics.

letter and # represents number.
the 6 possible ways of
arranging them are : @@##, Let's consider 3x3x3 Rubics
@#@#, @##@, #@@#, first.
#@#@, ##@@
There are 8 corner cubes,
Hence, the required answer is which can be arranged in 8!
= 52*52*10*10*6 ways.
= 16,22,400 attempts Each of these 8 cubes can be
= 1.6 million approx. turned in 3 different directions,
so there are 3^8 orientations
Thanks to Tim Sanders for altogether. But if you get all but
opening BrainVista's brain !!! one of the corner cube into
How many possible chosen positions and
combinations are there in a orientations, only one of 3
3x3x3 rubics cube? orientations of the final corner
cube is possible. Thus, total
In other words, if you wanted to ways corner cubes can be
solve the rubics cube by trying placed = (8!) * (3^8)/8 = (8!) *
different combinations, how (3^7)
many might it take you (worst
case senerio)? Similarly, 12 edge cubes can be
arranged in 12! ways.
How many for a 4x4x4 cube? Each of these 12 cubes can be
Submitted turned in 2 different directions,
so there are 2^12 orientations
Answer altogether. But if you get all but
one of the edge cube into
There are 4.3252 * 10^19 chosen positions and
possible combinations for orientations, only one of 2
3x3x3 Rubics and 7.4012 * orientations of the final edge
10^45 possible combinations cube is possible. Thus, total
ways edge cubes can be (4!^6)] / 24

placed = (12!) * (2^12)/2 = (12!) = 7.4011968 * 10^45
* (2^11)
Note that there are 24 edge
Here, we have essentially cubes, which you can not turn
pulled the cubes apart and in 2 orientations (hence no
stuck cubes back in place 2^24 / 2). Also, there are 4
wherever we please. In reality, center cubes per face i.e. (24!) /
we can only move cubes (4!^6). You can switch 2 cubes
around by turning the faces of without affecting the rest of the
the cubes. It turns out that you combination as 4*4*4 has even
can't turn the faces in such a dimensions (hence no division
way as to switch the positions by 2). But pattern on one side is
of two cubes while returning all rotated in 4 directions over 6
the others to their original faces, hence divide by 24.
positions. Thus if you get all but Substitute digits for the letters
two cubes in place, there is to make the following relation
only one attainable choice for true.
them (not 2!). Hence, we must
divide by 2.
Total different possible

combinations are
= [(8!) * (3^7)] * [(12!) * (2^11)] /
2
= (8!) * (3^7) * (12!) * (2^10)
= 4.3252 * 10^19
Similarly, for 4x4x4 Rubics total

different possible combinations
are
= [(8!) * (3^7)] * [(24!)] * [(24!) /
N E V solve it. Now use trial-n-error

E R method.
L E A N E V E R
V E 2 1 4 1 9
+ L E A V E
M E 3 1 5 4 1
----------- + M E
------ + 6 1
A L O -----------------
N E -----------------
can't be zero in any word. Also, A L O N E
there must be a one-to-one 5 3 0 2 1
mapping between digits and
letters. e.g. if you substitute 3
for the letter M, no other letter One of the four people - Mr.
can be 3 and all other M in the Clinton, his wife Monika, their
puzzle must be 3. son Mandy and their daughter
Cindy - is a singer and another
Answer is a dancer. Mr. Clinton is older
than his wife and Mady is older
A tough one!!! than his sister.
Since R + E + E = 10 + E, it is 1. If the singer and the

clear that R + E = 10 and dancer are the same sex,
neither R nor E is equal to 0 or then the dancer is older
5. This is the only entry point to than the singer.
2. If neither the singer nor
the dancer is the parent
of the other, then the the singer is Cindy.

singer is older than the
dancer. CASE II : Singer is a woman
3. If the singer is a man, and Dancer is also a man
then the singer and the Then, the dancer is Mr. Clinton
dancer are the same age. and the singer is Cindy.
4. If the singer and the
dancer are of opposite In both the cases, we know that
sex then the man is older Cindy is the Singer. And either
than the woman. Mr. Clinton or Monika is the
5. If the dancer is a woman, Dancer.
then the dancer is older There are 20 people in your
than the singer. applicant pool, including 5 pairs
of identical twins.
Whose occupation do you
know? And what is his/her If you hire 5 people randomly,
occupation? what are the chances you will
Answer hire at least 1 pair of identical
twins? (Needless to say, this
Cindy is the Singer. Mr. could cause trouble ;))
Clinton or Monika is the Submitted
Dancer.
Answer
From (1) and (3), the singer
and the dancer, both can not be The probability to hire 5
a man. From (3) and (4), if the people with at least 1 pair of
singer is a man, then the identical twins is 25.28%
dancer must be a man. Hence,
the singer must be a woman. 5 people from the 20 people
can be hired in 20C5 = 15504
CASE I : Singer is a woman ways.
and Dancer is also a woman
Then, the dancer is Monika and Now, divide 20 people into two
groups of 10 people each : 6/8 *

G1 - with all twins 4/7
G2 - with all people other than
twins 10C5 *
8/9 *
1
Let's find out all possible ways 5 0 6/8 * 32
0C0
to hire 5 people without a single 4/7 *
pair of indentical twins. 2/6
Peop Peop No of No Total 1158
Total
le le ways of way 4
from from to hire way s
G1 G2 G1 s to Thus, total possible ways to
without hire hire 5 people without a single
a G2 pair of indentical twins = 11584
single ways
pair of
indenti So, total possible ways to hire 5
cal people with at least a single
twins pair of indentical twins = 15504
1 - 11584 = 3920 ways
0 5 10C0 252
0C5
Hence, the probability to hire 5
1 people with at least a single
1 4 10C1 2100
0C4 pair of indentical twins
10C2 * 1 = 3920/15504
2 3 4800 = 245/969
8/9 0C3
= 0.2528
10C3 * = 25.28%
1
3 2 8/9 * 3600 In a hotel, rooms are numbered
0C2
6/8 from 101 to 550. A room is
4 1 10C4 * 1 800 chosen at random. What is the
8/9 * 0C1 probability that room number
starts with 1, 2 or 3 and ends There are 3 persons X, Y and

with 4, 5 or 6? Z. On some day, X lent tractors
to Y and Z as many as they
Answer had. After a month Y gave as
many tractors to X and Z as
There are total 450 rooms. many as they have. After a
month Z did the same thing. At
Out of which 299 room number the end of this transaction each
starts with either 1, 2 or 3. (as one of them had 24.
room number 100 is not there)
Now out of those 299 rooms Find the tractors each originally
only 90 room numbers end with had?
4, 5 or 6
Answer
So the probability is 90/450 i.e.
1/5 or 0.20 One way to solve it is by
Draw 9 dots on a page, in the making 3 equations and solve
shape of three rows of three them simultaneously. But there
dots to form a square. Now is rather easier way to solve it
place your pen on the page, using Backtracing.
draw 4 straight lines and try
and cover all the dots. It's given that at the end, each
had 24 tractors (24, 24, 24) i.e.
You're not allowed to lift your after Z gave tractors to X & Y
pen. as many as they had. It means
that after getting tractors from Z
Note: Don't be confined by the their tractors got doubled. So
dimensions of the square. before Z gave them tractors,
Submitted they had 12 tractors each and Z
had 48 tractors. (12, 12, 48)
Similarly, before Y gave tractors

to X & Z, they had 6 & 24
tractors respectively and Y had with uniform speed.

42 tractors i.e. (6, 42, 24) Submitted
Again, before X gave tractors to Answer

Y & Z, they had 21 & 12
tractors respectively and X had The last person covered
39 tractors i.e. (39, 21, 12) 120.71 meters.
Hence, initially X had 39 It is given that the platoon and

tractors, Y had 21 tractors the last person moved with
and Z had 12 tractors. uniform speed. Also, they both
moved for the identical amount
There is a 50m long army of time. Hence, the ratio of the
platoon marching ahead. The distance they covered - while
last person in the platoon wants person moving forward and
to give a letter to the first backword - are equal.
person leading the platoon. So
while the platoon is marching Let's assume that when the last
he runs ahead, reaches the first person reached the first person,
person and hands over the the platoon moved X meters
letter to him and without forward.
stopping he runs and comes
back to his original position. Thus, while moving forward the
last person moved (50+X)
In the mean time the whole meters whereas the platoon
platoon has moved ahead by moved X meters.
50m.
Similarly, while moving back the
The question is how much last person moved [50-(50-X)]
distance did the last person X meters whereas the platoon
cover in that time. Assuming moved (50-X) meters.
that he ran the whole distance
Now, as the ratios are equal,
(50+X)/X = X/(50-X)
(50+X)*(50-X) = X*X
Solving, X=35.355 meters
Thus, total distance covered by There are 292 ways to make

the last person change for a dollar using
= (50+X) + X coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50
= 2*X + 50 cents.
= 2*(35.355) + 50
= 120.71 meters Let's generalised the teaser
and make a table as shown
above.
Note that at first glance, one
might think that the total If you wish to make change for
distance covered by the last 75 cents using only 1, 5, 10 and
person is 100 meters, as he ran 25 cent coins, go to the .25 row
the total lenght of the platoon and the 75 column to obtain
(50 meters) twice. TRUE, but 121 ways to do this.
that's the relative distance
covered by the last person i.e. The table can be created from
assuming that the platoon is left-to-right and top-to-bottom.
stationary. Start with the top left i.e. 1 cent
Assume that you have enough row. There is exactly one way
coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 to make change for every
cents. amount. Then calculate the 5
cents row by adding the
How many ways are there to number of ways to make
make change for a dollar? Do change for the amount using 1
explain your answer. cent coins plus the number of
ways to make change for 5
cents less using 1 and 5 cent
coins.
50E = 100
Let's take an example: where,
To get change for 50 cents A = 0 to 100
using 1, 5 and 10 cent coins. B = 0 to 20
* 50 cents change using 1 and C = 0 to 10
5 cent coins = 11 ways D = 0 to 4
* (50-10) 40 cents change E = 0 to 2
using 1, 5 and 10 cent coins =
25 ways The program should output all
* 50 cents change using 1, 5 the possible values of A, B, C,
and 10 cent coins = 11+25 = 36 D and E for which the equation
ways is satisfied.
Let's take another example: In a Road Race, one of the

To get change for 75 cents three bikers was doing 15km
using all coins up to 50 cent i.e. less than the first and 3km
1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents coins. more than the third. He also
finished the race 12 minutes
* 75 cents change using coins after the first and 3 minutes
upto 25 cent = 121 ways before the third.
* (75-50) 25 cents change
using coins upto 50 cent = 13 Can you find out the speed of
ways each biker, the time taken by
* 75 cents change using coins each biker to finish the race
upto 50 cent = 121+13 = 134 and the length of the course?
ways
Assume that there were no
For people who don't want to stops in the race and also they
tease their brain and love to do were driving with constant
computer programming, there speeds through out the
is a simple way. Write a small
multi-loop program to solve the Answer
equation: A + 5B + 10C + 25D +
X1 = V1 * T
----> 1
X1 - 15 = V2 * T
----> 2
X1 - 18 = V3 * T
----> 3
At a Distance S Km.
S = V1 * T1
----> 4
S = V2 * (T1 + 12)
Let us assume that ----> 5
Speed of First biker = V1
km/min S = V3 * (T1 + 15)
Speed of Second biker = V2 ----> 6
km/min
Speed of Third biker = V3 Thus there are 6 equations and
km/min 7 unknown data that means it
Total time take by first biker = has infinite number of solutions.
T1 min
Total distance = S km
By solving above 6 equations
Now as per the data given in we get,
the teaser, at a time T min Time taken by first biker, T1 =
60 Min.
Time taken by Second biker, T2
= 72 Min.
Time taken by first biker, T3 =
75 Min.
Also, we get 1/3 of the second. There are 3

Speed of first biker, V1 = 90/T such possibilities.
km/min
Speed of second biker, V2 = 1. 1 and 3
(5/6)V1 = 75/T km/min 2. 2 and 6
Speed of third biker, V3 = 3. 3 and 9
(4/5)V1 = 72/T km/min
Now, the third digit is the sum
Also, the length of the course, of the first and second digits.
S = 5400/T km
1. 1 + 3 = 4
Thus, for the data given, only 2. 2 + 6 = 8
the time taken by each biker 3. 3 + 9 = 12
can be found i.e. 60, 72 and 75
It is clear that option 3 is not
minutes. For other quantities,
possible. So we are left with
one more independent datum is
only two options. Also, the last
required i.e. either T or V1 or
digit is three times the second,
V2 or V3
which rules out the second
option. Hence, the answer is
Thanks to Theertham Srinivas
1349.
for the answer !!!
What is the four-digit number in
Difference between Bholu's and
which the first digit is 1/3 of the
Molu's age is 2 years and the
second, the third is the sum of
difference between Molu's and
the first and second, and the
Kolu's age is 5 years.
last is three times the second?
What is the maximum possible
Answer
value of the sum of the
difference in their ages, taken
The 4 digit number is 1349.
two at a time?
Answer
It is given that the first digit is
The maximum possible value
of the sum of the difference Answer

in their ages - taken two at a
time - is 14 years. There are 3 possible answers
to it.
It is given that -
"Difference between Bholu's Answer 1 : 9
and Molu's age is 2 years" Simply replace the first number
"Difference between Molu's and by its square root.
Kolu's age is 5 years" (25) 5 - 2 = 3
(100) 10 x 2 = 20
Now, to get the maximum (36) 6 / 3 = 2
possible value, the difference (144) 12 - 3 = 9
between Bholu's and Kolu's
age should be maximum i.e. Answer 2 : 11
Molu's age should be in Drop the digit in the tens
between Bholu's and Kolu's position from the first number.
age. Then, the difference (2) 5 - 2 = 3
between Bholu's and Kolu's 1 (0) 0 x 2 = 20
age is 7 years. (3) 6 / 3 = 2
1 (4) 4 - 3 = 11
Hence, the maximum possible
value of the sum of the You will get the same answer
difference in their ages - taken on removing left and right digit
two at a time - is (2 + 5 + 7) 14 alternatively from the first
years. number i.e remove left digit
If it is given that: from first (2), right digit from
25 - 2 = 3 second (0), left digit from third
100 x 2 = 20 (3) and right digit from forth (4).
36 / 3 = 2 (2) 5 - 2 = 3
10 (0) x 2 = 20
What is 144 - 3 = ? (3) 6 / 3 = 2
Submitted 14 (4) - 3 = 11
Answer 3 : 14 prime nor composite. Also, the

Drop left and right digit third digit is the multiplication of
alternatively from the actual the first two digits. Thus, first
answer. two digits must be either 2 or 3
25 - 2 = (2) 3 (drop left digit i.e. i.e. 22, 23, 32 or 33 which
2) means that there are four
100 * 2 = 20 (0) (drop right digit possible numbers - 224, 236,
i.e. 0) 326 and 339.
36 / 3 = (1) 2 (drop left digit i.e.
1) Now, it is also given that - the
144 - 3 = 14 (1) (drop right digit difference between it's reverse
i.e. 1) and itself is 396. Only 236
satisfies this condition. Hence,
the sum of the three digits is 11.
A 3 digit number is such that it's
unit digit is equal to the product There are 4 mugs placed
of the other two digits which are upturned on the table. Each
prime. Also, the difference mug have the same number of
between it's reverse and itself is marbles and a statement about
396. the number of marbles in it. The
statements are: Two or Three,
What is the sum of the three One or Four, Three or One,
digits? One or Two.
Answer Only one of the statement is

correct. How many marbles are
The required number is 236 there under each mug?
and the sum is 11.
Answer
It is given that the first two
digits of the required number A simple one.
are prime numbers i.e. 2, 3, 5
or 7. Note that 1 is neither As it is given that only one of
the four statement is correct,

the correct number can not If you were to dial any 7 digits
appear in more than one on a telephone in random
statement. If it appears in more order, what is the probability
than one statement, then more that you will dial your own
than one statement will be phone number?
correct.
Assume that your telephone
Hence, there are 4 marbles number is 7-digits.
under each mug. Answer
At University of Probability,
there are 375 freshmen, 293 1 in 10,000,000
sophomores, 187 juniors, & 126
seniors. One student will There are 10 digits i.e. 0-9.
randomly be chosen to receive First digit can be dialed in 10
an award. ways. Second digit can be
dialed in 10 ways. Third digit
What percent chance is there can be dialed in 10 ways. And
that it will be a junior? Round to so on.....
the nearest whole percent
Answer Thus, 7-digit can be dialed in
10*10*10*10*10*10*10
19% (=10,000,000) ways. And, you
have just one telephone
This puzzle is easy. Divide the number. Hence, the possibility
number of juniors (187) by the that you will dial your own
total number of students (981), number is 1 in 10,000,000.
& then multiply the number by
100 to convert to a percentage. Note that 0123456 may not be
a valid 7-digit telephone
Hence the answer is number. But while dialing in
(187/981)*100 = 19% random order, that is one of the
possible 7-digit number which letters (A through F). Then,

you may dial. whatever the first letter is, the
An anthropologist discovers an second letter will always be
isolated tribe whose written from the remaining 5 letters (as
alphabet contains only six same letter can not be used
letters (call the letters A, B, C, twice), and the third letter
D, E and F). The tribe has a always be from the remaining 4
taboo against using the same letters, and so on. Thus, the
letter twice in the same word. different possible six-letter
It's never done. words are 6*5*4*3*2*1 = 720
If each different sequence of Kate, Demi, Madona, Sharon,

letters constitues a different Britney and Nicole decided to
word in the language, what is lunch together in a restaurant.
the maximum number of six- The waiter led them to a round
letter words that the language table with six chairs.
can employ?
Submitted How many different ways can
they seat?
Answer
Answer
The language can employ
maximum of 720 six-letter There are 120 different
words. possible seating
arrangments.
It is a simple permutation
problem of arranging 6 letters Note that on a round table
to get different six-letter words. ABCDEF and BCDEFA is the
And it can be done in in 6! ways same.
i.e. 720 ways.
The first person can sit on any
In otherwords, the first letter one of the seats. Now, for the
can be any of the given 6 second person there are 5
options, for the third person

there are 4 options, for the forth The require probability is
person there are 3 options, for = 112 / 41664
the fifth person there are 2 = 1 / 372
options and for the last person = 0.002688
there is just one option.
What is the area of the triangle
Thus, total different possible ABC with A(e,p) B(2e,3p) and
seating arrangements are C(3e,5p)?
=5*4*3*2*1
= 120 where p = PI (3.141592654)
3 blocks are chosen randomly on a Answer
chessboard. What is the probability
that they are in the same diagonal A tricky ONE.
Answer Given 3 points are colinear.

Hence, it is a straight line.
There are total of 64 blocks on
a chessboard. So 3 blocks can Hence area of triangle is 0.
be chosen out of 64 in 64C3
ways.
So the sample space is =
41664 Silu and Meenu were walking
on the road.
There are 2 diagonal on
chessboard each one having 8 Silu said, "I weigh 51 Kgs. How
blocks. Consider one of them. much do you weigh?"
3 blocks out of 8 blocks in
diagonal can be chosen in 8C3 Meenu replied that she wouldn't
ways. reveal her weight directly as
But there are 2 such diagonals, she is overweight. But she said,
hence favourables = 2 * 8C3 = 2 "I weigh 29 Kgs plus half of my
* 56 = 112 weight."
Since there are no leading

How much does Meenu weigh? zeros, J must be 7, 8, or 9. (JJJ
= ABC + DEF + GHI = 14? +
Answer 25? + 36? = 7??)
Meenu weighs 58 Kgs. Now, the remainder left after

dividing any number by 9 is the
It is given that Meenu weighs same as the remainder left after
29 Kgs plus half of her own dividing the sum of the digits of
weight. It means that 29 Kgs is that number by 9. Also, note
the other half. So she weighs that 0 + 1 + ... + 9 has a
58 Kgs. remainder of 0 after dividing by
9 and JJJ has a remainder of 0,
Solving mathematically, let's 3, or 6.
assume that her weight is X
Kgs. The number 9 is the only
X = 29 + X/2 number from 7, 8 and 9 that
2*X = 58 + X leaves a remainder of 0, 3, or 6
X = 58 Kgs if you remove it from the sum 0
+ 1 + ... + 9. Hence, it follows
Consider the sum: ABC + DEF that J must be 9.
+ GHI = JJJ A man has Ten Horses and nine
stables as shown here.
If different letters represent [] [] [] [] [] [] []
different digits, and there are no [] []
leading zeros, what does J The man wants to fit Ten
represent? Horses into nine stables. How
can he fit Ten horses into nine
stables?
Answer Submitted
Answer
The value of J must be 9.
The answer is simple. It says
the man wants to fit "Ten Initially 0 0

Horses" into nine stables.
There are nine letters in the
phrase "Ten Horses". So you
can put one letter each in all
nine stables.
[T] [E] [N] [H] [O]
[R] [S] [E] [S]
A man is at a river with a 9

gallon bucket and a 4 gallon
bucket. He needs exactly 6
gallons of water.
How can he use both buckets

to get exactly 6 gallons of
water?
Note that he cannot estimate by

dumping some of the water out
of the 9 gallon bucket or the 4
gallon bucket
Answer
For the sack of explanation,

let's identify 4 gallon bucket as
Bucket P and 9 gallon bucket
as Bucket Q.
4 gallon 9 gallon
bucket bucket
Operation (Bucket (Bucket
P) Q)
Fill the Pour 4

bucket Q gallon
with 9 0 9 water from 4 5
gallon bucket Q to
water bucket P
Empty Each of the five characters in

0 5 the word BRAIN has a different
bucket P
value between 0 and 9. Using
Pour 4 the given grid, can you find out
gallon the value of each character?
water from 4 1 B R A I
bucket Q to N 31
bucket P
B B R B
Empty A 31
0 1
bucket P
N I A B
Pour 1
B 32
gallon
water from 1 0
N I B A
bucket Q to
I 30
bucket P
Fill the I R A A
bucket Q A 23
with 9 1 9
gallon 37 29 25 27
water 29
The numbers on the extreme
Pour 3 right represent the sum of the
gallon values represented by the
water from 4 6 characters in that row. Also, the
bucket Q to numbers on the last raw
bucket P represent the sum of the values
represented by the characters
9 gallon bucket contains 6 in that column. e.g. B + R + A +
gallon of water, as required. I + N = 31 (from first row)
Answer
B=7, R=6, A=4, I=5 and N=9 From Row1,

B + R + A + I + N = 31
Make total 10 equations - 5 for 7 + 6 + 4 + 5 + N = 31
rows and 5 for columns - and N=9
sovle them.
Thus, B=7, R=6, A=4, I=5 and
From Row3 and Row4, N=9
N+I+A+B+B=N+I +B+
A+I+2 There are 9 coins. Out of which
B=I+2 one is odd one i.e weight is less
or more. How many iterations
From Row1 and Row3, of weighing are required to find
B+R+A+I+N=N+I+A+ odd coin?
B+B-1 Answer
R=B-1
It is always possible to find odd
From Column2, coin in 3 weighings and to tell
R + B + I + I + R = 29 whether the odd coin is heavier
B + 2R + 2I = 29 or lighter.
B + 2(B - 1) + 2I = 29
3B + 2I = 31 1. Take 8 coins and weigh 4
3(I + 2) + 2I = 31 against 4.
5I = 25 o If both are not
I=5 equal, goto step 2
o If both are equal,
Hence, B=7 and R=6 goto step 3
From Row2,
B + B + R + B + A = 31
3B + R + A = 31 2. One of these 8 coins is
3(7) + 6 + A = 31 the odd one. Name the
A=4 coins on heavier side of
the scale as H1, H2, H3
and H4. Similarly, name Weight H1 against

the coins on the lighter H2
side of the scale as L1,  If both are
L2, L3 and L4. Either one equal, there is
of H's is heavier or one of some error.
L's is lighter. Weigh (H1,  If H1 is heavy,
H2, L1) against (H3, H4, H1 is the odd
X) where X is one coin coin and is
remaining in intial heavier.
weighing.  If H2 is heavy,
H2 is the odd
lighter. Weigh L2
against L3.
 If both are
the odd coin heavier side on the
L2 is the odd is lighter. Weight H3
coin and is against H4
lighter.  If both are
 If L3 is light, equal, L1 is
L3 is the odd the odd coin
coin and is and is lighter.
lighter.  If H3 is heavy,
H3 is the odd
coin and is
heavier.
o If (H1, H2, L1) is  If H4 is heavy,
heavier side on the H4 is the odd
scale, either H1 or
H2 is heavier.
coin and is How many days did the contest

heavier. last, and how many medals
were awarded altogether?
Answer
3. The remaining coin X is Total 36 medals were

the odd one. Weigh X awarded and the contest was
against the anyone coin for 6 days.
used in initial weighing.
o If both are equal, On day 1: Medals awarded = (1
there is some error. + 35/7) = 6 : Remaining 30
o If X is heavy, X is medals
the odd coin and is On day 2: Medals awarded = (2
heavier. + 28/7) = 6 : Remaining 24
o If X is light, X is the medals
odd coin and is On day 3: Medals awarded = (3
lighter. + 21/7) = 6 : Remaining 18
medals
In a sports contest there were On day 4: Medals awarded = (4
m medals awarded on n + 14/7) = 6 : Remaining 12
successive days (n > 1). medals
On day 5: Medals awarded = (5
1. On the first day 1 medal
+7/7) = 6 : Remaining 6 medals
and 1/7 of the remaining
m - 1 medals were
On day 6: Medals awarded 6
awarded.
2. On the second day 2
I got this answer by writing
medals and 1/7 of the
small program. If anyone know
now remaining medals
any other simpler method, do
was awarded; and so on.
submit it.
3. On the nth and last day,
the remaining n medals
A number of 9 digits has the
were awarded.
following properties:
• The number comprising does not occur.

the leftmost two digits is
divisible by 2, that The other way to solve this
comprising the leftmost problem is by writing a
three digits is divisible by computer program that
3, the leftmost four by 4, systematically tries all
the leftmost five by 5, and possibilities.
so on for the nine digits of
the number i.e. the
number formed from the 1/3 rd of the contents of a
first n digits is divisible by container evaporated on the 1st
n, 2<=n<=9. day. 3/4th of the remaining
• Each digit in the number contents of the container
is different i.e. no digits evaporated on the second day.
are repeated.
• The digit 0 does not occur What part of the contents of the
in the number i.e. it is container is left at the end of
comprised only of the the second day?
digits 1-9 in some order. Answer
Find the number. Assume that contents of the

container is X
Answer
On the first day 1/3rd is
The answer is 381654729 evaporated.
(1 - 1/3) of X is remaining i.e.
One way to solve it is Trial-&- (2/3)X
Error. You can make it bit easier
as odd positions will always On the Second day 3/4th is
occupy ODD numbers and evaporated. Hence,
even positions will always (1- 3/4) of (2/3)X is remaining
occupy EVEN numbers. Further i.e. (1/4)(2/3)X = (1/6) X
5th position will contain 5 as 0
Hence 1/6th of the contents of If you were blindfolded, & lightly

the container is remaining shook each basket so that the
balls would be randomly
There are four people in a room distributed, & then took 1 ball
(not including you). Exactly two from each basket, what chance
of these four always tell the is there that you would have
truth. The other two always lie. exactly 2 red balls?
You have to figure out who is Answer

who IN ONLY 2 QUESTIONS.
Your questions have to be YES There are 64 different possible
or NO questions and can only outcomes, & in 9 of these,
be answered by one person. (If exactly 2 of the balls will be red.
you ask the same question to There is thus a slightly better
two different people then that than 14% chance [(9/64)*100]
counts as two questions). Keep that exactly 2 balls will be red.
in mind that all four know each
other's characteristics whether A much faster way to solve the
they lie or not. problem is to look at it this way.
There are 3 scenarios where
What questions would you ask exactly 3 balls are red:
to figure out who is who?
Remember that you can ask
only 2 questions.
Submitted
You have 3 baskets, & each
one contains exactly 4 balls,
each of which is of the same
size. Each ball is either red,
black, white, or purple, & there
is one of each color in each
basket.
allowed. The Lottery

1 2 3 Commission chooses 11 from
those 80 numbers, again no
----------- repetition. You win the lottery if
atleast 7 of your numbers are
R R X there in the 11 chosen by the
Lottery Commission.
R X R
What is the probablity of
X R R winning the lottery?
Answer
X is any ball that is
not red. The probability of winning the
There is a 4.6875% chance that lottery is two in one billion i.e.
each of these situations will only two person can win from
occur. one billion !!!
Take the first one, for example: Let's find out sample space
25% chance the first ball is red, first. The Lottery Commission
multiplied by a 25% chance the chooses 11 numbers from the
second ball is red, multiplied by 80. Hence, the 11 numbers
a 75% chance the third ball is from the 80 can be selected in
not red. 80
C11 ways which is very very
high and is equal to 1.04776 *
Because there are 3 scenarios 1013
where this outcome occurs, you
multiply the 4.6875% chance of Now, you have to select 8
any one occurring by 3, & you numbers from 80 which can be
get 14.0625% selected in 80C8 ways. But we
are interested in only those
Consider a state lottery where numbers which are in 11
you get to choose 8 numbers numbers selected by the
from 1 to 80, no repetiton
Lottery Commision. There are 2

cases. How far will the safe have
moved forward when the rollers
• You might select 8 have made one revolution?
numbers which all are Answer
there in 11 numbers
choosen by the Lottery The safe must have moved
Commission. So there are 22 inches forward.
11
C8 ways.
• Another case is you might If the rollers make one
select 7 lucky numbers revolution, the safe will move
and 1 non-lucky number the distance equal to the
from the remaining 69 circumference of the roller.
numbers. There are ( Hence, the distance covered by
11
C7 ) * ( 69C1 ) ways to do the safe is
that. = PI * Diameter (or 2 * PI *
Radius)
So total lucky ways are = PI * 7
= ( 11C8 ) + ( 11C7 ) * ( 69C1 ) = 3.14159265 * 7
= (165) + (330) * (69) = 21.99115
= 165 + 22770 = 22 inches approx.
= 22935 SubmittIf a rook and a bishop
of a standard chess set are
Hence, the probability of the randomly placed on a
winning lottery is chessboard, what is the
= (Total lucky ways) / (Total probability that one is attacking
Sample space) the other?
= (22935) / ( 1.04776 * 1013)
= 2.1889 * 10-9 Note that both are different
i.e. 2 in a billion. colored pieces.
To move a Safe, two cylindrical SubmAnswer
steel bars 7 inches in diameter
are used as rollers. The probability of either the
Rook or the Bishop attacking If the bishop is in one of the

the other is 0.3611 outer 28 squares, then it can
attack 7 positions. If the bishop
A Rook and a Bishop on a is in one of the 20 squares at
standard chess-board can be next inner-level, then it can
arranged in 64P2 = 64*63 = 4032 attack 9 positions. Similarly if
ways the bishop is in one of the 12
squares at next inner-level,
Now, there are 2 cases - Rook then it can attack 11 positions.
attacking Bishop and Bishop And if the bishop is in one of
attacking Rook. Note that the the 4 squares at next inner-
Rook and the Bishop never level (the innermost level), then
attack each other it can attack 13 positions.
simultaneously. Let's consider
both the cases one by one. Hence, total possible ways of
the Bishop attacking the Rook
Case I - Rook attacking = 28*7 + 20*9 + 12*11 + 4*13
Bishop = 560 ways
The Rook can be placed in any
of the given 64 positions and it Thus, the required probability is
always attacks 14 positions.
Hence, total possible ways of = (896 + 560) / 4032
the Rook attacking the Bishop = = 13/36
64*14 = 896 ways = 0.3611
itted ed
Case II - Bishop attacking Here in England McDonald's
Rook has just launched a new
View the chess-board as a 4 advertising campaign. The
co-centric hollow squares with poster shows 8 McDonald's
the outermost square with side products and underneath
8 units and the innermost claims there are 40312
square with side 2 units. combinations of the above
items.
2 1 1 - - - - - -
Given that the maximum
number of items allowed is 8, 3 1 2 1 - - - - -
and you are allowed to have
less than 8 items, and that the 4 1 3 3 1 - - - -
order of purchase does not 5 1 4 6 4 1 - - -
matter (i.e. buying a burger and
fries is the same as buying fries 1 1
6 1 5 5 1 - -
and a burger) 0 0
1 2 1
How many possible 7 1 6 6 1 -
5 0 5
combinations are there? Are
McDonald's correct in claiming 2 3 3 2
there are 40312 combinations? 8 1 7 7 1
1 5 5 1
Answer
Total 2 5 7 5 2
8 8 1
Total possible combinations (T) 8 6 0 6 8
are 12869. Ways 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
to C C C C C C C C
It is given that you can order choo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
maximum of 8 items and you se
are allowed to have less than 8 X
items. Also, the order of prod
purchase does not matter. Let's ucts
create a table for ordering total from
N items using X products. 8
prod
Items Products Used (X) ucts
Orde (W)
red 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
(N) Total 6 7 3 4 3 7 6 1
comb 4 8 1 9 1 8 4
1 1 - - - - - - - inatio 4 3 0 3 4
ns 6 0 6 Probability of atleast two share

(T*W) the same birthday
= 1 - 0.0296264
= 0.9703735
Thus, total possible = 97% approx.
combinations are
= 64 + 784 + 3136 + 4900 + Thus, the probability of atleast
3136 + 784 + 64 + 1 two out of a group of 50 people
= 12869 share the same birthday is 97%
What are the chances that at
least two out of a group of fifty
people share the same This explains why in a
birthday? school/college with
SubmittedAnswer classrooms of 50 students,
there are at least two
The probability of atleast two students with a birthday on
out of a group of 50 people the same day of the year.
share the same birthday is Also, if there are 23 people in
97% the room, then there are 50%
chances that atleast two of
Probability of atleast two share them have a birthday on the
the same birthday = 1 - same day of the year!!!
probability of all 50 have
different birthdays A tank can be filled by pipe A in
30 minutes and by pipe B in 24
Probability of all 50 have minutes. Outlet pipe C can
different birthday empty the full tank in X
= 365/365 * 364/365 * 363/365 minutes.
* ... * 317/365 * 316/365
= (365 * 364 * 363 * 362 * ... * If the tank is empty initially and
317 * 316)/36550 if all the three pipes A, B and C
= 0.0296264 are opened simultaneously, the
tank will NEVER be full. Give
the maximal possible value of Answer

X.
Answer Rs.22176
The maximum possible value Assume his salary was Rs. X

of X is 13 minutes 20
seconds. He earns 5% raise. So his
salary is (105*X)/100
In one minute,
pipe A can fill 1/30 part of the A year later he receives 2.5%
tank. cut. So his salary is
pipe B can fill 1/24 part of the ((105*X)/100)*(97.5/100) which
tank. is Rs. 22702.68
Thus, the net water level Hence, solving equation

increase in one minute is ((105*X)/100)*(97.5/100) =
= 1/30 + 1/24 22702.68
= 3/40 part of the tank X = 22176
In order to keep the tank 500 men are arranged in an

always empty, outlet pipe C array of 10 rows and 50
should empty at least 3/40 part columns according to their
of the tank in one minute. Thus, heights.
pipe C can empty the full tank
in 40/3 i.e. 13 minutes 20 Tallest among each row of all
seconds. are asked to come out. And the
A worker earns a 5% raise. A shortest among them is A.
year later, the worker receives
a 2.5% cut in pay, & now his Similarly after resuming them to
salary is Rs. 22702.68 their original positions, the
shortest among each column
What was his salary to begin are asked to come out. And the
with? tallest among them is B.
1; the rest of the values equal

Now who is taller A or B ? their position in the alphabet (B
corresponds to the second
What is the remainder left after position so it equals 2, C = 3,
dividing 1! + 2! + 3! + … + 100! etc.) raised to the power of the
By 7? preceeding constant value. So,
B = 2 ^ (A's value), or B = 2^1 =
Think carefully !!! 2. C = 3^2 = 9. D = 4^9, etc.
Answer
Find the exact numerical value
A tricky one. to the following equation: (X -
A) * (X - B) * (X - C) * ... * (X -
7! onwards all terms are Y) * (X - Z)
divisible by 7 as 7 is one of the
factor. So there is no remainder Answer
left for those terms i.e.
remainder left after dividing 7! + (X - A) * (X - B) * (X - C) * ... *
8! + 9! + ... + 100! is 0. (X - Y) * (X - Z) equals 0 since
(X - X) is zero
The only part to be consider is If three babies are born every
= 1! + 2! + 3! + 4! + 5! + 6! second of the day, then how
= 1 + 2 + 6 + 24 + 120 + 720 many babies will be born in the
= 873 year 2001?
SuAnswer
The remainder left after dividing
873 by 7 is 5 9,46,08,000 babies
Hence, the remainder is 5. The total seconds in year 2001

= 365 days/year * 24 hours/day
Imagine that you have 26 * 60 minutes/hours * 60
constants, labelled A through Z. seconds/minute
Each constant is assigned a = 365 * 24 * 60 * 60 seconds
value in the following way: A = = 3,15,36,000 seconds
multiplication of T with T in
Thus, there are 3,15,36,000 hundred's position. Also, O can
seconds in the year 2001. Also, not be 0 or 1. Now, you have to
three babies born are every find three digit number whose
second. Hence, total babies square satisfies above
born conditions and square of that
= 3 * 3,15,36,000 seconds has same last two digits.
= 9,46,08,000bmitted Hence, it must be between 102
and 139.
Replace the letters with the Brain Teaser No : 00052
correct numbers.
T W O Four words add up to a fifth
word numerically:
X T W O
mars
---------
venus
T H R E E
uranus
Submitted by : Timmy
Chan saturn
Answer
-------- +
T=1, W=3, O=8, H=9, R=2, E=4
1 3 8 neptune
x 1 3 8 Each of the ten letters (m, a, r,

s, v, e, n, u, t, and p) represent
------------ a unique number from the
range 0 .. 9.
1 9 0 4 4
You can reduce the number of Furthermore, numbers 1 and 6
trials. T must be 1 as there is are being used most frequently.
Answer
mars
The easiest way to m = 4
solve this problem is
by writing a computer venus
program that systematically a = 5
tries all possible mappings from
the numbers onto the letters. uranus r = 9
This will give you only one
solution which meets the saturn s = 3
condition that numbers 1 and 6
are most frequently used. -------- + v = 2
4593
neptune e = 0
20163
n = 1
695163
u = 6
358691
t = 8
-------- +
p = 7
1078610
There are 4 army men. They

have been captured by a rebel
group and have been held at
ransom. An army intelligent
officer orders them to be
burried deep in dirt up to their

necks. The format of their How can one of them be certain
burrial are as shown in the about the hat they are wearing
figure. and not risk the lives of their
fellow souldiers by taking a
Conditions 50/50 guess!
Submitted
• They each have hats on Answer
their heads. either
black(b) or white (w) look Either soldier 3 or soldier 4 can
at diagram above. There save the life as soldier 1 and
are total 2 white hats and soldier 2 can not see colour of
2 black hats. any hat, even not their own.. In
• They only look in front of our case soldier 3 will tell the
them not behind. They colour of his hat.
are not allowed to
communicate by talking. Soldier 4 can see the hat on
• Between army man 1 and soldier 2 and soldier 3. If both
2, there is a wall. are white, then he can be sure
• Captive man 4 can see about colour of his hat which
the colour of hats on 2 will be black and vice-versa.
and 3 But if one of them is white and
• 3 can only see 2's hat one is black, then soldier 4 can
• 2 can only see a wall and not say anything as he can
1 can see a wall too, but have either of them. So he will
is on the other side keep mum.
The officer speaks up, "If one of If soldier 4 won't say anyhing
you can correctly tell me the for a while, then soldier 3 will
colour of your hat, you will all know that soldier 4 is not in
go scott free back to your position to tell the colour of hat
contries. If you are wrong, you on his hat. It means that colour
will all be killed. of soldier 3's hat is opposite of
colour of soldier 2's hat. So

soldier 3 can tell correctly the Hence, the total number of balls
colour of hat on his head which are
is Black. = 1 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 15 + 21 + 28
+ 36 + 45 + 55 + 66 + 78
Here, we are assuming that all = 364 balls
the soldiers are intelligent
enough. Also, this solution will
work for any combination of 2 A blindfolded man is asked to
Black hats and 2 White hats. sit in the front of a carrom
One side of the bottom layer of board. The holes of the board
a triangular pyramid has 12 are shut with lids in random
balls. How many are there in order, i.e. any number of all the
the whole pyramid? four holes can be shut or open.
Note that the pyramid is Now the man is supposed to

equilateral and solid. touch any two holes at a time
Answer and can do the following.
There are total 364 balls. • Open the closed hole.

• Close the open hole.
As there are 12 balls along one • Let the hole be as it is.
side, it means that there are 12
layers of balls. The top most After he has done it, the carrom
layer has 1 ball. The second board is rotated and again
layer has 3 (1+2) balls. The brought to some position. The
third layer has 6 (1+2+3) balls. man is again not aware of what
The fourth layer has 10 are the holes which are open or
(1+2+3+4) balls. The fifth layer closed.
has 15 (1+2+3+4+5) balls.
Similarly, there are 21, 28, 36, How many minimum number of
45, 55, 66 and 78 balls in the turns does the blindfolded man
remaining layers. require to either open all the
holes or close all the holes? in both the

diagonals, one hole
Note that whenever all the is open and one is
holes are either open or close, close.
there will be an alarm so that
the blindfolded man will know
that he has won.
Submitted 4. Check any two adjacent
Answer holes.
o If both are open,
The blindfolded man requires close both of them.

5 turns. Now, all holes are
close.
1. Open two adjacent holes. o If both are close,
open both of them.
2. Open two diagonal holes. Now, all holes are
Now atleast 3 holes are open.
open. If 4th hole is also o If one is open and
open, then you are done. one is close, invert
If not, the 4th hole is them i.e. close the
close. open hole and open
the close hole. Now,
3. Check two diagonal the diagonal holes
holes. are in the same
o If one is close, open
status i.e. two holes
it and all the holes in one diagonal are
are open. open and in other
o If both are close,
are close.
open any one hole.
Now, two holes are
open and two are
close. The diagonal 5. Check any two diagonal
holes are in the holes.
opposite status i.e.
o If both are open, Answer

close both of them.
Now, all holes are Total 4 persons (including
close. you) required.
o If both are close,
open both of them. It is given that each person can
Now, all holes are only carry enough rations for
open. five days. And there are 4
persons. Hence, total of 20
days rations is available.
In the middle of the confounded
desert, there is the lost city of 1. First Day : 4 days of
"Ash". To reach it, I will have to rations are used up. One
travel overland by foot from the person goes back using
coast. On a trek like this, each one day of rations for the
person can only carry enough return trip. The rations
rations for five days and the remaining for the further
farthest we can travel in one trek is for 15 days.
day is 30 miles. Also, the city is 2. Second Day : The
120 miles from the starting remaining three people
point. use up 3 days of rations.
One person goes back
What I am trying to figure out is using 2 days of rations for
the fewest number of persons, the return trip. The rations
including myself, that I will need remaining for the further
in our Group so that I can reach trek is for 10 days.
the city, stay overnight, and 3. Third Day : The
then return to the coast without remaining two people use
running out of supplies. up 2 days of rations. One
person goes back using 3
How many persons (including days of rations for the
myself) will I need to return trip. The rations
accomplish this mission?
remaining for the further Answer

trek is for 5 days.
4. Fourth Day : The 2025
remaining person uses up
one day of rations. He It is given that no inhabitants
stays overnight. The next have exactly 2025 hairs. Hence
day he returns to the there are 2025 inhabitants with
coast using 4 days of 0 to 2024 hairs in the head.
rations.
Suppose there are more than
2025 inhabitants. But these will
Thus, total 4 persons, including violate the condition that "There
you are required. are more inhabitants than there
are hairs on the head of any
one inhabitants." As for any
Brain Teaser No : number more than 2025, there
00015 will be same number of
inhabitants as the maximum
In the town called Alibaug, the number of hairs on the head of
following facts are true: any inhabitant.
There are four groups of
• No two inhabitants have Mangoes, Apples and Bananas
exactly the same number as follows:
of hairs. Group I : 1 Mango, 1 Apples
• No inhabitants has and 1 Banana
exactly 2025 hairs. Group II : 1 Mango, 5 Apples
• There are more and 7 Bananas
inhabitants than there are Group III : 1 Mango, 7 Apples
hairs on the head of any and 10 Bananas
one inhabitants. Group IV : 9 Mango, 23 Apples
and 30 Bananas
What is the largest possible
number of the inhabitants of Group II costs Rs 300 and
Alibaug?
Group III costs Rs 390. = 9(M + 5A + 7B) - 11(2A + 3B)

= 9(300) - 11(90)
Can you tell how much does = 2700 - 990
Group I and Group IV cost? = 1710
Answer
Thus, Group I costs Rs 120 and
Group I costs Rs 120 and Group IV costs Rs 1710.
Group IV costs Rs 1710 Tic-Tac-Toe is being played.
One 'X' has been placed in one
Assume that the values of one of the corners. No 'O' has been
mango, one apple and one placed yet.
banana are M, A and B
respectively. Where does the player that is
playing 'O' has to put his first 'O'
From Group II : M + 5A + 7B = so that 'X' doesn't win?
300
From Group III : M + 7A + 10B Assume that both players are
= 390 very intelligent. Explain your
answer
Subtracting above to equations Answer
: 2A + 3B = 90
"O" should be placed in the
For Group I : center.
=M+A+B
= (M + 5A + 7B) - (4A + 6B) Let's number the positions as:
= (M + 5A + 7B) - 2(2A + 3B)
= 300 - 2(90)
= 300 - 180
= 120
Similarly, for Group IV :

= 9M + 23A + 30B
= 9(M + 5A + 7B) - (22A + 33B)
1 | 2 • If "O" is placed in position

| 3 6, "X" can always win by
choosing position 3, 5 or
----- 7.
---- • If "O" is placed in position
7, "X" can always win by
4 | 5 choosing position 2, 3 or
| 6 9.
• If "O" is placed in position
----- 8, "X" can always win by
---- choosing position 3, 5 or
7.
7 | 8 • If "O" is placed in position
| 9 9, "X" can always win by
It is given that "X" is placed in choosing position 3, or 7.
one of the corner position. Let's
assume that its at position 1. If "O" is placed in position 5 i.e.
center position, "X" can't win
Now, let's take each position unless "O" does something
one by one. foolish ;))
• If "O" is placed in position Hence, "O" should be placed in

2, "X" can always win by the center.
7. Amit, Bhavin, Himanshu and
• If "O" is placed in position Rakesh are sitting around a
3, "X" can always win by table.
9. • The Electonics Engineer
• If "O" is placed in position is sitting to the left of the
4, "X" can always win by Mechanical Engineer.
choosing position 2, 3 or • Amit is sitting opposite to
5. Computer Engineer.
• Himanshu likes to play 1. Four of them have a first

Computer Games. and middle name of
• Bhavin is sitting to the Paresh.
right of the Chemical 2. Three of them have a first
Engineer. and middle name of
Kamlesh.
Can you figure out everyone's 3. Two of them have a first
profession? and middle name of
Answer Naresh.
4. One of them have a first
Amit is the Mechanical and middle name of
Engineer. Bhavin is the Elesh.
Computer Engineer. Himanshu 5. Pocketwala and Talawala,
and Rakesh are either either both are named
Chemical Engineer or Kamlesh or neither is
Elecronics Engineer. named Kamlesh.
6. Either Batliwala and
Amit and Bhavin are sitting Pocketwala both are
opposite to each other. named Naresh or
Whereas Chemical Engineer Talawala and Chunawala
and Elecronics Engineer are both are named Naresh.
sitting opposite to each other. 7. Chunawala and
Natakwala are not both
We cannot find out who is named Paresh.
Chemical Engineer and
Elecronics Engineer as data Who is named Elesh?
provided is not sufficient Answer
Five friends with surname Pocketwala is named Elesh.

Batliwala, Pocketwala,
Talawala, Chunawala and From (1) and (7), it is clear that
Natakwala have their first name Batliwala, Pocketwala and
and middle name as follow. Talawala are named Paresh.
What portion of the total trip did

From (6) and (5), if Pocketwala Mr. Wagle sleep?
or Talawala both are named
Kamlesh, then either of them Answer
will have three names i.e.
Paresh, Kamlesh and Naresh. Mr. wagle slept through half
Hence, Pocketwala and his trip.
Talawala both are not named
Kamlesh. It means that Let's draw a timeline. Picture
Batliwala, Chunawala and the bus route on a line showen
Natakwala are named below:
Kamlesh.
----------------
Now it is clear that Talawala ________ --------
and Chunawala are named ________________
Naresh. Also, Pocketwala is
named Elesh. Start 1/3
1/2 2/3
Mr. Wagle goes to work by a End
bus. One day he falls asleep
when the bus still has twice as
far to go as it has already gone.
----- shows time for
which Mr. Wagle was not
Halfway through the trip he sleeping
wakes up as the bus bounces
over some bad potholes. When _____ shows time for
he finally falls asleep again, the which Mr. Wagle was
bus still has half the distance to sleeping
go that it has already travelled.
Fortunately, Mr. Wagle wakes
up at the end of his trip. When Mr. Wagle fell asleep the
first time, the bus sill had twice
as far to go as it had already pairs of brown socks, and 6

gone, that marks the first third pairs of black socks.
of his trip.
In complete darkness, how
He wake up halfway through many socks would you need to
the trip i.e slept from 1/3 mark pull out to get a matching pair
to the 1/2 mark. He fell sleep of the same color? 4 If you
again when the bus still had don't agree, try it yourself!
half the distance to go that it You have a bucket of jelly
had already traveled i.e 2/3 beans. Some are red, some are
mark. blue, and some green. With
your eyes closed, pick out 2 of
Adding up, all sleeping times, a like color.
= (1/2 - 1/3) + (1 - 2/3)
= 1/6 + 1/3 How many do you have to grab
= 1/2 to be sure you have 2 of the
same?
Hence, Mr. wagle slept through
half his trip. You have a bucket of jelly
beans. Some are red, some are
blue, and some green. With
your eyes closed, pick out 2 of
a like color.
How many do you have to grab

to be sure you have 2 of the
same?
If you select 4 Jelly beans you
are guarenteed that you will
Brain Teaser No : 00068 have 2 that are the same color.
In your sock drawer, you have a

ratio of 5 pairs of blue socks, 4
There are 70 employees le

working with BrainVista of
which 30 are females. Also, Male 8 7 20 5
• 30 employees are
My friend collects antique
married
stamps. She purchased two,
• 24 employees are above
but found that she needed to
25 years of age
raise money urgently. So she
• 19 married employees
sold them for Rs. 8000 each.
are above 25 years, of
On one she made 20% and on
which 7 are males
the other she lost 20%.
• 12 males are above 25
years of age
How much did she gain or lose
• 15 males are married.
in the entire transaction?
How many unmarried females Answer
are there and how many of
them are above 25? She lost Rs 666.67
Answer
Consider the first stamp. She
15 unmarried females & none mades 20% on it after selling it
are above 25 years of age. for Rs 8000.
Simply put all given information So the original price of first

into the table structure and you stamp is
will get the answer. = (8000 * 100) / 80
= Rs 6666.67
Married Unmarried
A Similarly, consider second
Belo Belo Abov stamp. She lost 20% on it after
bove
w 25 w 25 e 25 selling it for Rs 8000
25
Fema 3 12 15 0 So the original price of second
stamp is
= (8000 * 100) / 80 Answer

= Rs 10000
The cicumference of the earth
Total buying price of two is
stamps = 2 * PI * r
= Rs 6666.67 + Rs 10000 = 2 * PI * 6400 km
= Rs 16666.67 = 2 * PI * 6400 * 1000 m
= 2 * PI * 6400 * 1000 * 100 cm
Total selling price of two stamps = 1280000000 * PI cm
= Rs 8000 + Rs 8000 where r = radius of the earth, PI

= Rs 16000 = 3.141592654
Hence, she lost Rs 666.67 Hence, the length of the thread

is = 1280000000 * PI cm
Assume for a moment that the Now length of the thread is

earth is a perfectly uniform increasd by 12 cm. So the new
sphere of radius 6400 km. length is = (1280000000 * PI) +
Suppose a thread equal to the 12 cm
length of the circumference of
the earth was placed along the This thread will make one
equator, and drawn to a tight fit. concentric circle with the earth
which is slightly away from the
earth. The circumfernce of that
Now suppose that the length of circle is nothing but
the thread is increased by 12 (1280000000 * PI) + 12 cm
cm, and that it is pulled away
uniformly in all directions. Assume that radius of the outer
circle is R cm
By how many cm. will the Therefore,
thread be separated from the 2 * PI * R = (1280000000 * PI)
earth's surface? + 12 cm
Solving above equation, R = At the beginning, there were

640000001.908 cm 1000 rabbits. Also, there were
Radius of the earth is r = 4000 rabbits at the beginning of
640000000 cm third year which is equal to
2828Z. Thus, Z = 4000/2828
Hence, the thread will be i.e. 1.414 (the square root of 2)
separatedfrom the earth by
= R - r cm Note that 2828Z can be
= 640000001.908 - 640000000 represented as 2000*Z*Z
= 1.908 cm (Z=1.414), which can be further
Scientist decided to do a study simplified as 1000*Z*Z*Z*Z
on the population growth of
rabbits. Inside a controlled Also, it is given that at the end
environment, 1000 rabbits were of 6 months, there were 1000Z
placed. rabbits.
Six months later, there were It is clear that the population

1000Z rabbits. At the beginning growth is 1.414 times every six
of the 3rd year, there were months i.e. 2 times every year.
roughly 2828Z rabbits, which After N years, the population
was 4 times what the scientists would be 1000*(Z^(2N)) i.e.
placed in there at the beginning 1000*(2^N)
of the 1st year.
Thus, at the beginning of the
If Z is a positive variable, how 11th year (i.e. after 10 years),
many rabbits would be there at there would be 1000*(2^10) i.e.
the beginning of the 11th year? 1,024,000 rabbits.
SubmiAnswer Tted
A class of 100 students. 24 of them
At the beginning of the 11th are girls and 32 are not. Which
year, there would be base am I using
1,024,000 rabbits.
Answer It is given that the man has

20oz bottle of sprite. Also, he
Let the base be X. will drink 1oz on the first day
and refill the bottle with water,
Therefore will drink 2oz on the second
(X*X + X*0 + 0) = (2*X +4) + day and refill the bottle, will
(3*X + 2) drink 3oz on the third day and
X*X = 5*X + 6 refill the bottle, and so on till
X*X - 5*X -6 = 0 20th day. Thus at the end of 20
(X-6)(X+1) = 0 days, he must have drunk (1 +
2 + 3 + 4 + ..... +18 + 19 + 20) =
Therefore base is 6A man is 210oz of liquid.
stranded on a desert island. All
he has to drink is a 20oz bottle Out of that 210oz, 20oz is the
of sprite. sprite which he had initially.
Hence, he must have drunk
To conserve his drink he 190oz of water.ed
decides that on the first day he You have four 9's and you may
will drink one oz and the refill use any of the (+, -, /, *) as
the bottle back up with water. many times as you like. I want
On the 2nd day he will drink to see a mathematical
2oz and refill the bottle. On the expression which uses the four
3rd day he will drink 3oz and so 9's to = 100
on...
How many such expressions
By the time all the sprite is can you make?
gone, how much water has he Submitted
drunk? Answer
SubmittAnswer
There are 5 such expressions.
The man drunk 190oz of
water. 99 + (9/9) = 100
(99/.99) = 100 132
(9/.9) * (9/.9) = 100 Think of it this way: the first

person shakes hands with 11
((9*9) + 9)/.9 = 100 people, the second person also
shakes hands with 11 people,
(99-9)/.9 = 100 but you only count 10, because
Two planes take off at the same the hand shake with the first
exact moment. They are flying person was already counted.
across the Atlantic. One leaves Then add 9 for the third person,
New York and is flying to Paris 8 for the fourth, & so on.
at 500 miles per hour. The other
leaves Paris and is flying to 66 hand shakes took place
New York at only 450 miles per before & 66 after the meeting,
hour ( because of a strong for a total of 132.
head wind ). Arrange five planets such that 4
of them add up to 5th planet
Which one will be closer to numerically. Each of the letters
Paris when they meet? of the planet should represent a
They will both be the same unique number from the range
distance from Paris when they 0 - 9. You have to use all ten
meet!!! digits.
12 members were present at a There is an amazing

board meeting. Each member mathematical relationship
shook hands with all of the exists among the names of the
other members before & after planet.
the meeting. Answer
How many hand shakes were The tought process is initially to

there? find planets such that the total
Answer number of alphabets in them is
10.
The only possible combination 3 5 8 6 9 1

of planets is Saturn, Uranus,
Venus, Mars and Neptune 6 9 5 1 6 3
because for other combinations
there will be more than 10 2 0 1 6 3
alphabets. Among these five,
Neptune is the lenghtiest, so it + 4 5 9 3
must be the sum of the other
four. --------------
S A T U R N 1 0 7 8 6 1 0
U R A N U S You have 14 apples. Your

Friend Marge takes away 3 and
V E N U S gives you 2. You drop 7 but pick
up 4. Bret takes 4 and gives 5.
+ M A R S You take one from Marge and
give it to Bret in exchange for 3
-------------- more. You give those 3 to
Marge and she gives you an
N E P T U N E apple and an orange. Frank
comes and takes the apple
Marge gave you and gives you
Now the only possible value for a pear. You give the pear to
N is 1. By finding the value for Bret in exchange for an apple.
S, we can reach the result: Frank then takes an apple from
Marge, gives it to Bret for an
orange, gives you the orange
for an apple.
How many pears do you have?

Submitted
Answer Jim) NOT (Alice & Tom) NOT

(Gertrude & Bill)
None
(A) NOT (B) means A and B
Frank gave you a pear in can not seat next to each other.
exchange of the apple which
Marge gave you. And you gave
that pear to Bret in exchange Now, it is obvious that (Betty &
for an apple. All the others Jim) and (Alice & Tom) will
exchanges involved apples occupy the corner seats as
and/or organges. both of them can have only one
Four couples are going to the neighbour. Therefore,
movie. Each row holds eight (Gertrude & Bill) will seat next
seats. Betty and Jim don't want to (Betty & Jim)
to sit next to Alice and Tom. (Sally & Bob) will seat next to
Alice and Tom don't want to sit (Gertrude & Bill)
next to Gertrude and Bill. On (Alice & Tom) will seat next to
the otherhand, Sally and Bob (Sally & Bob)
don't want to sit next to Betty
and Jim. Thus, there are two possible
arrangements - a mirror images
How can the couples arrange of each other.
themselves in a row so that
they all sit where they would 1. (Betty & Jim) - (Gertrude &
like? Bill) - (Sally & Bob) - (Alice &
Submitted by : Tara Tom)
Smith 2. (Alice & Tom) - (Sally & Bob)
- (Gertrude & Bill) - (Betty &
Answer Jim)
Substitute digits for the letters
From the given data, it can be to make the following addition
inferred that: problem true.
(Sally & Bob) NOT (Betty &
W H O (6, 8) or (7, 6) or (8, 4). Use

S E trial-n-error and everything will
fit-in.
T E E
T H W H O S E
2 8 5 1 6
A
R E T E E T H
9 6 6 9 8
+
A S A R E
4 7 6
-------------
------ + A S
+ 4 1
S W O R
D S -------------------
Note that the leftmost letter -------------------
there must be a one-to-one S W O R D S
mapping between digits and 1 2 5 7 3 1
for the letter H, no other letter When Socrates was imprisoned
can be 3 and all other H in the for being a disturbing influence,
puzzle must be 3. he was held in high esteem by
Answer his guards. All four of them
hoped that something would
It is obvious that S=1 and T=9. occur that would facilitate his
escape. One evening, the
Also, (H + E) should be greater guard who was on duty
than 10 and hence, (E + H + E) intentionally left the cell door
must 20. Thus, there are 3 open so that Socrates could
possible values for (E, H) pair: leave for distant parts.
open.
Socrates did not attempt to B) I was not surprised that
escape, as it was his Socrates did not attempt to
philosophy that if you accept escape.
society's rules, you must also
accept it's punishments. Considering that, in total, three
However, the open door was statements are true, and five
considered by the authorities to statements are false, which
be a serious matter. It was not guard is guiltyAnswer
clear which guard was on that
evening. The four guards make David is the guilty.
the following statements in their
defense: Note that "All four of them
hoped that something would
Aaron: occur that would facilitate his
A) I did not leave the door escape". It makes Clement's
open. statement B True and David's
B) Clement was the one who statement B False.
did it.
Now consider each of them as
Bob: a guilty, one at a time.
A) I was not the one who was C Tr
on duty that evening. Aaro Davi
Bob lem ue
B) Aaron was on duty. n d
ent St
mt
Clement: A B A B A B A B s
A) Bob was the one on duty
that evening. If F F T T F T T F 4
B) I hoped Socrates would Aa al al ru ru al r ru al
escape. ro s s e e s u e s
n e e e e e
David: is
A) I did not leave the door gu
ilty product of the digits, and

multiply these together to get a
If new whole number.
Bo F F F T F
T T T
b al al al r al For example, starting with
ru ru ru 4
is s s s u s 6712, the sum of the digits is
e e e
gu e e e e e (6+7+1+2) = 16, and the
ilty product of the digits is (6*7*1*2)
= 84. The answer in this case is
If then 84 x 16 = 1344.
Cl
e F F T F If we do this again starting from
T T T T
m al al r al 1344, we get (1+3+4+4) *
ru ru ru ru 5
en s s u s (1*3*4*4) = 576
e e e e
t is e e e e
gu And yet again (5+7+6) * (5*7*6)
ilty = 3780
If At this stage we know what the
Da F F F T F F next answer will be (without
T T working it out) because, as one
vid al al al r al al
ru ru 3 digit is 0, the product of the
is s s s u s s
e e digits will be 0, and hence the
gu e e e e e e
ilty answer will also be 0.
Can you find any numbers to

Since in total, three statements which when we apply the above
are true and five statements are mentioned rule repeatedly, we
false. It is clear from the above never end up at 0?
table that David is? Brain Teaser No : 00474
Brain Teaser No : 00474
Given any whole number
Given any whole number take take the sum of the
the sum of the digits, and the digits, and the product
of the digits, and we apply the above

multiply these together mentioned rule
to get a new whole repeatedly, we never
number. end up at 0?
For example, starting There were N stations on a

with 6712, the sum of railroad. After adding X stations
the digits is (6+7+1+2) 46 additional tickets have to be
= 16, and the product printed.
of the digits is
(6*7*1*2) = 84. The Find N and X.
answer in this case is Answer
then 84 x 16 = 1344.
Let before adding X stations,
If we do this again total number of tickets
starting from 1344, we t = N(N-1)
get (1+3+4+4) *
(1*3*4*4) = 576 After adding X stations total
number of tickets are
And yet again (5+7+6) * t + 46 = (N+X)(N+X-1)
(5*7*6) = 3780
Subtracting 1st from 2nd
At this stage we know 46 = (N+X)(N+X-1) - N(N-1)
what the next answer 46 = N2 + NX - N + NX + X2 - X
will be (without - N2 + N
working it out) 46 = 2NX + X2 - X
because, as one digit 46 = (2N - 1)X + X2
is 0, the product of
X2 + (2N - 1)X - 46 = 0
the digits will be 0,
and hence the answer
Now there are only two
will also be 0.
possible factors of 46. They are
(46,1) and (23,2)
Can you find any
numbers to which when
Case I: (46,1) = 12 minutes

2N - 1 = 45
2N = 46 Now it's given that round-trip
N = 23 travel time is 20 minutes. So
And X = 1 the vehicle should complete its
return trip of 10 miles in 8
Case II: (23,2) minutes. So the speed of the
2N - 1 = 21 vehicle must
2N = 22 = (60 * 10) / 8
N = 11 = 75 miles per hour
And X = 2 All of the students at a college
are majoring in psychology,
Hence, there are 2 possible business, or both. 73% of the
answers. students are psychology
majors, & 62% are business
An emergency vehicle travels majors.
10 miles at a speed of 50 miles
per hour. If there are 200 students, how
many of them are majoring in
How fast must the vehicle travel both psychology & business?
on the return trip if the round- Answer
trip travel time is to be 20
minutes? 70 students are majoring in
Answer both, psychology & business
75 miles per hour

If 73% of the students are
While going to the destination, psychology majors, we know
the vehicle travels 10 mils at that 27% are not psychology
the speed of 50 miles per hour. majors. By the same reasoning,
So the time taken to travel 10 38% are not business majors,
miles is because 62% of the students
= (60 * 10) / 50 do major in business. So: 27 +
38 = 65
65% of the students are not Now, assume that both the
majoring in both psychology & trains met each other at T kms
business, so 35% are double from the Bangalore (point P in
majors, a total of 70 students. figure)
Two trains starting at same Time taken by Bangalore-
time, one from Bangalore to Mysore train to reach P = Time
Mysore and other in opposite taken by Mysore-Bangalore
direction arrive at their train to reach P
destination 1hr and 4hrs ( T / X ) = ( D - T ) / Y -----equ(I)
respectively after passing each
other. Also, Bangalore-Mysore train
and Mysore-Bangalore train
Answer arrive destination 1 hr and 4 hrs
respectively after passing each
other. It means that Bangalore-
Mysore train travels (D - T) kms
in 1 hr at X km/hr and Mysore-
Bangalore train travels T kms in
4 hrs at Y km/hr. Hence,
The speed of Bangalore- ( D - T ) = X and
Mysore train is TWICE the T=4*Y
speed of Mysore-Bangalore
train. Substituting these values in
equation I, we get
Let the distance between (4*Y)/X=X/Y
Bangalore and Mysore is D 4*Y*Y=X*X
kms. 2*Y=X
Also, let speed of the train from
Bangalore to Mysore is X km/hr Hence, the speed of Bangalore-
and speed of the tain from Mysore train is TWICE the
Mysore to Bangalore is Y km/hr. speed of Mysore-Bangalore
train.How much faster is one Hence the rug must have cost $
train from other? (L + 0.25)
Also, total cost is $ 5.25, Hence
Answer the equation :
L + L + 0.25 = 5.25
49 times 2*L=5
L = 2.50
Let's assume that everyone
clinked their mug with friend to Hence, the lamp cost $ 2.50
his left only. It means that there and the rug cost $ 2.75
are total 49 clinks. Now the
right clink of each person is left Brain Teaser No : 00518
clink of the person on right
which is already happened. Write 1111......(243 times) i.e. a
Hence, there are only 49 clinks. 243 digit number with all 1s.
Mrs. Watsherface had a garage Prove that it is divisible by 243.

sale. A custmer named Gina SubmittAnswer
bought an old lamp and a rug.
She paid a total of $5.25 for Prove it using the mathematical
everything. The rug cost 25 induction.
cents more than the lamp.
First here are a couple of things
How much did each cost? to note:
Submitted by : Kimi
Answer [1] A number whose digits add
up to a multiple of three is
The lamp cost $ 2.50 and the divisable by 3.
rug cost $ 2.75 e.g. 369: 3+6+9=18: 1+8=9
which is a multiple of 3 hence
A simple one. 369 is divisable by 3.
Assume that the lamp cost $ L. [2] Whenever a number (X) is

multiplied with another number that N is divisible by 3. (From

(Y) then the product (X*Y) will [1])
have all the factors of X as well Also, D=3 and P=1001001
as all the factors of Y in its set N*P=111111111 (9 times)
of factors. The resulting number 111111111
e.g. if X has factors of (1,P,Q,X) must be divisible by 9 as N and
and Y has factors of (1,Q,R,Y) P both are divisible by 3.
then X*Y has factors of
(1,P,Q,Q,R,X,Y).
Now, let's start with
N=111111111. It is clear that N
Let is divisible by 9.
N = any series of digits (e.g. Also, D=9 and
N=369) P=1000000001000000001
D = the number of digits in N N*P=111111111... (27 times)
(e.g. if N=369 then D=3) The resulting number 1111111...
P = is a number constructed in (27 times) must be divisible by
the following way : a 1, followed 27 as N is divisible by 9 and P
by (D-1) 0s, followed by is divisible by 3.
another 1, followed by (D-1) 0s,
followed by another 1. (e.g. if Repeat the same procedure for
N=369 then D=3 and P would N=1111111... (27 times) The
be 1001001) Note that P will resulting number 1111111... (81
always be divisible by 3. times) must be divisible by 81
as N is divisible by 27 and P is
Also, if we multiply N with P we divisible by 3.
are essentially repeating N for
(D-1) times. Similarly, for N=1111111... (81
e.g. if N=369 then D=3, times) The resulting number
P=1001001 and 1111111... (243 times) must be
N*P=369369369 divisible by 243 as N is divisible
by 81 and P is divisible by 3.
Let's start with N=111. It is clear
Thus, 1111111... (243 times) is matches in the match-box.

divisible by 243.
There are 42 matches in the
Thanks to Ryan Hutcherson for box with which he could form a
solution !!! triangle 20, 15, 7, with an area
edKaran bought a little box of of 42 square inches. After 6
midget matches, each one inch matches had been used, the
in length. He found that he remaining 36 matches would
could arrange them all in the form a triangle 17, 10, 9, with
form of a triangle whose area an area of 36 square inches.
was just as many square After using another 6 matches,
inches as there were matches. the remaining 30 matches
would form a triangle 13, 12, 5,
He then used up six of the with an area of 30 square
matches, and found that with inches. After using another 6,
the remainder he could again the 24 remaining would form a
construct another triangle triangle 10, 8, 6, with an area of
whose area was just as many 24 square inches.
square inches as there were
matches. Thus, there are two possible
answers. There were either 42
And using another six matches or 36 matches in the match-
he could again do precisely the box.
same.
How many matches were there Also it is interesting to know

in the box originally? that there are just 5 such
triangles for which the
Note that the match-box can perimeter and the area is the
hold maximum of 50 matches. same (assuming all sides are
Answer integers) and they are :
Initially, there were 42 or 36 1. 24 (10, 8, 6)
2. 30 (13, 12, 5)
3. 36 (17, 10, 9) 4 1 1 4
4. 42 (20, 15, 7)
5. 60 (29, 25, 6) 5 1 1 4
+ 0 1 1 4
Find the values of each of the
alphabets. ----------
N O O N 9 3 4 2
S O O N We have to fill number from 1 to

12 at the intersection point of
+ M O O N two or more lines. We have to
construct a star using two
---------- triangle. The sum of all number
lying in straight lines should be
J U N E same. This can be easilty
Answer understood by the fig. and
hence solved.
Using trial and error. There are Submitted by : Vaibhav
2 solutions to it and may be Gupta
more.
2 4 4 2
1 4 4 2
+ 5 4 4 2
----------
9 3 2 6
each have a dog, then exactly

one of Bantu and Pintu has a
cat."
Pintu says, "If Bantu and I each

have a cat, then exactly one of
Bantu and I has a dog."
Only one of the four is telling

the truth. Who is telling the
truth?
We have one answer where Answer

sum of all the numbers lying in
straight lines is 26. Bantu is telling the truth.
If you have others, do submit For a IF-THEN statement to

them. be false, IF part has to be
Brain Teaser No : 00355 true and THEN part has to be
false.
Montu, Bantu, Chantu and
Pintu have pets. Since only one statement is
true and remaining three are
Montu says, "If Pintu and I each false, IF part of three
have a dog, then exactly one of statements are true & THEN
Bantu and Chantu has a dog." part of one statement is true.
Let's put the given information
Bantu says, "If Chantu and I in table. The pet-name in the
each have a cat, then exactly normal text represents the IF
one of Montu and Pintu has a part and the pet-name in round
dog." brackets represents the THEN
part.
Chantu says, "If Montu and I

M Bant Chan Pint
ontu u tu u
Somebody marked the six
Mont faces of a die with the numbers
(Dog
u Dog (Dog) Dog 1, 2 and 3 - each number twice.
)
says The die was put on a table.
Four people - Abu, Babu, Calu
Bant and Dabu - sat around the table
(Dog (Dog
u Cat Cat so that each one was able to
) )
says see only three sides of the die
Chan at a glance.
tu Dog (Cat) Dog (Cat)
says • Abu sees the number 1
and two even numbers.
Pintu Cat Cat • Babu and Calu can see
says (Dog (Dog three different numbers
) ) each.
• Dabu sees number 2
twice and he can't
It is clear that the IF part of the
remember the third
statements made by Montu,
number.
Chantu and Pintu are true as
they do not contradict each What number is face down on
other. And the IF part of the the table? Answer
statement made by Bantu is
false. Number 3 is face down on
the table.
Thus, Bantu is telling the truth.
If Abu can see two even
Montu have a Dog and may or numbers i.e. number 2 twice,
may not have a Cat. and if Dabu can see number 2
Bantu have a Cat. twice, then number 2 must be
Chantu have a Dog. facing up.
Pintu have a Dog and a Cat.
card in B will be the King of

Now everything else is simple. Hearts?
(see the following diagram) Answer
Dabu 52 / 2703
Abu
There are two cases to be
considered.
1 CASE 1 : King of Hearts is

drawn from Pack A and shuffled
with Pack B
3 2 2 Probability of drawing King of

Hearts from Pack A = 1/51 (as
Queen of Hearts is not to be
drawn)
1 Probability of having King of
Hearts on the top of the Pack B
= 2/53
Calu So total probability of case 1 =
Babu (1/51) * (2/53) = 2 / (51 * 53)
Thus, the number hidden from
the view is number 3 and hence CASE 2 : King of Hearts is not
the answer. drawn from Pack A
Two identical pack of cards A
and B are shuffled throughly. Probability of not drawing King
One card is picked from A and of Hearts from Pack A = 50/51
shuffled with B. The top card (as Queen of Hearts is not to
from pack A is turned up. If this be drawn)
is the Queen of Hearts, what Probability of having King of
are the chances that the top Hearts on the top of the Pack B
= 1/53 Let's consider 3x3x3 Rubics

first.
So total probability of case 2 =
(50/51) * (1/53) = 50 / (51 * 53) There are 8 corner cubes,
which can be arranged in 8!
Now adding both the ways.
probability, the required Each of these 8 cubes can be
probability is turned in 3 different directions,
= 2 / (51 * 53) + 50 / (51 * 53) so there are 3^8 orientations
= 52 / (51 * 53) altogether. But if you get all but
= 52 / 2703 one of the corner cube into
= 0.0192378 chosen positions and
How many possible orientations, only one of 3
combinations are there in a orientations of the final corner
3x3x3 rubics cube? cube is possible. Thus, total
ways corner cubes can be
In other words, if you wanted to placed = (8!) * (3^8)/8 = (8!) *
solve the rubics cube by trying (3^7)
different combinations, how
many might it take you (worst Similarly, 12 edge cubes can be
case senerio)? arranged in 12! ways.
Each of these 12 cubes can be
How many for a 4x4x4 cube? turned in 2 different directions,
Submitted so there are 2^12 orientations
Answer altogether. But if you get all but
one of the edge cube into
There are 4.3252 * 10^19 chosen positions and
possible combinations for orientations, only one of 2
3x3x3 Rubics and 7.4012 * orientations of the final edge
10^45 possible combinations cube is possible. Thus, total
for 4x4x4 Rubics. ways edge cubes can be
placed = (12!) * (2^12)/2 = (12!)
* (2^11)
Note that there are 24 edge

Here, we have essentially cubes, which you can not turn
pulled the cubes apart and in 2 orientations (hence no
stuck cubes back in place 2^24 / 2). Also, there are 4
wherever we please. In reality, center cubes per face i.e. (24!) /
we can only move cubes (4!^6). You can switch 2 cubes
around by turning the faces of without affecting the rest of the
the cubes. It turns out that you combination as 4*4*4 has even
can't turn the faces in such a dimensions (hence no division
way as to switch the positions by 2). But pattern on one side is
of two cubes while returning all rotated in 4 directions over 6
the others to their original faces, hence divide by 24.
positions. Thus if you get all but
two cubes in place, there is Brain Teaser No : 00528
only one attainable choice for
them (not 2!). Hence, we must Substitute digits for the letters
divide by 2. to make the following relation
true.
Total different possible
combinations are
= [(8!) * (3^7)] * [(12!) * (2^11)] /
2
= (8!) * (3^7) * (12!) * (2^10)
= 4.3252 * 10^19
Similarly, for 4x4x4 Rubics total

different possible combinations
are
= [(8!) * (3^7)] * [(24!)] * [(24!) /
(4!^6)] / 24
= 7.4011968 * 10^45
N E V
E R N E V E R
2 1 4 1 9
L E A
V E L E A V E
3 1 5 4 1
+
M E + M E
+ 6 1
-----------
------ -----------------
-----------------
A L O
N E A L O N E
Note that the leftmost letter 5 3 0 2 1
can't be zero in any word. Also, There are 20 people in your
there must be a one-to-one applicant pool, including 5 pairs
mapping between digits and of identical twins.
for the letter M, no other letter If you hire 5 people randomly,
can be 3 and all other M in the what are the chances you will
puzzle must be 3. Answer hire at least 1 pair of identical
twins? (Needless to say, this
A tough one!!! could cause trouble ;))
SubmAnswer
Since R + E + E = 10 + E, it is
clear that R + E = 10 and The probability to hire 5
neither R nor E is equal to 0 or people with at least 1 pair of
5. This is the only entry point to identical twins is 25.28%
solve it. Now use trial-n-error 5 people from the 20 people

method. can be hired in 20C5 = 15504
ways.
10C4 *
Now, divide 20 people into two 8/9 * 1
groups of 10 people each : 4 1 800
6/8 * 0C1
G1 - with all twins 4/7
G2 - with all people other than
twins 10C5 *
8/9 *
1
Let's find out all possible ways 5 0 6/8 * 32
0C0
to hire 5 people without a single 4/7 *
pair of indentical twins. 2/6
Peop Peop No of No Total 1158
Total
le le ways of way 4
from from to hire way s
G1 G2 G1 s to Thus, total possible ways to
without hire hire 5 people without a single
a G2 pair of indentical twins = 11584
single ways
pair of
indenti So, total possible ways to hire 5
cal people with at least a single
twins pair of indentical twins = 15504
1 - 11584 = 3920 ways
0 5 10C0 252
0C5
Hence, the probability to hire 5
1 people with at least a single
1 4 10C1 2100
0C4 pair of indentical twins
10C2 * 1 = 3920/15504
2 3 4800 = 245/969
8/9 0C3
= 0.2528
10C3 * = 25.28%itted
1
3 2 8/9 * 3600
0C2 Veeru says to Jay, "Can you
6/8
figure out how many Eggs I
have in my bucket?" He gives 3
clues to Jay: If the number of Hence, the possible numbers

Eggs I have are (8, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25,
26, 27, 28, 29, 32)
1. is a multiple of 5, it is a
number between 1 and Third condition says that if not a
19 multiple of 10, then the number
2. is not a multiple of 8, it is is between 30 and 39. Hence,
a number between 20 the possible numbers are (10,
and 29 20, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,
3. is not a multiple of 10, it is 38, 39)
a number between 30
and 39 Only number 32 is there in all 3
result sets. That means that
How many Eggs does Veeru only number 32 satisfies all
have in his bucket? three conditions. Hence, Veeru
Answer have 32 eggs in his bucket.
32 eggs
Mr. Black, Mr. White and Mr.
Let's apply all 3 condition Grey were chatting in the
separately and put all possible Yahoo conference. They were
numbers together. wearing a black suit, a white
First condition says that if suit and a grey suit, not
multiple of 5, then the number necessarily in the same order.
is between 1 and 19. Hence,
the possible numbers are (5, Mr. Grey sent message, "We all
10, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, are wearing suit that are of the
27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, same color as our names but
35, 36, 37, 38, 39) none of us is wearing a suit that
is the same color as his name."
Second condition says that if
not a multiple of 8, then the On that a person wearing the
number is between 20 and 29. white suit replied, "What
difference does that make?" mathematical expressions are

correct.
Can you tell what color suit ABC DEF
each of the three persons had GHI
on?
Answer --- = IE --- =
IE --- = IE
Mr. Grey is wearing Black
suit. 3 6
Mr. White is wearing Grey 9
suit. Note that the same number
Mr. Black is wearing White must be used for the same
suit. letter whenever it appears.
Answer
Mr. Grey must not be wearing
grey suit as that is the same A=2, B=1, C=9, D=4, E=3, F=8,
colour as his name. Also, he G=6, H=5, I=7
was not wearing white suit as
the person wearing white suit Let's start with GHI = 9 * IE.
responded to his comment. So Note that I appears on both the
Mr Grey must be wearing a side. Also, after multiplying IE
black suit. by 9 the answer should have I
at the unit's place. The possible
Similarly, Mr. White must be values of IE are 19, 28, 37, 46,
wearing either black suit or grey 55, 64, 73, 82 and 91; out of
suit. But Mr. Grey is wearing a which only 64, 73 and 82
black suit. Hence, Mr. White satisfies the condition. (as all
must be wearing a grey suit. alphabet should represent
different digits)
And, Mr. Black must be wearing
white suit. Now, consider DEF = 6 * IE.
Substitute numbers for the Out of three short-listed values,
letters so that the following only 73 satisfies the equation.
Also, ABC = 3 * IE is satisfied A(male) ---

by 73. C(female) --- D(male)
Hence, A=2, B=1, C=9, D=4,

E=3, F=8, G=6, H=5, I=7 |
219 438
657
|
--- = 73 ---
= 73 --- = 73 B(m
ale)
3 6 Work out which relation can
9 hold and discard the
contradictory options.
From (2) and (4), D can not be
A, B, C and D are related to a only daughter and have a
each other. sister (B or C). Hence, D is A's
brother i.e. D is a Male.
• One of the four is the
opposite sex from each of From (4), let's say that B is D's
the other three. sister i.e. B is Female.
• D is A's brother or only From (3), A is C's only son i.e. A
daughter. is Male.
• A or B is C's only son. But D is A's brother which
• B or C is D's sister. means that A is not C's only
son. Hence, our assumption
Answer was wrong.
A, B & D are males; C is Thus, C is D's sister i.e. C is

female. B is C's only son. A & Female. And B must be C's
D are C's brothers. only son.
Now it is clear that D & B are Answer

Males and C is Female. A must
be a Male as only one of them 32 minutes 43.6 seconds
is of opposite sex from each of
the other three. And he is C & In twelve hours, the minute
D's brother.How are they hand and the hour hand are
related to each other? together for 11 times. It means
that after every 12/11 hours,
both the hands are together.
Dr. DoLittle always goes
walking to the clinic and takes Similarly in twelve hours, the
the same time while going and minute hand and the hour hand
while coming back. One day he are exactly opposite to each
noticed something. other for 11 times. It means that
after every 12/11 hours, both
When he left the home, the the hands are opposite.
hour hand and the minute hand
were exactly opposite to each Now, let's take an example. We
other and when he reached the know that at 12 both the hands
clinic, they were together. are together and at 6 both the
hands are exactly opposite to
Similarly, when he left the clinic, each other.
the hour hand and the minute
hand were together and when After 6, both the hands are in
he reached the home, they opposition at [6+(12/11)] hours,
were exactly opposite to each [6+2*(12/11)] hours,
other. [6+3*(12/11)] hours and so on.
The sixth such time is
How much time does Dr. [6+6*(12/11)] hours which is the
DoLittle take to reach home first time after 12. Thus after 12,
from the clinic? Give the both the hands are opposite to
minimal possible answer. each other at 12:32:43.6
Hence, Dr. DoLittle takes 32 10:00 PM on last Sunday.

minutes and 43.6 seconds to
reach home from the clinic. Also, he would have crossed
the last train just before
reaching Bangalore on
SlowRun Express runs Saturday.
between Bangalore and
Mumbai, For the up as well as Thus, Mr. Haani must have
the down journey, the train crossed 7 SlowRun Expresses
leaves the starting station at during his journey.
10:00 PM everyday and Six cabins numbered 1-6
reaches the destination at 11:30 consecutively, are arranged in a
PM after three days. row and are separated by thin
dividers. These cabins must be
Mr. Haani once travelled by assigned to six staff members
SlowRun Express from Mumbai based on following facts.
to Bangalore. How many
SlowRun Express did he cross 1. Miss Shalaka's work
during his journey? requires her to speak on
Answer the phone frequently
throughout the day.
Mr. Haani crossed 7 SlowRun 2. Miss Shudha prefers
Expresses during his cabin number 5 as 5 is
journey. her lucky number.
3. Mr. Shaan and Mr.
Let's say that Mr. Haani Sharma often talk to each
travelled by SlowRun Express other during their work
on Wednesday 10:00PM from and prefers to have
Mumbai. The first train he adjacent cabins.
would have crossed is the one 4. Mr. Sinha, Mr. Shaan and
scheduled to arrive at Mumbai Mr. Solanki all smoke.
at 11:30 PM the same day i.e. Miss Shudha is allergic to
the one that left Bangalore at smoke and must have
non-smokers adjacent to during work and Mr. Shaan is in

her. cabin 3 who often talks to Mr.
5. Mr. Solanki needs silence Sharma during work, Mr.
during work. Solanki must be in cabin 1.
Hence, Mr. Sinha is in cabin 2.
Can you tell the cabin numbers
of each of them? Thus, the cabins numbers are
Answer 1# Mr. Solanki,
2# Mr. Sinha,
The cabins from left to right 3# Mr. Shaan,
(1-6) are of Mr. Solanki, Mr. 4# Mr. Sharma,
Sinha, Mr. Shaan, Mr. 5# Miss Shudha,
Sharma, Miss Shudha and 6# Miss Shalaka
Miss Shalaka. SkyFi city is served by 6
subway lines - A, E, I, O, U and
From (2), cabin number 5 is Z.
assigned to Miss Shudha.
• When it snows, morning
As Miss Shudha is allergic to service on line E is
smoke and Mr. Sinha, Mr. delayed.
Shaan & Mr. Solanki all smoke, • When it rains or snows,
they must be in cabin numbers service on the lines A, U
1, 2 and 3 not necessarily in the and Z is delayed both
same order. Also, Miss Shalaka morning and afternoon.
and Mr. Sharma must be in • When the temperature
cabin 4 and 6. drops below 20 C,
afternoon service is
From (3), Mr. Shaan must be in cancelled on either line A
cabin 3 and Mr. Sharma must or line O, but not both.
be in cabin 4. Thus, Miss • When the temperature
Shalaka is in cabin 6. rises above 40 C,
afternoon service is
As Mr. Solanki needs silence
cancelled on either line I • When the temperature

or line Z, but not both. rises above 40 C,
• When service on line A is afternoon service is
delayed or cancelled, cancelled on either line I
service on line I is also or line Z, but not both.
delayed. • When service on line A is
• When service on line Z is delayed or cancelled,
delayed or cancelled, service on line I is also
service on line E is also delayed.
delayed. • When service on line Z is
delayed or cancelled,
On February 10, it snows all service on line E is also
day with the temperature at delayed.
18C. On how many lines
service will be delayed or On February 10, it snows all
cancelled, including both day with the temperature at
morning and afternoon? 18C. On how many lines
SkyFi city is served by 6 service will be delayed or
subway lines - A, E, I, O, U and cancelled, including both
Z. morning and afternoon?
In a certain game, if 2
• When it snows, morning wixsomes are worth 3 changs,
service on line E is and 4 changs are worth 1 plut,
delayed. then 6 plutes are worth how
• When it rains or snows, many wixsomes?
service on the lines A, U
and Z is delayed both Answer
morning and afternoon.
• When the temperature It is given that
drops below 20 C, 2 wixsomes = 3 changs
afternoon service is 8 wixsomes = 12 changs ----- (I)
cancelled on either line A
or line O, but not both.
Also, given that Hence, total students went to

4 changs = 1 plut college
12 changs = 3 plutes = (3/4)(2*B) + (5/6)(B)
8 wixsomes = 3 plutes ----- = B * (3/2 + 5/6)
From (I) = (7/3)B
Therefore, Fraction of the graduates that

6 plutes = 16 wixsomes year went to college
immediately after graduation
In a certain year, the number of = [(7/3)B] / [3*B]
girls who graduated from City = 7/9
High School was twice the
number of boys. If 3/4 of the Therefore, the answer is 7/9
girls and 5/6 of the boys went to
college immediately after A mule and a donkey were
graduation, what fraction of the carrying full sacks on their
graduates that year went to backs.
college immediately after
graduation? The mule started complaining
that his load was too heavy.
Answer The donkey said to him "Why
are you complaining? If you
Assume that number of boys gave me one of your sacks I'd
graduated from City High have double what you have and
School = B if I give you one of my sacks
Therefore, number of girls we'd have an even amount."
graduated from City High
School = 2*B How many sacks were each of
them carrying? Give the
It is given that 3/4 of the girls minimal possible answer.
and 5/6 of the boys went to SubmittAnswer
college immediately after
graduation. The mule was carrying 5
sacks and the donkey was back. Person A runs 20 mph to

carrying 7 sacks. and from the point. Person B
runs to the point going 10 mph
Let's assume that the mule was and 30 mph going back.
carrying M sacks and the
donkey was carrying D sacks. Who came in first?
Submitted
As the donkey told the mule, "If Answer
you gave me one of your sacks
I'd have double what you have." Person A came in first.
D + 1 = 2 * (M-1) Let's assume that the distance

D + 1 = 2M - 2 between start and the point is D
D = 2M - 3 miles.
The donkey also said, "If I give Total time taken by Person A to
you one of my sacks we'd have finish
an even amount." = (D/20) + (D/20)
D-1=M+1 = D/10
D=M+2 = 0.1D
Comparing both the equations, Total time taken by Person B to

2M - 3 = M + 2 finish
M=5 = (D/10) + (D/30)
= 2D/15
Substituting M=5 in any of = 0.1333D
above equation, we get D=7
Thus, Person A is the Winner.
Hence, the mule was carrying 5
sacks and the donkey was
carrying 7 sacks.
edTwo people enter a race in Alternatively (if you don't like
whick you run to a point and mathematics ;)), analyse the
situation as follow: Mark ate half the pizza on

Monday. On Tuesday, he would
Note that initially speed of have ate half of the remaining
Person A (20 mph) was twice pizza i.e. 1/4 of the original
the speed of Person B (10 pizza. Similarly, he would have
mph). Hence, when Person A ate 1/8 of the original pizza on
(20 mph forward) reached the Wednesday and so on for the
point, Person B (10 mph seven days.
forward) was halfway. When
Person A (20 mph back) Total pizza Mark ate during the
finished, Person B (still 10 mph week is
forward) reached the point. = 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + 1/32
+ 1/64 + 1/128
Thus, Person A wins the race = 127/128
and by that time Person B = 99.22% of the original pizza
covers only half the distance, In the General meeting of
no matter how far the point is!!! "Friends Club", Sameer said,
Mark ate half of a pizza on "The repairs to the Club will
Monday. He ate half of what come to a total of Rs 3120 and
was left on Tuesday and so on. I propose that this amount
He followed this pattern for one should be met by the members,
week. each paying an equal amount."
How much of the pizza would The proposal was immediately

he have eaten during the agreed. However, four
week? members of the Club chose to
Submitted resign, leaving the remaining
Answer members to pay an extra Rs 26
each.
Mark would have ate 127/128
(99.22%) of the pizza during How many members did the
the week. Club originally have?
Answer If the tank is empty initially and

if all the three pipes A, B and C
The Club originally had 24 are opened simultaneously, in
members. how much time will the tank be
full?
Assume that there were initially
N members. The tank will be full in 16
minutes.
As 4 members resigned and
remaining members paid Rs 26 In one minute,
each, it means that total pipe A can fill 1/30 part of the
amount of 4 members is equal tank.
to Rs 26 each from remaining pipe B can fill 1/24 part of the
(N-4) members. Thus, tank.
pipe C can empty 1/80 part of
4 * (3120 / N) = 26 * (N - 4) the tank.
12480 = 26N2 - 104N
26N2 - 104N - 12480 = 0 Thus, the net water level in one
minute is
Solving the quadratic equation = 1/30 + 1/24 - 1/80
we get N=24. = 15/240 part of the tank
Hence, the Club originally had Hence, the tank will be full in
24 members. 240/15 i.e. 16 minutes.
Answer
Brain Teaser No : 00206 A rich old Arab has three sons.
When he died, he willed his 17
A tank can be filled by pipe A in camels to the sons, to be
30 minutes and by pipe B in 24 divided as follows:
minutes. Outlet pipe C can
empty the full tank in one hour First Son to get 1/2 of the
and twenty minutes. camels Second Son to get
1/3rd of the camels Third Son
to get 1/9th of the camels. product of their ages is 36.

What is the age of the OLDEST
The sons are sitting there trying daughter?"
to figure out how this can
possibly be done, when a very The second guy says, "I need
old wise man goes riding by. more information." So, the first
They stop him and ask him to guy says, "The sum of their
help them solve their problem. ages is equal to the address of
Without hesitation he divides the house across the street."
the camels properly and
continues riding on his way. The second guy looks at the
address and says, "I still need
How did he do it? more information." So, the first
Answer guy says, "My oldest daughter
wears a red dress."
The old man temporarily added Answer
his camel to the 17, making a
total of 18 camels. The answer is 9 years.
First son got 1/2 of it = 9 First you need to find all the
possible sets of three numbers
Second son got 1/3 of it = 6 that when multiplied equals 36:
Third son got 1/9 of it = 2 1 1 36

1 2 18
For a total of 17. He then takes 1 3 12
his camel back and rides 149
away...... 166
229
236
There were two men standing 334
on a street. The one says to the
other, "I have 3 daughters, the Then you add the numbers
together to find the sum each, two of them contain Rs.

1 1 36 = 38 15000 each and remaining two
1 2 18 = 21 contain Rs. 10000 each.
1 3 12 = 16
1 4 9 = 14 There is one statement written
1 6 6 = 13 on the cover of each box.
2 2 9 = 13 * Red Box: Both, a red box and
2 3 6 = 11 a blue box contain Rs. 10000
3 3 4 = 10 each.
* Green Box: Both, a green box
Even though we don't know the and a red box contain Rs.
address the guy knows it. For 25000 each.
him to need more information * Blue Box: Both, a blue box
that means that at least two of and a green box contain Rs.
the sets of numbers has 15000 each.
the same sum. Two of them do,
1 6 6 and 2 2 9. Only one of the above 3
statements is true and the
When the first guy said that his corresponding box contains the
OLDEST daugher wears a red maximum amount.
dress that meant that there had
to be the oldest. So 1 6 6 can't Can you tell which box contains
possibly be the answer. So the the maximum amount and how
possible possiblity is 2 2 9 and much?
the OLDEST daughter is 9 Answer
years old.
Blue box contains the
Therefore, the answer is 9. maximum amount Rs. 40000
There are 3 colored boxes -
Red, Green and Blue. Each box As it is given that only one of
contains 2 envelopes. Each the given 3 statements is true;
envelope contains money - two assume in turn, each statement
of them contain Rs. 25000 to be true & the other 2 false
and check whether the

corresponding box contains the Sachin, Dravid and Ganguly
maximum amount. played in a Cricket match
between India and England.
Let's assume that the statement
on the Blue box is true. Thus, • None of them scored
the given 3 statements can be more than 99 runs.
interpreted as • If you add the digits of the
* Atmost one, a red box or a runs scored by Sachin to
blue box contains Rs. 10000. his own score, you will
* Atmost one, a green box or a get the runs scored by
red box contains Rs. 25000. Dravid.
* Both, a blue box and a green • If you reverse the digits of
box contain Rs. 15000 each. the runs scored by
Dravid, you will get the
Going through all possible runs scored by Ganguly.
combinations, we can conclude • The total runs scored by
that them is 240.
Red Box : Rs. 10000 + Rs.
25000 = Rs. 35000 Can you figure out their
Green Box : Rs. 10000 + Rs. individual scores?
15000 = Rs. 25000 Answer
Blue Box : Rs. 15000 + Rs.
25000 = Rs. 40000 Sachin, Dravid and Ganguly
scored 75, 87 and 78
You can test out for other two respectively.
statements i.e. assuming Red
box statement true and then Sachin's score must be less
Green box statement true. In than 86, otherwise Dravid's
both the cases, other score would be more than 99.
statements will contradict the Also, he must have scored
true statement. atleast 42 - incase Dravid and
Ganguly scored 99 each.
order are - Anthony,

Also, as none of them scored Donna, the person who
more than 99 and the total runs wants to fill out a change-
scored by them is 240; their of-address form, the one
individual scores must be who wants to buy a
around 80. money order, the one who
wants to send Airmail to
Now, use trial-n-error method to Tibet and the second
solve the teaser. person in the line.
Three men, including Gianni 7. The four tasks of the last
and three woman, including two people in line, not
Sachi are in line at the necessarily in the same
BrentWood post office. Each order are - sending books
has two different pieces of fourth class, buying a
business to conduct. money order, picking up a
package and complaining
1. The first person is a about a mail carrier.
woman. 8. The person who wants to
2. Carlos wants to send an send books fourth class is
overnight package. just behind a person of
3. Lau is just ahead of the same sex.
Pimentelli who is the 9. Mary is just behind a
same sex as Lau. person who wants to
4. Gianni is two places send an insured package.
ahead of the person who 10.The person who wants to
wants to buy stamps. send Airmail to Tibet is
5. Knutson - who is the either two places ahead
opposite sex than of or two places behind
Rendler - isn't the person the one who wants to add
who wanted to complain postage to his or her
about a mail carrier. meter.
6. The six people, not
necessarily in the same
11.Anthony isn't two places of-

behind the who wants to Address
pickup a registered letter. Form
12.Toriseza is two places • Add
ahead of the person who Postage
wants to pick up a to Meter
package.
13.Knutson isn't just ahead 2 Gianni Lau • Pick Up
of the person who wants a
to send an item parcel Registere
post. d Letter
• Send an
Can you figure out where each Item
customer is in the line, his or Parcel
her full name (one surname is Post
Loti) and the two things he or
she wants to accomplish? 3 Carlos Piment •
Provide your answer is elli Overnight
POSITION - FIRST NAME - Package
LAST NAME - BUSINESS • Send
format. Airmail to
Tibet
Answer 4 Donna Torisez • Buy

a Stamps
A very TOUGH puzzle !!! • Send an
Insured
Package
PO FIRST LAST BUSINE
S NAME NAME SS 5 Mary Knutso • Buy a
n Money
1 Sachi Loti • Fill Out
Order
a
• Send
Change-
Books
fourth for the letter W, no other letter

Class can be 3 and all other W in the
puzzle must be 3.
6 Antho Rendler • Answer
ny Complain
About a A tough one.
Mail
Carrier It is obvious that C=1. Also, the
• Pick Up maximum possible value of E is
a 7. Now, start putting possible
Package values of D, E and R as they
occure frequently and use trial-
Brain Teaser No : 00164 n-error.
W O R L D
5 3 6 8 4
to make the following relation
true.
+ T R A D E +
W O R
7 6 0 4 2
L D
------------
+ T R A
------------
D E
C E N T E R 1
--------
2 9 7 2 6
-----
C E N T
E R If you look at a clock and the
time is 3:15.
What is the angle between the
there must be a one-to-one
hour and the minute hands?
( The answer to this is not
zero!) Answer 489
7.5 degrees Let's start from scratch.
At 3:15 minute hand will be • The apple vandor can ask

perfactly horizontal pointing for only 1 apple, so one
towards 3. Whereas hour hand box must contain 1 apple.
will be towards 4. Also, hour • He can ask for 2 apples,
hand must have covered 1/4 of so one box must contain
angle between 3 and 4. 2 apples.
He can ask for 3 apples,
The angle between two in that case box one and
adjacent digits is 360/12 = 30 box two will add up to 3.
degrees. • He can ask for 4 apples,
so one box i.e. third box
Hence 1/4 of it is 7.5 degrees. must contain 4 apples.
An apple vendor has 1000 • Now using box number
apples and 10 empty boxes. He one, two and three
asks his son to place all the containing 1, 2 and 4
1000 apples in all the 10 boxes apples respectively, his
in such a manner that if he asks son can give upto 7
for any number of apples from apples. Hence, forth box
1 to 1000, his son should be must contain 8 apples.
able to pick them in terms of • Similarly, using first four
boxes. boxes containing 1, 2, 4
and 8 apples, his son can
How did the son place all the give upto 15 apples.
apples among the 10 boxes, Hence fifth box must
given that any number of contain 16 apples.
apples can be put in one box. • You must have noticed
Answer one thing till now that
each box till now contains
1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, power of 2 apples. Hence
the answer is 1, 2, 4, 8, 2 numbers between P and S

16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 489. which gives two possible
This is true for any positions.
number of apples, here in
our case only upto 1000. [1] ___ _S_ ___ _Q_ _P_ ___
___
[2] ___ ___ _S_ _Q_ ___ _P_
The letters P, Q, R, S, T, U and ___
V, not necessarily in that order
represents seven consecutive
integers from 22 to 33. From (1), the number of letters
between U and Q must be
• U is as much less than Q same as the number of letters
as R is greater than S. between S and R. Also, the
• V is greater than U. number of letters between them
• Q is the middle term. can be 1, 2 or 3.
• P is 3 greater than S.
Using trial and error, it can be
Can you find the sequence of found that there must be 2
letters from the lowest value to letters between them. Also, it is
the highest value? possible only in option [2]
above.
Answer
[2] ___ _U_ _S_ _Q_ _R_ _P_
The sequence of letters from ___
the lowest value to the
highest value is TUSQRPV. From (2) V must be the highest
and the remaining T must be
From (3), Q is the middle term. the lowest number.
___ ___ ___ _Q_ ___ ___ ___
_T_ _U_ _S_ _Q_ _R_ _P_
From (4), there must be exactly _V_
5X + 4Y + Z = 200
Thus, the sequence of letters
from the lowest value to the Eliminating X and Y in turn from
highest value is TUSQRPV. these equations, we get
A contractor had employed 100 X = 3Z - 200
labourers for a flyover Y = 300 - 4Z
construction task. He did not
allow any woman to work As if woman works, her
without her husband. Also, husband also works and atleast
atleast half the men working half the men working came with
came with their wives. their wives; the value of Y lies
between X and X/2.
He paid five rupees per day to Substituting these limiting
each man, four ruppes to each values in equations, we get
woman and one rupee to each
child. He gave out 200 rupees if Y = X,
every evening. 300 - 4Z = 3Z - 200
7Z = 500
How many men, women and Z = 500/7 i.e. 71.428
children were working with the
constructor? if Y = X/2,
Answer 300 - 4Z = (3Z - 200)/2
600 - 8Z = 3Z - 200
16 men, 12 women and 72 11Z = 800
children were working with Z = 800/11 i.e. 72.727
the constructor.
But Z must be an integer,
Let's assume that there were X hence Z=72. Also, X=16 and
men, Y women and Z children Y=12
working with the constructor.
Hence, There were 16 men, 12 women
and 72 children working with
X + Y + Z = 100 the constructor.
God in the first temple and

Because cigars cannot be moved to the second temple.
entirely smoked, a Bobo who Here also, before entering the
collects cigar butts can make a temple he washed the
cigar to smoke out of every 3 remaining flowers with the
butts that he finds. water of well. And again his
flowers doubled. He offered few
Today, he has collected 27 flowers to the God in second
cigar butts. How many cigars temple and moved to the third
will he be able to smoke? temple. Here also, his flowers
Answer doubled after washing them
with water. He offered few
13 not 12 flowers to the God in third
temple.
He makes 9 originals from the
27 butts he found, and after he There were no flowers left
smokes them he has 9 butts left when pilgrim came out of third
for another 3 cigars. And then temple and he offered same
he has 3 butts for another cigar. number of flowers to the God in
all three temples.
So 9+3+1=13 What is the minimum number of

In a small town, there are three flowers the pilgrim had initially?
temples in a row and a well in How many flower did he offer to
front of each temple. A pilgrim each God?
came to the town with certain Answer
number of flowers.
Before entering the first temple,

he washed all the flowers he
had with the water of well. To
his surprise, flowers doubled.
He offered few flowers to the
the pilgrim had 7 flowers and

he offered 8 flowers to each
God.
In general, the pilgrim had 7N

flowers initially and he offered
8N flowers to each God, where
N = 1, 2, 3, 4, .....
Tanya wants to go on a date

The pilgrim had 7 flowers, and prefers her date to be tall,
initially and he offered 8 dark and handsome.
flowers to each God.
1. Of the preferred traits -
Assume that the pilgrim had X tall, dark and handsome -
flowers initially and he offered Y no two of Adam, Bond,
flowers to each God. Cruz and Dumbo have
the same number.
From the above figure, there 2. Only Adam or Dumbo is
are (8X - 7Y) flowers when the tall and fair.
pilgrim came out of the third 3. Only Bond or Cruz is
temple. But it is given that there short and handsome.
were no flowers left when he 4. Adam and Cruz are either
came out of third temple. It both tall or both short.
means that 5. Bond and Dumbo are
(8X - 7Y) = 0 either both dark or both
8X = 7Y fair.
The minimum values of X and Y Who is Tanya's date?

are 7 and 8 respectively to Answer
satisfy above equation. Hence,
Cruz is Tanya's date.

Cruz - Tall, Dark and
As no two of them have the Handsome
same number of preferred traits Adam - Tall and Handsome
- from (1), exactly one of them Bond - Handsome
has none of the preferred traits Dumbo - None :-(
and exactly one of them has all
the preferred traits. Hence, Cruz is Tanya's date.
From (4) and (5), there are only

two possibilities:
* Adam & Cruz both are tall and
Bond & Dumbo both are fair. Consider a game of Tower of
* Adam & Cruz both are short Hanoi (like the one that you can
and Bond & Dumbo both are play on BrainVista).
dark.
If the tower has 2 discs, the
But from (2), second possibility least possible moves with
is impossible. So the first one is which you can move the entire
the correct possibility i.e. Adam tower to another peg is 3.
& Cruz both are tall and Bond &
Dumbo both are fair. If the tower has 3 discs, the
least possible moves with
Then from (3), Bond is short which you can move the entire
and handsome. tower to another peg is 7.
Also, from (1) and (2), Adam is What is the least possible
tall and fair. Also, Dumbo is the moves with which you can
person without any preferred move the entire tower to
traits. Cruz is Dark. Adam and another peg if the tower has N
Cruz are handsome. Thus, discs?
following are the individual Submitted
preferred traits:
Answer 1
For 2 discs, number of moves =
There are number of ways to 3
find the answer. For 3 discs, number of moves =
7
To move the largest disc (at For 4 discs, number of moves =
level N) from one tower to the 15
other, it requires 2(N-1) moves. For 5 discs, number of moves =
Thus, to move N discs from one 31
tower to the other, the number
of moves required is Thus, the pattern is 2N – 1
= 2(N-1) + 2(N-2) + 2(N-3) + ..... + 22 A boy found that he had a 48
+ 2 1 + 20 inch strip of paper. He could cut
= 2N - 1 an inch off every second.
How long would it take for him

For N discs, the number of to cut 48 pieces? He can not
moves is one more than two fold the strip and also, can not
times the number of moves for stack two or more strips and cut
N-1 discs. Thus, the recursive them together.
function is SubmiAnswer
F(1) = 1
F(N) = 2*[F(N-1)] + 1 47 seconds.
where N is the total number of
discs To get 48 pieces, the boy have
to put only 47 cuts. i.e. he can
cut 46 pieces in 46 seconds.
Also, one can arrive at the After getting 46 pieces, he will
answer by finding the number have a 2 inches long piece. He
of moves for smaller number of can cut it into two with just a
discs and then derive the one cut in 1 second. Hence,
pattern. total of 47 seconds.tted by
For 1 disc, number of moves = : Kimi
3. Dravid
The cricket match between 4. Badani, Agarkar
India and Pakistan was over. 5. Sachin
6. Laxman
• Harbhajan scored more
runs than Ganguly. Also, as the lowest score was
• Sachin scored more runs 10 runs. Laxman must have
than Laxman but less scored 10, Sachin 20, Badani &
than Dravid Agarkar 30 and so on.
• Badani scored as much
runs as Agarkar but less 1. Harbhajan - 60 runs
than Dravid and more 2. Ganguly - 50 runs
than Sachin. 3. Dravid - 40 runs
• Ganguly scored more 4. Badani, Agarkar - 30 runs
runs than either Agarkar each
or Dravid. 5. Sachin - 20 runs
6. Laxman - 10 runs
Each batsman scored 10 runs
more than his immediate There are 10 statements written
batsman. The lowest score was on a piece of paper:
10 runs. How much did each
one of them score 1. At least one of statements
Answer 9 and 10 is true.
2. This either is the first true
A simple one. Use the given or the first false
facts and put down all the statement.
players in order. The order is as 3. There are three
follow with Harbhajan, the consecutive statements,
highest scorer and Laxman, the which are false.
lowest scorer. 4. The difference between
the numbers of the last
1. Harbhajan true and the first true
2. Ganguly statement divides the
number, that is to be a paradox. Hence, Statement 6

found. must be true.
5. The sum of the numbers
of the true statements is Consider Statement 2:
the number, that is to be
found. • If it is true, it must be the
6. This is not the last true first true statement.
statement. Otherwise, it creates a
7. The number of each true paradox.
statement divides the • If it is false, it must be the
number, that is to be second false statement.
found. Otherwise, it creates a
8. The number that is to be paradox.
found is the percentage of
true statements. In both the cases, Statement 1
9. The number of divisors of is false.
the number, that is to be
found, (apart from 1 and As Statement 1 is false,
itself) is greater than the Statement 9 and Statement
sum of the numbers of 10 both are false i.e. there are
the true statements. three consecutive true
10.There are no three statements.
consecutive true
statements. 1 2345 6 78 9 10
Fals T Fals Fals
Find the minimal possible - - - - - -
e rue e e
number?
Submitted
Answer Let\'s assume that Statement 3
is false i.e. there are no three
The numebr is 420. consecutive false statements. It
means that Statement 2 and
If statement 6 is false, it creates Statement 8 must be true, else
there will be three consecutive Statement 8 is false as there

false statements. is no other possibilities of 3
consecutive false statements.
1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10
Also, Statement 7 is true as
F F F F
Tr Tr Tr Statement 6 is not the last true
als als - - - als als
ue ue ue statement.
e e e e
1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10
Also, atleast two of Statements
4, 5 and 7 must be true as F F F F
Tr Tr Tr
there are three consecutive true als - - - als als als
ue ue ue
statements. e e e e
According to Statement 8, the According to Statement 7, the

number that is to be found is number of each true statement
the percentage of true divides the number, that is to be
statements. Hence, number is found. And according to
either 50 or 60. Now if Statement 5, the sum of the
Statement 7 is true, then the numbers of the true statements
number of each true statement is the number, that is to be
divides the number, that is to be found. For all possible
found. But 7 and 8 do not divide combinations Statement 5 is
either 50 or 60. Hence, false.
Statement 7 is false which
means that Statement 4 and 5 There 3 consecutive true
are true. But Statement 5 statements. Hence, Statement
contradicts the Statement 8. 2 and Statement 4 are true.
Hence, our assumption that
Statement 3 is false is wrong 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
and Statement 3 is true i.e.
Fa Tr Tr Tr Fa Tr Tr Fa Fa F
there are 3 consecutive false
ls u u u ls u u ls ls als
statements which means that
e e e e e e e e e e
have." Ankit said, "OK, I will

Now, the conditions for the give you one Apple for each
number to be found are: year of your age." Tejas replied,
"Still not fair. Now, you have
1. The numebr is divisible by twice as many Apples as I
5 (Statement 4) have." "Dear, that's fair enough
2. The numebr is divisible by as I am twice older than you.",
2, 3, 4, 6, 7 (Statement 7) said Ankit.
3. The number of divisors of
the number, that is to be Ankit went to Kitchen to drink
found, (apart from 1 and water. While Ankit was in
itself) is not greater than Kitchen, Tejas took apples from
the sum of the numbers Ankit's pile equal to Ankit's age.
of the true statements.
(Statement 9)
Who have more apples now?
The minimum possible Answer
number is 420.
At the end, Ankit and Tejas,
The divisors of 420, apart from both have the same number
1 and itself are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, of apples.
10, 12, 14, 15, 20, 21, 28, 30,
35, 42, 60, 70, 84, 105, 140, Let's assume that initially Tejas
210. There are total of 22 got N apples and his age is T
divisors. Also, the sum of the years. Hence, initially Ankit got
numbers of the true statements 3N apples and his age is 2T
is 22 (2+3+4+6+7=22), which years.
satisfies the third condition.
Ankit and Tejas divided a bag of
Apples between them. Ankit's Tejas's
Operation
Apples Apples
Tejas said, "It's not fair! You
have 3 times as many Apples I Initially 3N N
Thus, at the end Ankit and

Ankit gave Tejas, both have the same
T apples to number of apples.
Tejas
3N - T N+T
(equals On evey Sunday Amar, Akbar
age of and Anthony lunch together at
Tejas) Preetam-Da-Dhaba where they
order lassi based on following
Tejas took facts.
2T apples
from Ankit's 1. Unless neither Amar nor
pile 3N - 3T N + 3T Akbar have lassi, Anthony
(equals must have it.
age of 2. If Amar does not have
Ankit) lassi, either Akbar or
Anthony or both have it.
It is given that after Ankit gave 3. Anthony has lassi only if
T apples to Tejas, Ankit had either Amar or Akbar or
twice as many apples as Tejas both have it.
had. 4. Akbar and Anthony never
3N - T = 2*(N + T) have lassi together.
3N - T = 2N + 2T
N = 3T Who order(s) lassi?
Answer
From the table, at the end Ankit
have (3N - 3T) apples and Amar and Anthony both have
Tejas have (N + 3T) apples. lassi whereas Akbar never
Substituting N = 3T, we get does.
Ankit's apples = 3N - 3T = 9T -
3T = 6T Fact (2) can be alternatively
Tejas's apples = N + 3T = 3T + stated that "either Amar or
3T = 6T Akbar or Anthony must have
lassi".
Start with ZBG and ZBGJ. It

From Fact (3), it can be infered should be either "the/then" or
that either Amar or Akbar must "you/your" combination as they
have lassi. appear more.
BRWQHLFKW HJK
Now, from Fact (1), it is QIBWK
apparent that Anthony too must
have lassi. But according to
Fact (4), Akbar cannot have
lassi when Anthony does.
Decipher this sentence.
B R W Q H L F
K W H J K Q I B W K
Q I C E D W
Z B G W K K M I K E
Z B G Q H S
K Z B G J K Z K W
B U U Z B G
J D B H F W.
Answer
Answer
o b s t a c l
e s a r e t h o s e It is obvious that between 5
O'clock and 6 O'clock the
hands will not be exactly
opposite to each other. It is also
Q I C E D W obvious that the hands will be
Z B G W K K M I K E opposite to each other just
before 5 O'clock. Now to find
t h i n g s exact time:
y o u s e e w h e n
The hour hand moves 1 degree
for every 12 degrees that the
minute hand moves. Let the
Z B G Q H S hour hand be X degree away
K Z B G J K Z K W from 5 O'clock. Therefore the
minute hand is 12X degree
y o u t a k away from 12 O'clock.
e y o u r e y e s
Therefore solving for X
Angle between minute hand

B U U Z B G and 12 O'clock + Angle
J D B H F W.
between 12 O'clock and 4
O'clock + Angle between 4
o f f y o u
O'clock and hour hand = 180
r g o a l s.
12X + 120 + (30-X) = 180
11X = 30
Hence X = 30/11 degrees
At what time immediately prior (hour hand is X degree away
to Six O'clock the hands of the from 5 O'clock)
clock are exactly opposite to
each other. Give the exact time Now each degree the hour
in hours, minutes and seconds.
hand moves is 2 minutes. offer.
Therefore minutes are Adding his own camel to Ali

= 2 * 30/11 Baba's 39, he divided the 40 as
= 60/11 per the will. The oldest son
= 5.45 (means 5 minutes 27.16 received 20, the next 10, the
seconds) third 5 and the youngest 4. One
camel remained : this was his,
Therefore the exact time at which he mounted and rode
which the hands are opposite to away.
each other is
= 4 hrs. 54 min. 32.74 seconds Scratching their heads in
amazement, they started
Ali Baba had four sons, to calculating. The oldest thought :
whom he bequeathed his 39 is not 20 greater than the half of
camels, with the proviso that 39? Someone must have
the legacy be divided in the received less than his proper
following way : share ! But each brother
discovered that he had
The oldest son was to receive received more than his due.
one half the property, the next a How is it possible?
quarter, the third an eighth and Answer
the youngest one tenth. The
four brothers were at a loss as They took their percentages
how to divide the inheritance from 40 and not from 39, so
among themselves without they got more than their share.
cutting up a camel, until a
stranger appeared upon the The oldest son got 1/2 of 40 =
scene. 20 which is 0.5 more
Dismounting from his camel, he The second son got 1/4 of 40 =
asked if he might help, for he 10 which is 0.25 more
knew just what to do. The The third son got 1/8 of 40 = 5
brothers gratefully accepted his which is 0.125 more
The youngest son got 1/10 of |

40 = 4 which is 0.1 more Son, wife
|
And the stranger got 1/40 of 40 |
= 1 which is 0.025 more (As he Son
is not supposed to get
anything)
A man went into a fast food
All these fractions add to = 0.5 restaurant and ate a meal
+ 0.25 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.025 = costing Rs. 105, giving the
1 which stranger took away. accountant a Rs. 500 note. He
There is a family party kept the change, came back a
consisting of two fathers, two few minutes later and had
mothers, two sons, one father- some food packed for his girl
in-law, one mother-in-law, one friend. He gave the accountant
daughter-in-law, one a Rs. 100 note and received
grandfather, one grandmother Rs. 20 in change. Later the
and one grandson. bank told the accountant that
both the Rs. 500 and the Rs.
What is the minimum number of 100 notes were counterfeit.
persons required so that this is
possible? How much money did the
Answer restaurant lose? Ignore the
profit of the food restaurant.
There are total 2 couples and a Answer
son. Grandfather and Grand
mother, their son and his wife He lost Rs.600
and again their son. So total 5
people. First time restaurant has given
food worth Rs.105 and Rs. 395
change. Similarly second time,
Grandfather, Grandmother food worth Rs.80 and Rs.20
| change. Here, we are not
considering food restaurant which is impossible. Hence, the

profits. possible values of D are 7, 8 or
9.
S L I D
E N must be E + 1. Also, D must
be A + 5 as the possible values
- D E A of D are 7, 8 or 9, D can not be
N (10+A) + 5.
-------- Now using trial-n-error, we get

- S=1, I=2, L=3, A=4, N=5, E=6
and D=9
3 6 5
1 S L I D E
Each of seven digits from 0-9 1 3 2 9 6
are represented by a different
letter above such that the - D E A N
subtraction is true. - 9 6 4 5
What word represents 3651? --------------

Answer --------------
3651 represents LENS. 3 6 5 1

L E N S
Let's assign possible values to Hence, 3651 represents LENS.
each letter and then use trial-n- Adam, Burzin, Clark and
error. Edmund each live in an
apartment. Their apartments
S must be 1. are arranged in a row
numbered 1 to 4 from left to
Then D (under L) must be right. Also, one of them is the
greater than 5. If D is 6, then L landlord.
is 0. But then A must be 0 or 1
1. If Clark's apartment is not is true. Then, Adam is the

next to Burzin's landlord and lives in apartment
apartment, then the 1. Also, other three's
landlord is Adam and apartments will be on the right
lives in apartment 1. of his apartment - which
2. If Adam's apartment is contradicts Statement (4) i.e. If
right of Clark's apartment, Edmund's apartment is right of
then the landlord is Adam's apartment, then the
Edmund and lives in landlord is Burzin. Thus, Adam
apartment 4. is not the landlord.
3. If Burzin's apartment is
not next to Edmund's Let's assume that Statement (2)
apartment, then the is true. Then, Edmund is the
landlord is Clark and lives landlord and lives in apartment
in apartment 3. 4. Also, other three's
4. If Edmund's apartment is apartments will be on the left of
right of Adam's his apartment - which again
apartment, then the contradicts Statement (4) i.e. If
landlord is Burzin and Edmund's apartment is right of
lives in apartment 2. Adam's apartment, then the
landlord is Burzin. Thus,
Who is the landlord? Edmund is not the landlord
either.
Answer
Let's assume that Statement (3)
Clark is the landlord. is true. Then, Clark is the
landlord and lives in apartment
Assume each statement true, 3. It satisfies all the statements
one at a time and see that no for
other statement is contradicted. (1) Adam - (2) Edmund - (3)
Clark - (4) Burzin
Let's assume that Statement (1) Hence, Clark is the landlord.

2. If B's legal spouse is P,

Similarly, you can assume then P's sister-in-law
Statement (4) true and find out must be J and J's sibling
that it also contradicts. must be B.
It is given that B's legal spouse
B, J and P are related to each and J's sibling are of the same
other. sex. Also, it is obvious that P's
sister-in-law is female. Then,
1. Among the three are B's B's legal spouse and J's sibling
legal spouse, J's sibling both must be males.
and P's sister-in-law.
2. B's legal spouse and J's B's spouse
sibling are of the same J's sibling P's
sex. sister-in-law
Who is the married man? (male)

Answer (male)
(female)
J is the married man.
-----------------------
Note that a person's sister-in- -----------------------
law may be the wife of that --------
person's brother or the sister of
that person's spouse. Case I J
P B
There are 2 cases:
Case II P
1. If B's legal spouse is J, B J
then J's sibling must be P
and P's sister-in-law must Case II is not possible as B & P
be B. are married to each other and
both are male. Hence, J is the formula as triange has 0

married man. diagonals, quadrangel has 2,
Brain Teaser No : 00041 pentagon has 5, hexagon has 9
and so on......
A polygon has 1325 diagonals.
How many vertices does it Hence the series is 0, 0, 0, 2, 5,
have? Answer 9, 14, ........ (as diagram with
1,2 or 3 vertices will have 0
The formula to find number of diagonals).
diagonals (D) given total
number of vertices or sides (N) Using the series one can arrive
is to the formula given above.
N * (N
- 3) A cube is made of a white
material, but the exterior is
D = painted black.
-----------
If the cube is cut into 125
2 smaller cubes of exactly the
same size, how many of the
Using the formula, we get cubes will have atleast 2 of
1325 * 2 = N * (N - 3) their sides painted black?
N2 - 3N - 2650 = 0 Answer
Solving the quadratic equation, 44

we get N = 53 or -50
36 of the cubes have EXACTLY
It is obvious that answer is 53 2 of their sides painted black,
as number of vertices can not but because a cube with 3 of its
be negative. sides painted black has 2 of its
sides painted black, you must
Alternatively, you can derive the also include the corner cubes.
This was a trick question, but

hopefully the title of the puzzle ________X
tipped you off to this. _______X X
Brain Teaser No : 00238 ____8 0 0 0 8
_____0 0 0 0
Imagine a triangle of coins on a ____X 0 0 0 X
table so that the first row has _______8 8
one coin in it and the second ________8
row has two coins in it and so
on. If you can only move one
coin at a time, how many For traingle of any number of
moves does it take to make the rows, the optimal number of
triangle point the other way? moves can be achieved by
moving the vertically
For a triangle with two row it is symmetrical coins i.e. by
one, for a triangle with three moving same number of coins
rows it is two, for a triangle with from bottom left and right, and
four rows it is three. remaining coins from the top.
For a traingle with five rows is it

four? For a triangle with an odd
Submitted Answer number of rows, the total
moves require are :
It takes 5 moves to make the (N2/4) - (N-4) Where N = 4, 6, 8,
triangle with 5 rows point the 10, ...
other way.
For a triangle with even number
0 = a coin that has not been of rows, the total moves require
moved. are :
X = the old position of the ((N2-1)/4) - (N-4) Where N = 5,
moved coin 7, 9, 11, ...
8 = the new position of the
moved coin.
Thanks to Alex Crosse for money equal to the 2 raised to

submitting above formulas. the envelope number minus 1.
Brain Teaser No : 00053 The sentence "Each envelope
contains the least number of
A man is going to an Antique bills possible of any available
Car auction. All purchases must US currency" is only to
be paid for in cash. He goes to misguide you. This is always
the bank and draws out possible for any amount !!!
$25,000.
One more thing to notice here
Since the man does not want to is that the man must have
be seen carrying that much placed money in envelopes in
money, he places it in 15 such a way that if he bids for
evelopes numbered 1 through any amount less than $25000,
15. Each envelope contains the he should be able to pick them
least number of bills possible of in terms of envelopes.
any available US currency (i.e.
no two tens in place of a First envelope contains, 20 = $1
twenty).
Second envelope contains, 21 =
At the auction he makes a $2
successful bid of $8322 for a Third envelope contains, 22 =
car. He hands the auctioneer $4
envelopes number(s) 2, 8, and Fourth envelope contains, 23 =
14. After opening the envelopes $8 and so on...
the auctioneer finds exactly the
right amount. Hence the amount in envelopes
are $1, $2, $4, $8, $16, $32,
How many ones did the $64, $128, $256, $512, $1024,
auctioneer find in the $2048, $4096, $8192, $8617
envelopes? Answer
Last envelope (No. 15) contains
Each envelope contains the only $8617 as total amount is
only $25000. = 65.45 minutes

= 65 minutes 27.16 seconds
Now as he bids for $8322 and
gives envelope number 2, 8 But in our case they meet after
and 14 which contains $2, $128 every 65 minutes means the
and $8192 respectively. watch is gaining 27.16
seconds.
Envelope No 2 conrains one $2 Brain Teaser No : 00093
bill
Envelope No 8 conrains one There is a number that is 5
$100 bill, one $20 bill, one $5 times the sum of its digits. What
bill, one $2 bill and one $1 bill is this number? Answer is not 0.
Envelope No 14 conrains Answer
eighty-one $100 bill, one $50
bill, four $10 bill and one $2 bill The number is 45, simply
because
Hence the auctioneer will find 45 = 5 * (4 + 5)
one $1 bill in the envelopes. How does one find this
Brain Teaser No : 00090 number?
The minute and the hour hand Let T be the digit in the tens
of a watch meet every 65 place and U be the digit in the
minutes. units place. Then, the number
is 10*T + U, and the sum of its
How much does the watch lose digits is T + U.
or gain time and by how much?
Answer The following equation can be
readily written:
The minute and the hour hand 10*T + U = 5*(T + U) or
meet 11 times in 12 hours in 10*T + U = 5*T + 5*U or
normal watch i.e. they meet 5*T = 4*U
after every
= (12 * 60) / 11 minutes Thus, T / U = 4 / 5
14 + 16 = 5 + 7 + 18 = 30
Since T and U are digits, T
must be 4 and U must be 5. So box with 29 balls is sold out.
There are six boxes containing Brain Teaser No : 00218
5, 7, 14, 16, 18, 29 balls of
either red or blue in colour. Ekta got chocolates to give her
Some boxes contain only red friends on her Birthday. If she
balls and others contain only gives 3 chocolates to each
blue. friend, one friend will get only 2
chocolates. Also, if she gives 2
One sales man sold one box chocolates to each friends, she
out of them and then he says, "I will left with 15 chocolates.
have the same number of red
balls left out as that of blue." How many chocolates Ekta got
on her Birthday? and how many
Which box is the one he solds friends are there?
out? Answer
Answer
47 Chocolates and 16 Friends
Total no of balls = 5 + 7 + 14 +
16 + 18 + 29 = 89
Let's assume that there are
Total number of balls are odd. total C chocolates and F
Also, same number of red balls friends.
and blue balls are left out after
selling one box. So it is obvious According to first case, if she
that the box with odd number of gives 3 chocolates to each
balls in it is sold out i.e. 5, 7 or friend, one friend will get only 2
29. chocolates.
3*(F - 1) + 2 = C
Now using trial and error
method, Similarly, if she gives 2
(89-29) /2 = 60/2 = 30 and chocolates to each friends, she
will left with 15 chocolates. 9Y - 9X = X + Y

2*F + 15 = C 8Y = 10X
4Y = 5X
Solving above 2 equations, F =
16 and C = 47. Hence, Ekta got Hence, the possible values are
47 chocolates and 16 friends X=4, Y=5 and Esha's age is 45
Pooja and Esha met each other years.
after long time. In the course of A fish had a tail as long as its
their conversation, Pooja asked head plus a quarter the lenght
Esha her age. Esha replied, "If of its body. Its body was three-
you reverse my age, you will quarters of its total length. Its
get my husbund's age. He is of head was 4 inches long.
course older than me. Also, the
difference between our age is What was the length of the
1/11th of the sum of our age." fish?
Submitted
Can you help out Pooja in
finding Esha's age? The fish is 128 inches long.
Answer
It is obvious that the lenght of
Esha's age is 45 years. the fish is the summation of
lenghts of the head, the body
Assume that Esha's age is and the tail. Hence,
10X+Y years. Hence, her Fish (F) = Head (H) + Body (B)
hunsbands age is (10Y + X) + Tail (T)
years.
But it is given that the lenght of
It is given that difference the head is 4 inches i.e. H = 4.
between their age is 1/11th of The body is three-quarters of its
the sum of their age. Hence, total length i.e. B = (3/4)*F. And
[(10Y + X) - (10X + Y)] = the tail is its head plus a quarter
(1/11)[(10Y + X) + (10X + Y)] the lenght of its body i.e. T = H
(9Y - 9X) = (1/11)(11X + 11Y) + B/4. Thus, the equation is
F=H+B+T
F = 4 + (3/4)*F + H + B/4 You came to know of a scandal
F = 4 + (3/4)*F + 4 + and you passed it on to 4
(1/4)*(3/4)*F persons in 30 minutes. So total
F = 8 + (15/16)*F (1+4) 5 persons would know
(1/16)*F = 8 about it in 30 minutes.
F = 128 inches
By the end of one hour, 16
Thus, the fish is 128 inches more persons would know
long. about it. So total of (1+4+16) 21
persons would know about it in
Assume that you have just one hour.
heard of a scandal and you are
the first one to know. You pass Similarly, the other
it on to four person in a matter (1+4+16+64) persons would
of 30 minutes. Each of these have know about it in one and a
four in turn passes it to four half hours. (1+4+16+64+256)
other persons in the next 30 persons would have know
minutes and so on. about it in two hours and so
on...
How long it will take for
everybody in the World to get to It can be deduced that the
know the scandal? terms of the above series are
the power of 4 i.e. 4^0, 4^1,
Assume that nobody hears it 4^2, 4^3 and so on upto (2N+1)
more than once and the terms. Also, the last term would
population of the World is be 4^2N where N is the number
approximately 5.6 billions. of hours.
Answer
Sum of the above mentioned
Everybody in the World will series = [4^(2N+1)-1]/3
get to know the scandal in 8
hours. The sum of the series must be
5.6 billions. Hence, equating with either 1 and 4 or 2 and 3.

the sum of the series with 5.6 If one number is 7, it must go
billions, we get N=8 hours. with either 1 and 5 or 2 and 4.
If one number is 6, it must go
Scandals travel FAST !!! with either 2 and 5 or 3 and 4.
A B C
It is clear that 9 must go with 1
D and 3. Also, no digit may be
used in more than two sums.
E F G Hence, there are 2 cases:
Case I: If 8 goes with 1 and 4,
H then 7 goes with 2 and 4, then
6 goes with 2 and 5.
I Case II: If 8 goes with 2 and 3,
Each of the digits from 1 to 9 is then 7 goes with 2 and 4, then
represented by a different letter 6 goes with 3 and 4.
above. Also, A + B + C = C + D
+E=E+F+G=G+H+I= But in case II, 3 is used in three
13 sums. Hence, Case I is correct.
And the possible arrangements
Which digit does E represent? are:
Answer
E represents 4.
Find out all possible groups of

three different numbers that
add up to 13 and arrange them
according to given condition.

with 1 and 3.
9 3 1
5 6 2
8
7
4 7 2
4 8 1
The length of BD is 35.68
6 cms
3
There are 3 right-angled
5 triangles - ABD, CBD and ADC.
9
Thus, E must be 4.
A, B and C are three points on From ABD, AB^2 + BD^2 =
a straight line, not necessarily AD^2 ------ I
equidistant with B being From CBD, CB^2 + BD^2 =
between A and C. Three CD^2 ------ II
semicircles are drawn on the From ADC, AD^2 + CD^2 =
same side of the line with AB, AC^2 ------ III
BC and AC as the diameters.
BD is perpendicular to the line Adding I and II,
ABC, and D lies on the AB^2 + BC^2 + 2*BD^2 = AD^2
semicircle AC. + CD^2 ------ IV
If the funny shaped diagram FROM III and IV

between the three semicircles AB^2 + BC^2 + 2*BD^2 = AC^2
has an area of 1000 square
cms, find the length of BD. AB^2 + BC^2 + 2*BD^2 =
Answer (AB+CB)^2
2*BD^2 = 2*AB*CB
BD^2 = AB*CB everyday.

BD = SQRT(AB*CB)
At exactly midnight last night,
Given that funny shaped all three watches were showing
diagram beween three the same time.
semicircles has an area of 1000
square cms. If today is 25 July 2003, then on
[PI/2 * (AC/2)^2] - [PI/2 * which date all three clocks will
(AB/2)^2] - [PI/2 * (BC/2)^2] = show the same time again?
1000 Answer
PI/8 * [AC^2 - AB^2 - BC^2] =
1000 All three clocks will show the
PI * [(AB+BC)^2 - AB^2 - BC^2] same time again on midnight
= 8000 between 19 July 2004 and 20
PI * [2*AB*BC] = 8000 July 2004.
AB * BC = 4000/PI
A clock finishes on round in
Hence BD = SQRT(4000/PI) = 12*60 i.e. 720 minutes.
35.68 cms
where PI = 3.141592654 If a clock gains 2 minutes
everyday, then it would be 720
Hence, the length of BD is minutes ahead after 360 days.
35.68 cms. Thus, after 360 days, it will
show the same time again.
Similary, if a clock loses 2
Gomzi has 3 timepieces in his minutes everyday, then it would
house - a wall clock, an alarm be 720 minutes behind after
clock and a wristwatch. The 360 days. Thus, after 360 days,
wristwatch is always accurate, it will show the same time
whereas the wall clock gains 2 again.
minutes everyday and the
alarm clock loses 2 minutes Thus, after 360 days all three
clocks will show the same time unweighed marble is the

again i.e. midnight between 19 heavier one.
July 2004 and 20 July 2004.
You have 9 marbles. 8 marbles If your first weighing does not
weigh 1 ounce each, & one balance, remove the marbles
marble weighs 1.5 ounces. You from the lighter pan, & place 1
are unable to determine which marble on each pan from the
is the heavier marble by looking heavier pan. The heavier 1 is
at them. You have a weighing the 1.5 ounce marble, but if
scale that consists of 2 pans, they balance, then the marble
but the scale is only good for 2 from the heavy pan from the
total weighings. first weighing that was not
weighed in the second
How can you determine which weighing is the heavy 1.
marble is the heaviest one Once a week a wagon driver
using the scale & in 2 leaves his hut and drives his
weighings? wagon to the river dock to pick
Answer up supplies for his town. At 4:05
PM, one-fifth of the way to the
Divide 9 marbles into 3 groups dock, he passes the Temple. At
of 3 marbles each. 4:15 PM, one-third of the way,
he passes the Preetam-Da-
Take any 2 groups and place Dhabaa.
them on each pan. If they
balance, remove the marbles At what time does he reached
from the pans, & place any 2 of the dock?
the marbles from the remaining
unweighed group on the pans, Answer
1 on each pan.
5:05 PM
If one is heavier, it is the
heavier marble, but if they At 4:05 PM, the wagon driver
balance, the remaining passes the temple, one-fifth of
the way to the dock. Also, at East Road and West

4:15 PM, he passes the Road
Preetam-Da-Dhabaa, one-third • None of the prisoners
of the way. Thus, he travels took the road which was
2/15 (1/3 - 1/5) of the distance their namesake
in 10 minutes. • Mr. East did not take the
South Road
At 4:15 PM, he has already • Mr.West did not the South
travelled 1/3 of the distance. Road
Thus 2/3 of the way is • The West Road was not
remaining, which can be taken by Mr. East
travelled in
= ( (2/3) * 10 ) / (2/15) What road did each of the
= 50 minutes prisoners take to make their
escapeAnswer
At 4:15, he was at Preetam-Da-
Dhabaa.and remaining way will Put all the given information
take 50 more minutes. Hence, into the table structure as
the driver will reach at 5:05 PM follow:
to the dock.
Brain Teaser No : 00115 Nort
Sout East West
h
h Roa Roa
Four prisoners escape from a Roa
Road d d
prison. d
The prisoners, Mr. East, Mr.
West, Mr. South, Mr. North Mr.
head towards different Nort No
directions after escaping. h
The following information of Mr.
their escape was supplied: Sout No
h
• The escape routes were
North Road, South Road, Mr. No No No
East Mr.
No No No
West
Mr.
No No
West
Now from the table:
Now from table, two things are • Mr.West took the East
obvious and they are: Road
• Mr.South took the West
• Mr.North took the South Road
Road
• Mr.East took the North So the answer is:
Road
• Mr.North took the South
Put this information into the Road
table, Also keep in mind that • Mr.South took the West
the prisoners head towards Road
different directions after • Mr.East took the North
escaping. Road
• Mr.West took the East
Nort Road
Sout East West
h
h Roa Roa
Roa
Road d d
d Shahrukh speaks truth only in
the morning and lies in the
Mr. afternoon, whereas Salman
Nort No YES No No speaks truth only in the
h afternoon and lies in the
Mr. morning.
Sout No No
h A says that B is Shahrukh.
Mr. Is it morning or afternoon and

YES No No No
East
who is A - Shahrukh or manager and 1/5th of the

Salman? remaining to second son and
Answer so on..... After giving coins to
5th son, divided the remaining
It is Afternoon and A can be coins among five daughters
Salman or Shahrukh. If A is equally.
Salman, he is speaking truth. If
A is Shahrukh, he is lying. All should get full coins. Find
the minimum number of coins
Want to confirm it? Consider he has?
following 4 possible answers Answer
and check for its truthness
individually. We tried to find out some
simple mathematical method
1. It is Morning and A is and finally we wrote small C
Shahrukh program to find out the answer.
2. It is Morning and A is The answer is 3121 coins.
Salman
3. It is Afternoon and A is Here is the breakup:
Shahrukh First son = 624 coins
4. It is Afternoon and A is Second son = 499 coins
Salman Third son = 399 coins
Forth son = 319 coins
Fifth son = 255 coins
A rich man died. In his will, he Daughters = 204 each
has divided his gold coins Manager = 5 coins
among his 5 sons, 5 daughters There is a grid of 20 squares by
and a manager. 10 squares. How many different
rectangles are possible?
According to his will: First give
one coin to manager. 1/5th of Note that square is a rectangle.
the remaining to the elder son. Answer
Now give one coin to the
11550 A simple one.
The Generic solution to this is: Assume that each character

Total number of rectangles = represents the number
(Summation of row numbers) * equivalent to the position in the
(Summation of column alphabet i.e. A = 1, B = 2, C = 3,
numbers) D = 4 and so on. Now let's
check our assumption.
Here there are 20 rows and 10
columns or vice versa. Hence, A + B = C i.e. 1 + 2 = 3
total possible rectangles D - C = A i.e. 4 - 3 = 1
= ( 20 + 19 + 18 + 17 + 16 + .... E - B = C i.e. 5 - 2 = 3
+ 3 + 2 + 1 ) * ( 10 + 9 +8 + 7 +
.... + 3 + 2 + 1) Thus, our assumption was
= ( 210 ) * (55) Correct. Hence, D + F = J i.e. 4
= 11550 + 6 = 10
A woman took a certain number
Hence, total 11,550 different of eggs to the market and sold
rectangles are possible. some of them.
If you don't believe it, try The next day, through the
formula on some smaller grids industry of her hens, the
like 4x2, 3x2, 3x3 etc... number left over had been
If A+B=C, D-C=A and E-B=C, doubled, and she sold the
then what does D+F stands same number as the previous
for? Provide your answer in day.
letter terms as well as in
number terms. On the third day the new
Submitted by : David remainder was tripled, and she
Answer sold the same number as
before.
J or 10
On the fourth day the
remainder was quadrupled, and Day

her sales the same as before. N X N-X
1
On the fifth day what had been Day 2N-
X 2N-3X
left over were quintupled, yet 2 2X
she sold exactly the same as
on all the previous occasions Day 6N-
X 6N-10X
and so disposed of her entire 3 9X
stock. Day 24N-
X 24N-41X
4 40X
What is the smallest number of
eggs she could have taken to Day 120N-
X 120N-206X
market the first day, and how 5 205X
many did she sell daily? Note
that the answer is not zero. It is given that she disposed of
Submitted her entire stock on the fifth day.
Answer But from the table above, the
number of eggs remaining are
She took 103 eggs to market (120N-206X). Hence,
on the first day and sold 60 120N - 206X = 0
eggs everyday. 120N = 206X
60N = 103X
Let's assume that she had N
eggs on the first day and she The smallest value of N and X
sold X eggs everyday. Putting must be 103 and 60
down the given information in respectively. Hence, she took
the table as follow. 103 eggs to market on the first
day and sold 60 eggs everyday.
Eggs John lives in "Friends Society"
at the where all the houses are in a
Eggs Eggs
Days start row and are numbered
Sold Remaining
of the sequentially starting from 1. His
day house number is 109.
equations are in A.P. Hence,

Jessy lives in the same society. using A.P. summation formaula,
All the house numbers on the
left side of Jessy's house add
up exactly the same as all the [(X-1)/2][2*(1) + (X-1-1)] = [(N-
house numbers on the right X)/2][2*(X+1) + (N-X-1)]
side of her house. [X-1][(2) + (X-2)] = [N-X][(2X+2)
+ (N-X-1)]
What is the number of Jessy's (X-1)(X) = (N-X)(N+X+1)
house? Find the minimal X2 - X = N2 + NX + N - NX - X2 -
possible answer. X
Answer X 2 = N2 + N - X 2
2X2 = N2 + N
There are 288 houses and X2 = (N2 + N)/2
Jessy's house number is 204. X2 = N(N+1)/2
Now, using Trial and Error

Let's assume that in the method to find values of N and
"Friends Society" there are total X such that above equation is
N houses numbered from 1 to satisfied, we get
N and Jessy's house number is
X. 1. N = 8, X = 6
2. N = 49, X = 35
Now it is given that all the 3. N = 288, X = 204
house numbers on the left side 4. N = 1681, X = 1189
of Jessy's house add up exactly 5. N = 9800, X = 6930
the same as all the house
numbers on the right side of her But we require minimal possible
house. Hence, answer and it is given that
1 + 2 + 3 + ..... + (X-1) = (X+1) John's house number is 109. It
+ (X+2) + (X+3) + ..... + N means that there are atleast
109 houses. Hence, first two
Both the sides of the above are not possible. And the
answer is : there are 288 A group of friends went on a

houses and Jessy's house holiday to a hill station. It rained
number is 204. for 13 days. But when it rained
Makayla had $1.19 in change. in the morning, the afternoon
None of the coins was a dollar. was lovely. And when it rained
in the afternoon, the day was
Nicole ask her for change for a preceded by clear morning.
dollar, but Makayla could not
make change. Altogether there were 11 very
nice mornings and 12 very nice
What coins did she have? afternoons. How many days did
Submitted their holiday last?
Answer Answer
As it is given that Makayla had The holiday last for 18 days.

$1.19, it means she would have
four pennies. Now, the Let's assume the number of
remaining $1.15 in coins must days as follows:
not add up for exactly a dollar. Rain in the morning and lovely
Therefore she would not have 4 afternoon = X days
quarters or 2 quarters and 5 Clear morning and rain in the
dimes. But she would have afternoon = Y days
either 1 quarter or 3 quarters. No rain in the morning and in
Hence, there are 2 solutions. the afternoon = Z days
Solution I Number of days with rain = X +

1 Quarter, 9 Dimes, 4 Pennies Y = 13 days
(0.25 + 0.90 + 0.04 = $1.19) Number of days with clear
mornings = Y + Z = 11 days
Solution II Number of days with clear
3 Quarters, 4 Dimes, 4 Pennies afternoons = X + Z = 12 days
(0.75 + 0.40 + 0.04 = $1.19)
Solving above 3 equations, we
get X = 7, Y = 6 and Z = 5 Y F Y
Hence, total number of days on ----------

holiday = 18 days -
A Y | N E L L Y
to make the following Division | N L Y
true
---------------
-
P P L
P N H
---------
-
N L Y
N L Y
---------
-
0 0 0
there must be a one-to-one
for the letter N, no other letter
can be 3 and all other N in the

puzzle must be 3. 5 6 5
Submitted by : Calon Y F Y
Answer
-----------
See the pattern of the Y. AY * Y -----------
= NLY i.e. Y is multiplied by Y
and the last digit of the answer 3 5 | 1 9 7 7 5
is also Y. Thus, the value of Y A Y | N E L L Y
would be 5 or 6.
| 1 7 5
Also, | N L Y
H=0 as L - H = L
P = 2N as P - N = N -----------
L - Y = P = 2N -----------
E-L=p
2 2 7
Let's find out the minimum P P L
possible values. If N=1, then
P=2, Y=5, L=7 and E=9. Note 2 1 0
that the value of Y can not be 6 P N H
as it makes L=8 and E=10
which is not possible. Hence, -----------
Y=5, N=1, P=2, L=7, E=9, H=0 -----------
1 7 5
Now, using trial-n-error or
N L Y
rather solving F*AY=PNH, we
get F=6 and A=3.
1 7 5
N L Y
-----------
-----------
0 0 0 RAHUL
0 0 0
|
Here is the family tree of Mr.
RAHUL -----------------
-----------------------
-----
| |
| |
RATISH
YASH OM
TRILOK
|
| ?
--------
------------------
| |
| | |
AMAR AMIT
RAM HARSH ASHOK
|
|
-----
-------
The group must contain one

| | leader, two bomb-experts and
| | | two soldiers.
How many children does Mr. P, Q and R are possible bomb-

TRILOK have? experts. R, S and T are
Answer possible leaders. U, V and W
are possible soldiers. Also, P
TRILOK have 5 children. and R prefers to work with each
other in the same team. T
Name of the person and prefers to work only if V works.
number of his children are
related by some pattern. How many different possible
Groups, Major Jasbir can
Assign each vowel following make?
values. Answer
A=0 E=1 I=2 O=3 U=4
Major Jasbir can make 8
The number of children to any different possible groups.
person is the sum of the values
represented by vowels in his As 2 bomb-experts to be
name. selected from the given 3 and
RATISH = 0(A) + 2(I) = 2 also P & R prefers to work
OM = 3(O) = 3 together, PR must be there in
AMIT = 0(A) + 2(I) = 2 all the possible Groups. Also, T
ASHOK = 0(A) + 3(O) = 3 prefers to work only if V works.
TRILOK = 2(I) + 3(O) = 5 It doesn't mean that V won't
work without T.
Hence, TRILOK have 5
children. Hence, possible groups are:
PR - S - UV
Major Jasbir is forming five- PR - S - VW
person Special Task Group. PR - S - WU
available - Moon Plus, Mony

PR - T - UV and Mee TV.
PR - T - VW
Out of 4000 TV viewers in the
PQ - R - UV village, 1500 watch Moon TV,
PQ - R - VW 2000 watch Mony and 2500
PQ - R - WU watch Mee TV.
Hence, there 8 different groups Amongst these, 500 viewers

are possible. watch Moon Plus and Mony,
The secret agent X emailed 800 watch Moon Plus and Mee
some code to his head office. TV, and 1000 watch Mony and
They are "RADAR, LEVEL, Mee TV.
ROTOR, REDIVIDER,
MOTOR". But four of these five How many viewers watch all
words have something in three channels?
common and one is fake. Answer
Can you tell which one is fake? 300 viewers watch all three
Ignore the fact that four of the channels.
code-words are of the same
length. Let's assume that total X
Answer viewers watch all three
channels.
The fake code-word is
MOTOR. total viewers who watch only
Moon Plus and Mony = 500-X
All the code-words except total viewers who watch only
MOTOR are Palindromes. Moon Plus and Mee TV = 800-
Brain Teaser No : 00287 X
total viewers who watch only
In the village called TALAJA, Mony and Mee TV = 1000-X
only three TV channels are
total viewers who watch only is my father's son."

Moon Plus
= 1500 - (500-X) - (800-X) - X Now whose picture is the man
= 200 + X looking at?
Answer
total viewers who watch only
Mony The man is looking at his
= 2000 - (500-X) - (1000-X) - X FATHER's portrait.
= 500 + X
"my father's son" is the man
total viewers who watch only himself as he do not have any
Mee TV brothers and sisters. So the
= 2500 - (1000-X) - (800-X) - X statement reduces to "this
= 700 + X man's son is myself." Now it is
clear that the portrait is of his
We know that total viewers are father.
4000. Summing up all 7 values, Given the following facts:
X + (500 - X) + (800 - X) + 1. Dinesh is younger than

(1000 - X) + (200 + X) + (500 + Farukh and older than
X) + (700 + X) = 4000 Gurmit.
X + 3700 = 4000 2. Jatin is younger than
X = 300 Chandu and older than
Eshrat.
Hence, total 300 viewers watch 3. Amit is younger than Irfan
all three channels. and older than Chandu.
A man was looking at a portrait. 4. Farukh is younger than
Someone asked him, "Whose Bhavin and older than
picture are you looking at?" Hemant.
5. Irfan is younger than
He replied, pointing at the Gurmit and older than
portrait: "Brothers and sisters Jatin.
have I none, but this man's son
6. Hemant is older than Bhavin and Hemant. Also,

Gurmit. Chandu is younger than Amit
and Irfan. But as seen earlier,
Who is the Youngest? Eshrat is younger than Gurmit
Answer and Chandu.
Eshrat is the youngest. Hence, Eshrat is the youngest.

Last Saturday Milan went for
Discard whoever are older than the late night show and came
someone. late. In the morning family
members asked him which
From (1) Gurmit is younger movie did he see. He gave
than Dinesh and Farukh. different answers to everyone.
From (5) Jatin is younger than
Irfan and Gurmit. • He told to his father that
From (2) Eshrat is younger than he had gone to see
Jatin and Chandu. MONEY.
• According to his mom, he
From above 3 deductions, saw either JOHNY or
Eshrat is younger than Dinesh, BABLU.
Farukh, Irfan, Gurmit, Jatin and • His elder brother came to
Chandu. know that he saw BHABI.
• To his sister, he told
Also, ROBOT.
From (3) Chandu is younger • And his grandpa heard
than Amit and Irfan. that he saw BUNNY.
From (4) Hemant is younger
than Farukh and Bhavin. Thus, Milan gave six movie
From (6) Gurmit is younger names, all five letter words. But
than Hemant. he saw some other movie with
five letter word. Moreover, each
From above 3 deductions, of the six movie names
Gurmit is younger than Farukh, mentioned above has exactly
two letters common with the required movie must have

movie he saw. (with the same either N at the third place or Y
positions) at the fifth place or both.
Can you tell which movie did From the above 3 deduction,
Milan see? either Y is at fifth place or O is
Answer at the second place and N is at
the third & fourth place. The
Milan saw BOBBY. later combination is not
possible as BABLU, BHABI &
The six movie names are - ROBOT will need at least 3
MONEY, JOHNY, BABLU, other letters which makes the
BHABI, ROBOT and BUNNY. required movie 6 letter long.
Hence, the required movie
Compare MONEY and JOHNY. must have Y at the fifth place.
They have O common at the
second place and Y common at Now Y is not there in BABLU
the fifth place. Also, they can't and BHABI at the fifth place
have two different letters each, and they have only B common
common with the required at the first place. Hence, B
movie as the letters in must be the first letter.
remaining three places are all
different. Thus, the required As B is at the first place and Y
movie must have either O at is at the fifth place and every
the second place or Y at the movie has exactly 2 letters
fifth place or both. common with the required
movie. From BUNNY, the
Similarly, comparing JOHNY required movie do not have U
and BUNNY - the required at the second place and N at
movie must have either N at the the third and fourth place. Now
fourth place or Y at the fifth looking at JOHNY and MONEY,
place or both. Also, comparing they must have O common at
MONEY and BUNNY - the the second place.
can not be true. Thus, either the

Using the same kind of statement made on day 1 or
arguments for BABLU, BHABI day 3 is true and other is false.
and ROBOT, we can conclude Also, the statement made on
that Milan saw BOBBY. day 2 must be false i.e. day 1 is
not Saturday, Friday or
Jim lies a lot. He tells the truth Wednesday.
on only one day in a week.
Let's assume that the statement
One day he said: "I lie on 1 is true. Then from the
Mondays and Tuesdays." statement 3, day 1 must be
The next day he said: "Today is either Friday or Wednesday.
either Sunday, Saturday or But it is already deduced that
Thursday." day 1 is not Saturday, Friday or
The next day he said: "I lie on Wednesday.
Fridays and Wednesdays."
Hence, the statement made on
On which day of the week does day 1 is false and the last
Jim tell the truth? statement is true. then from the
Answer statement 1, day 3 must be
either Monday or Tuesday. But
Jim tells the truth on it is already deduced that day 1
Tuesday. can not be Saturday i.e. day 3
can't be Monday. Hence, Jim
As Jim tells truth only on one tells the truth on Tuesday.
day in a week, his statement on
day 1 and day 3 both can not 4 men can dig 4 holes in 4
be false. Otherwise he tells days.
truth on more than one days in
a week. Also, all three How many hours does it take
statements are mad on three for 1 man to dig half a hole?
consecutive days, statement Submitted
made on day 1 and day 3 both
Answer
How can he collect 8 gallons of
There is nothing like "HALF water using three unmarked
HOLE". buckets? Provide solution with
Consider a chessboard with a minimal water wastage.
single Rook. A Rook can move Answer
any number of square
sideways/forward, but not Here is the solution with 10
diagonally. gallon water wastage.
OPERATIONS 6 6 11
What is the minimum number of
moves the Rook needs to Fill 6 gallon bucket with
6 0 0
make, in order to pass over all water
the squares on the chessboard Empty 6 gallon bucket
and return to the original 0 0 6
into 11 gallon bucket
position?
Answer Fill 6 gallon bucket with
6 0 6
water
16 moves Fill 11 gallon bucket to
full using filled 6 gallon
As a Rook can move any bucket. This will leave 1 1 0 11
number of square gallon water in 6 gallon
sideways/forward, but not bucket
diagonally and there are 8 rows
Empty 11 gallon bucket
and 8 columns on the
into second 6 gallon 1 6 5
chessboard; the Rook needs
bucket.
minimum 16 moves to pass
over all the squares and return Empty 11 gallon bucket
to the original position. - wastage of 5 gallon 1 6 0
A farmer needs 8 gallons of water
water. He has only three Empty second 6 gallon 1 0 6
unmared buckets, two 6 gallon bucket into 11 gallon
and one 11 gallon bucket.
bucket Answer
Fill seccond 6 gallon Only 0 1 6 8 and 9 can be read

1 6 6
bucket with water upside down. So on
Fill 11 gallon bucket to rearranging these digits we get
full using filled second 6 the answer as 10968.
gallon bucket. This will 1 1 11 Jack and Jill are playing cards
leave 1 gallon water in for a stake of $1 a game. At the
second 6 gallon bucket end of the evening, Jack has
won 3 games and Jill has won
Fill first 6 gallon bucket $3. How many games did they
with 1 gallon water play?
2 0 11
which is in second 6 Submitted by : Nathalie
gallon bucket Drouin
Empty 11 gallon bucket Answer
into second 6 gallon 2 6 5
bucket. They played total of 9 games.
Jack won 3 games and Jill won
Empty 11 gallon bucket
6 games.
- wastage of 5 gallon 2 6 0
water
If Jack has won three games
Fill 11 gallon bucket and Jill has won $3, she lost a
with water in both the 6 0 0 11 dollar for each loss, therefore
gallon buckets she has won 6 and lost 3 to
I bought a car with a peculiar 5 make $3 and he won the other
digit numbered licence plate 3 that she lost!
which on reversing could still be
read. On reversing value is Sam and Mala have a
increased by 78633. conversation.
Whats the original number if all • Sam says I am certainly

digits are different? not over 40
• Mala says I am 38 and between their age is maximum

you are atleast 5 years 4 years. Hence, there is only
older than me one possible pair i.e. 41 and
• Now Sam says you are 37, all other combination have
atleast 39 differences more then 4.
All the statements by the two Hence the answer - Sam is 41

are false. How old are they and Mala is 37.
really? A person travels on a cycle
Answer from home to church on a
straight road with wind against
Sam is 41 and Mala is 37. him. He took 4 hours to reach
there.
Let's invert the teaser and read
it like this : On the way back to the home,
he took 3 hours to reach as
• Sam says I am certainly wind was in the same direction.
over 40
• Mala says I am not 38
and you are atmost 4 If there is no wind, how much
years older than me time does he take to travel from
• Now Sam says you are home to church?
atmost 38 Answer
From first statement it is clear Let distance between home
that Sam is over 40. Also, from and church is D.
next 2 statements it is clear that
Mala is less then 38. Hence the A person took 4 hours to reach
possibilities are : church. So speed while
Sam = 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, ...... travelling towards church is
Mala = 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, ...... D/4.
It also says that the difference Similarly, he took 3 hours to
reach home. So speed while Answer

coming back is D/3.
(2N - 3) telephone calls, for N =
There is a speed difference of 2,3
7*D/12, which is the wind (2N - 4) telephone calls, for N >
helping person in 1 direction, & 3
slowing him in the other
direction. Average the 2 Divide the N secret agents into
speeds, & you have the speed two groups. If N is odd, one
that person can travel in no group will contain one extra
wind, which is 7*D/24. agent.
Hence, person will take D / Consider first group: agent 1

(7*D/24) hours to travel will call up agent 2, agent 2 will
distance D which is 24/7 hours. call up agent 3 and so on.
Similarly in second group,
Answer is 3 hours 25 minutes agent 1 will call up agent 2,
42 seconds agent 2 will call up agent 3 and
There are N secret agents each so on. After (N - 2) calls, two
know a different piece of secret agents in each the group will
information. They can know anything that anyone
telephone each other and knew in his group, say they are
exchange all the information Y1 & Y2 from group 1 and Z1 &
they know. After the telephone Z2 from group 2.
call, they both know anything
that either of them knew before Now, Y1 will call up Z1 and Y2
the call. will call up Z2. Hence, in next
two calls total of 4 agents will
What are the minimum number know everything.
of telephone calls needed so
that all of the them know Now (N - 4) telephone calls are
everything? reqiured for remaining (N - 4)
secret agents.
5. K, who knows JK will call

Total telephone calls require up N, who knows LMN.
are 6. L will call up to anyone of
= (N - 2) + 2 + (N - 4) four.
= 2N - 4
Mrs. F has invited several
Let\'s take an example. Say wives of delegates to the
there are 4 secret agents W, X, United Nations for an informal
Y & Z. Divide them into two luncheon. She plans to seat her
groups of 2 each i.e. (W, X) and 9 guests ina row such that each
(Y, Z). Here, 4 telephone calls lady will be able to converse
are required. with the person directly to her
left and right. She has prepared
1. W will call up X. the following list.
2. Y will call up Z.
3. W, who knows WX will Mrs. F speaks English only.
call up Y, who knows YZ. Mrs. G speaks English and
4. X, who knows WX will call French.
up Z, who knows YZ. Mrs. H speaks English and
Russian.
Take an another example. Say Mrs. J speaks Russian only.
there are 5 secret agents J, K, Mrs. K speaks English only.
L, M & N. Divide them into two Mrs. L speaks French only.
groups i.e. (J, K) and (L, M, N). Mrs. M speaks French and
Here, 6 telephone calls are German.
required. Mrs. N speaks English and
German.
1. J will call up K. Mrs. O speaks English only.
2. L will call up M.
3. M will call up N. Now M How many distinct seating
and N know LMN. arrangements are possible?
4. J, who knows JK will call Give all possible seating
up M, who knows LMN. arrangements.
Mrs. M speaks
Note that ABCD and DCBA are French and
the same. German, and Mrs.
Answer N is the only other
German speaker.
126 distinct seating Thus, the possible
arrangements are possible. seating
arrangement is
Mrs. J and Mrs. H must be JHxxxNMGL,
together and Mrs. J must be at where x is the
the end as Mrs. J speaks only English speakers.
Russian and Mrs. H is the only Mrs. F, Mrs. K and
other Russian speaker. Mrs. O can be
arranged in
Mrs. L speaks only French and remaining 3
there are two others - Mrs. G positions in 3!
and Mrs. M - who speak different ways i.e. 6
French. Here there are 2 cases. ways.
• CASE A : Mrs. L is at the o CASE AB : Mrs. M

other end seats next to Mrs.
If Mrs. L is at the other L
end, either Mrs. G or Mrs. If so, then either
M must seat next to her. Mrs. N or Mrs. G
must seat next to
o CASE AA : Mrs. G Mrs. M
seats next to Mrs.
L  CASE ABA :
Then, Mrs. M must Mrs. N seats
seat next to Mrs. G next to Mrs.
and Mrs. N must M
seat next to Mrs. M. Thus, the
This is because possible
seating
arrangement positions in 4!
is different ways
JHxxxxNML, i.e. 24 ways.
where x is the
English
speakers.
Mrs. F, Mrs. • CASE B : Mrs. L does
G, Mrs. K and not seat at the end
Mrs. O can be It means that Mrs. G, Mrs.
arranged in L and Mrs. M must seat
remaining 4 together. Also, Mrs. L
positions in 4! must seat between Mrs.
different ways G and Mrs. M.
i.e. 24 ways.
 CASE ABB :
Mrs. G seats o CASE BA : Mrs. G
next to Mrs. seats left and Mrs.
M M seats right to
Thus, the Mrs. L i.e. GLM
possible
seating
arrangement
 CASE BAA :
is
GLM is at the
JHxxxxGML,
other end
where x is the
Thus, the
English
possible
speakers.
seating
Mrs. F, Mrs. K,
arrangement
Mrs. N and
is
Mrs. O can be
JHxxxxGLM,
arranged in
where x is the
remaining 4
English
speakers. of four
Mrs. F, Mrs. K, females with
Mrs. N and English
Mrs. O can be speakers at
arranged in the both ends.
remaining 4 Thus, there
positions in 4! are 4! different
different ways ways i.e. 24
i.e. 24 ways. ways.
 CASE BAB :
GLM is not at
the other end o CASE BB : Mrs. M
seats left and Mrs.
Then Mrs. N G seats right to
must seat Mrs. L i.e. MLG
next to Mrs. Then, Mrs. N must
M. Now, we seat next to Mrs. M.
have a group Now, we have a
of four GLMN group of four NMLG
where Mrs. G where Mrs. G and
and Mrs. N Mrs. N speak
speak English. Thus, the
English. Thus, possible seating
the possible arrangement is
seating JHxxxX, where x is
arrangement the individual
is JHxxxX, English speakers
where x is the and X is the group
individual of four females with
English English speakers at
speakers and the both ends.
X is the group Thus, there are 4!
different ways i.e. and 9 is given by 2520. Hence,

24 ways. the required number is 2519
Thus, total different possible Three friends divided some

seating arrangements are : bullets equally. After all of them
= 6 (case AA) + 24 (case ABA) shot 4 bullets the total number
+ 24 (case ABB) + 24 (case of bullets remaining is equal to
BAA) + 24 (case BAB) + 24 the bullets each had after
(case BB) division. Find the original
= 126 seating arrangements number divided.
Answer
Thus, 126 distinct seating
arrangements are poosible. 18
What is the smallest number
which when divided by 10 Assume that initial there were
leaves a remainder of 9, when 3*X bullets.
divided by 9 leaves a remainder
of 8, when divided by 8 leaves So they got X bullets each after
a remainder of 7, when divided division.
by 7 leaves a remainder of 6
and so on until when divided by All of them shot 4 bullets. So
2 leaves a remainder of 1? now they have (X - 4) bullets
Answer each.
The smallest such number is But it is given that,after they

2519. shot 4 bullets each, total
number of bullets remaining is
The easiest way is to find the equal to the bullets each had
Least Common Multiple (LCM) after division i.e. X
of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. And
subtract 1 from it. Therefore, the equation is
3 * (X - 4) = X
The LCM of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 3 * X - 12 = X
2 * X = 12
X=6
O N E
Therefore the total bullets
before division is = 3 * X = 18 O N E
O N E
Everyday in his business a
merchant had to weigh + O N E
amounts from 1 kg to 121 kgs,
to the nearest kg. What are the -------
minimum number of different
weights required and how T E N
heavy should they be? Answer
The minimum number is 5 and
they should weigh 1, 3, 9, 27 Use trial and error. 0 =1, N = 8
and 81 kgs ,E = 2, T = 7
Replace each letter by a digit.
Each letter must be 1 8 2
represented by the same digit
and no beginning letter of a 1 8 2
word can be 0.
1 8 2
+ 1 8 2
------
7 2 8
A man is on a search for
Atlantis and comes upon an
island where all the inhabitants
know whether Atlantis is still
around or not. Answer II"Do you believe that

the Statement that you are a
However, all of the inhabitants Fairy is equivalent to the
are either Fairies or Trolls and statement that Atlantis is still
they all use a spell to appear around?"
humanoid so you cannot tell Brain Teaser No : 00276
which is which. And the Faries
always tell the truth and the A frog starts climbing 15 feet
Trolls always lie, but there is a wall. Each hour he climbs 3 feet
slight complication, some of the and rests for 30 minutes.
Fairies have gone insane and During rest, he slips back 2
always lie and some of the feet.
Trolls have also gone insane
and always tell the truth. How many hours does the frog
take to reach the top? Answer
So here is your task: you must
ask the first inhabitant that you 19 hours
come to ONE question and
from that ONE question you A frog climbs 1 foot per 1 1/2
must determine wether Atlantis hours as during 30 minutes rest
is still around or not. he slips back 2 feet. This way
he will climb 12 feet in 18
What is the question that you hours. In next hour he will climb
must ask? 3 more feet i.e. he will complete
Answer 15 feet in 19 hours and will
reach the top of the wall.
There are 2 answers to it: If a bear eats 65 pounds in fish
every day EXCEPT every 6th
Answer I"Is the statement that day which it only eats 45
you are reliable equivalent to pounds of fish.
the statement that Atlantis is
still around?" If the bear continues this, how
many pounds of fish will it eat in
200 days?
Submitted by : David Now while connecting the
Answer points you have to follow one
rule - the lines cannot cross
The bear will eat 12,340 over each other.
pounds of fish in 200 days. A B
C
It is given that on every 6th day
beareats 45 pounds of fish i.e. 1 2
on day number 6, 12, 18, 24, 3
.... 192, 198 the bear eats 45 PS : You can arrange the points
pounds of fish. in order as long as the lines DO
NOT cross over each other.
Total number of 6th days = Answer
200/6 = 33 (the bear eats 45
pounds) There is no solution to it, if you
Hence, the normal days are = consider 2 dimensions. It is
200 - 33 = 167 (the bear eats impossible to join each of
65 pounds) points A, B and C with points 1,
2 and 3 without lines crossing
Thus, in 200 days, the bear will each other.
eat
= (167) * (65) + (33) * (45) There is solution, if you
= 10855 + 1485 consider 3 dimensions.
= 12,340 pounds Consider a circular base and a
You have 3 points labelled A, B line perpendicular to it passing
and C. You then have another 3 from the center. Now take any 3
points labelled 1, 2 and 3. The points along the perimeter of
aim of the puzzle is to connect the circular base as points 1, 2
point A with point 1, 2 and 3. and 3. Similarly take any 3
Point B with point 1, 2 and 3 points along the perpendicular
and point C with point 1, 2 and line as points A, B and C. Now
3. it is quite simple to join each of
points A, B and C with points 1, Brain Teaser No : 00477

2 and 3 without any of the lines
crossing each other. Suppose five bales of hay are
weighed two at a time in all
The other possible 3D structure possible ways. The weights in
is Pyramid. Take points 1, 2 and pounds are 110, 112, 113, 114,
3 as a vertices of the triangular 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, and
base and points A, B and C 121.
along the height of the Pyramid
which is perpendicular to the How much does each bale
triangular base and passing weigh?
through the apex. Submitted by : Travis
Lara
Answer 4*(B1 + B2 + B3 + B4 + B5) =
1156
They weigh 54, 56, 58, 59, 62 (B1 + B2 + B3 + B4 + B5) = 289
pounds. pounds
Let's assume that the weight of Now, B1 and B2 must add to

five bales are B1, B2, B3, B4 110 as they are the lightest one.
and B5 pounds respectively.
Also, B1 <= B2 <= B3 <= B4 <= B1 + B2 = 110
B5
Similarly, B4 and B5 must add
It is given that five bales of hay to 121 as they are the heaviest
are weighed two at a time in all one.
possible ways. It means that B4 + B5 = 121
each of the bale is weighted
four times. From above three equation, we
Thus, get B3 = 58 pounds
4*(B1 + B2 + B3 + B4 + B5) =
(110 + 112 + 113 + 114 + 115 + Also, it is obvious that B1 and
116 + 117 + 118 + 120 + 121) B3 will add to 112 - the next
possible higher value. Similarly,

B3 and B5 will add to 120 - the If the color of the horse is Black
next possible lower value. - all are lying.
B1 + B3 = 112
B3 + B5 = 120 If the color of the horse is
Brown - all are telling truth.
Substituting B3 = 58, we get B1
= 54 and B5 = 62 Thus, the horse is neither
Black nor Brown.
From 2 & 3 equations, we get
B2 = 56 and B4 = 59 If the color of the horse is Grey
- Pinto and Sandy are telling
Hence, the weight of five bales truth whereas Andy is lying.
are 54, 56, 58, 59 and 62
pounds. If the color of the horse is other
than Black, Brown and Grey -
Pinto says, "The horse is not Pinto is telling truth whereas
Black." Sandy and Andy are lying.
Sandy says, "The horse is
either Brown or Grey." You must have noticed that for
Andy says, "The horse is the given conditions, Pinto is
Brown." always telling truth whereas
Andy is always lying
At least one is telling truth and
at least one is lying. Brain Teaser No : 00258
Can you tell the color of the Three convicts are brought into
horse? the warden's office. He says he
Answer can parole one of them and to
decide which one he will parole
The color of the horse can be he takes out 5 hats (3 red and 2
any color other than Black white). He stands behind them
and Brown. and places a hat on each one
of their heads and puts the The second man looks at the
other two remaining hats in a others hats and says, "I don't
drawer. know."
He tells the prisioners they can The third man who is blind
look at the others hats and if says, "Even though I have not
they can tell which hat they the gift of sight I can tell by
have on they will be the one what the others have said that
who is paroled. the color of my hat is..."
The first man looks at the other What color is the blind mans
two and says, "I don't know." hat and how does he know?
Submitted
Answer 1) R R R
The color of blind man's hat 2) R R W

is Red.
3) R W R
It is sure that the first man saw
either both Red hats or one 4) W R R
White hat and one Red hat.
There are 6 such possibilities: 5) W R W
6) W W R
In all above possibilities, the
first man won't be sure of the
color of his hat.
Now, the second man knows

that the first man saw either
both Red hats or one White hat
and one Red hat. And, he also
knows that its one of the above
6 possibilities. (like we know ;)) color of his hat (Red) by just

But he says, "I don't know". looking at the third man's color
That means that (2) and (5) are of hat (White).
not the possibilities as in either
case he would be sure of the
Now, the blind man knows that (1), (3), (4), (6) - and in all, the
there are just 4 possibilities - color of his hat is Red
What is the minimum number of
Three Gold (G) coins, three moves required to get all the
Silver (S) coins and three coins in following order?
Copper (C) coins are arranged C C C S
in a single row as follow: S S G G G
G S C G Show all moves.
S C G S C Answer
• Only 2 adjacent unlike Minimum number of moves

coins can be moved at are 8.
any one time.
• The moved coins must be M
in contact with at least o
one other coin in line. i.e. Order of Coins
v
no pair of coins is to be e
moved and placed away
from the remaining ones. 0 GS CGS CGS C
• No coin pairs can be
reversed i.e. a S-C 1 GS GS CGS C C
combination must remain
in that order in its new 2 G S CGS C CSG
positionwhen it is moved.
3 GS C GS C CSG
hours after they started

4 GS CCS GS C G
travelling towards each other.
5 GS CC SCSG G Also, trains were travelling at
the speed of 60 km/h. So, each
6 GS CCCS S G G train traveled 120 km before
they met.
7 CCCSS GGS G
Hence, the trains were 240 km
8 CCCS S S GGG apart initially.
A fly is flying between two
trains, each travelling towards What is the minimum number of
each other on the same track at numbers needed to form every
60 km/h. The fly reaches one number from 1 to 7,000?
engine, reverses itself
immediately, and flies back to Example: To form 4884, you
the other engine, repeating the would need 2 4s & 2 8s. 4822
process each time. requires a 4, a 8, & 2 2s, but
you would not count the
The fly is flying at 90 km/h. If numbers again that you had
the fly flies 180 km before the already counted from making
trains meet, how far apart were 4884.
the trains initially? Answer
Answer
36
Initially, the trains were 240
km apart. You will need 3 of numbers 0,
7, 8 & 9, & 4 of numbers 1-6.
The fly is flying at the speed of A drinks machine offers three
90 km/h and covers 180 km. selections - Tea, Coffee or
Hence, the fly flies for 2 hours Random (Either tea or Coffee)
after trains started. but the machine has been
wired up wrongly so that each
It's obvious that trains met 2 button does not give what it
claims. 50p and pressing Random

selection first.
If each drink costs 50p, how You have 13 balls which all look
much minimum money do you identical. All the balls are the
have to put into the machine to same weight except for one.
work out which button gives Using only a balance scale, can
which selection? find the odd one out with only 3
Submitted weighings?
Answer
Is it possible to always tell if the
You have to put just 50p. odd one out is heavier or lighter
than the other balls?
Put 50p and push the button for Submitted by : Brett
Random. There are only 2 Hurrell
possibilities. It will give either Answer
Tea or Coffee.
It is always possible to find odd
• If it gives Tea, then the ball in 3 weighings and in most
button named Random is of the cases it is possible to tell
for Tea. The button whether the odd ball is heavier
named Coffee is for or lighter. Only in one case, it is
Random selection. And not possible to tell the odd ball
the button named Tea is is whether heavier or lighter.
for Coffee.
• If it gives Coffee, then the 1. Take 8 balls and weigh 4
button named Random is against 4.
for Coffee. The button o If both are not
named Tea is for Random equal, goto step 2
selection. And the button o If both are equal,
named Coffee is for Tea. goto step 3
Thus, you can make out which

button is for what by putting just
2. One of these 8 balls is the o If (H1, H2, L1) is

odd one. Name the balls heavier side on the
on heavier side of the scale, either H1 or
scale as H1, H2, H3 and H2 is heavier.
H4. Similarly, name the Weight H1 against
balls on the lighter side of H2
the scale as L1, L2, L3  If both are
and L4. Either one of H's equal, there is
is heavier or one of L's is some error.
lighter. Weigh (H1, H2,  If H1 is heavy,
L1) against (H3, H4, X) H1 is the odd
where X is one ball from ball and is
the remaining 5 balls in heavier.
intial weighing.  If H2 is heavy,
H2 is the odd
o If both are equal, ball and is
lighter. Weigh L2
against L3.
 If both are
the odd ball heavier side on the
L2 is the odd is lighter. Weight H3
ball and is against H4
lighter.  If both are
 If L3 is light, equal, L1 is
L3 is the odd the odd ball
ball and is and is lighter.
lighter.  If H3 is heavy,
H3 is the odd
ball and is ball and is

heavier. heavier.
 If H4 is heavy,  If C4 is light,
H4 is the odd C4 is the odd
ball and is ball and is
heavier. lighter.
3. One of the remaining 5 o If (C1, C2, C3) is

balls is the odd one. heavier side, one of
Name the balls as C1, C1, C2, C3 is the
C2, C3, C4, C5. Weight odd ball and is
(C1, C2, C3) against (X1, heavier. Weigh C1
X2, X3) where X1, X2, X3 and C2.
are any three balls from  If both are
the first weighing of 8 equal, C3 is
balls. the odd ball
and is heavier.
o If both are equal,  If C1 is heavy,
one of remaining 2 C1 is the odd
balls is the odd i.e. ball and is
either C4 or C5. heavier.
Weigh C4 with X1  If C2 is heavy,
 If both are C2 is the odd
equal, C5 is ball and is
the odd ball. heavier.
But you can
not tell
whether it is
heavier or o If (C1, C2, C3) is
lighter. lighter side, one of
 If C4 is heavy, C1, C2, C3 is the
C4 is the odd odd ball and is
lighter. Weigh C1 grids i.e. 4 by 4

and C2. There is 1 square of twenty-five
 If both are girds i.e. 5 by 5
equal, C3 is
the odd ball Hence, there are total 25 + 16 +
and is heavier. 9 + 4 + 1 = 55 squares.
 If C1 is light,
C1 is the odd You must have noticed one
ball and is thing that total number squares
lighter. possible of each size is always
 If C2 is light, a perfact square i.e. 25, 16, 9,
C2 is the odd 4, 1
ball and is
lighter. For a grid of N by N, the
possible number of squares are
How many squares are there in
a 5 inch by 5 inch square grid? = N2 + (N - 1)2 + (N - 2)2 + (N -
Note that the grid is made up of 3)2 + ......... + 32 + 22 + 12
one inch by one inch squares.
Submitted by : Kristin For 1 by 1 grid, total squares =
Monroe 12 = 1
Answer For 2 by 2 grid, total squares =
22 + 1 2 = 5
There are 55 squares in a 5 For 3 by 3 grid, total squares =
by 5 grid. 32 + 22 + 12 = 14
For 4 by 4 grid, total squares =
There are 25 squares of one 42 + 32 + 22 + 12 = 30
grid. For 5 by 5 grid, total squares =
There are 16 squares of four 52 + 42 + 32 + 22 + 12 = 55
grids i.e. 2 by 2 Five horses ran in the race.
There are 9 squares of nine
grids i.e. 3 by 3 • There were no ties.
There are 4 squares of sixteen
• Sikandar did not come 4 Sikandar

first. 5 Mughal Glory
• Star was neither first nor
last. If you added together the
• Mughal Glory came in number of 2's in each of the
one place after Sikandar. following sets of numbers,
• Zozo was not second. which set would contain the
• Rangila was two place most 2's: 1-333, 334-666, or
below Zozo. 667-999?
Answer
In what order did the horses
finish? 1-333
Answer
The reason why is because
It's simple. 200-299 each begins with a 2!
Let's find the possible places If one person sends the e-mail
horses can finish. Possibilities to two friends, asking each of
are: them to copy the mail and send
Sikandar - 2,3,4 (not 5th as it to two of their friends, those in
Mughal Glory came one place turn send it to two of their
after him) friends and so on.
Star - 2,3,4
Mughal Glory - 3,4,5 How many e-mails would have
Zozo - 1,3 (not 4th & 5th as been sent by the time it did 30
Rangila is two place after him) sets?
Rangila - 3,5 Answer
So the result is: 2147483646

1 Zozo
2 Star First person sent the mail to 2
3 Rangila persons. Those 2 sent the mail
to 2 persons each, total 4
persons. Now, those 4 person Also, X is the closest point to

sent mail to total 8 persons, origin O on the sphere.
then 8 to 16 persons, 16 to 32 CX = 20 cms (radius)
persons and so on.... Hence, it OX = OC - CX
a series of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 upto OX = 28.28427 - 20
30 numbers OX = 8.28427 cms
It is a Geometric series with From Figure II, (7 cms

common ratio 2 and first diameter sphere)
number is also 2. Summation of OP2 = OQ2 + PQ2
such series is given by A * (Rn - OP2 = (3.5)2 + (3.5)2
1) / (R - 1) where OP = 4.94974 cms
A = First term
R = Common Ratio Also, Y is the farthest point to
n = total numbers origin O on the sphere.
PY = 3.5 cms (radius)
So total number of times mail OY = OP + PY
sent by the time it did 30 sets OY = 4.94974 + 3.5
= 2 * (230 - 1) / (2 - 1) OY = 8.44974 cms
= 2 * (1073741824 - 1)
= 2 * 1073741823 Now, as OY > OX i.e. smaller
= 2147483646 sphere requires more space
For the sake of simplicity, than the space available.
consider two-dimension i.e view Hence, smaller sphere of 7 cms
sphere as a two dimensional diameter can not pass through
circle with diameter 40 cms. the space between the big
sphere, the wall and the floor.
From Figure I, (40 cms
diameter sphere) The puzzle can be solved by
OC2 = OD2 + CD2 another method.
OC2 = 202 + 202 Draw a line tangent to the big
OC = 28.28427 cms sphere at the point X such that
X is the closest point to the
origin O on sphere. The tanget club stands a stranger seeking

will cut X and Y axes at A and B admission. A friend told him that
respectively such that OA=OB. it's easy to get in. You just have
[See Fig III] From above, to answer a question corrcetly!
OX=8.28427 cms. Answering wrong, however, will
result in being shot!
From the right angle triangle
OAB, we can deduct that To live a little longer, the man
OA = OB = 11.71572 cms waits in a back alley near the
AB = 16.56854 cms entrance for people to go in.
After a while a man comes to
Now, the diameter of the the entrance. The door warden
inscribed circle of right angle asks him: "Twelve?" to which
triangle is given by d = a + b - c he replies "Six!" and goes in.
where a <= b < c
"That's easy." our friend thinks,
The maximum possible but he waits a little longer.
diameter of the circle which can
pass through the space Another man comes to the
between the big sphere, the door. "Six?" the door warden
wall and the floor is asks, to which he replies
= OA + OB - AB "Three!" and goes in.
= 11.71572 + 11.71572 -
16.56854 "That's too good to be true" our
= 6.86291 cms friend thinks, and he was right.
Because, when asked "Four?",
Hence, the sphere with 7 cms he answered "Two!" and was
diameter can not pass through found dead in the alley.
the space between the big
sphere, the wall and the floor. What was the correct answer?
Brain Teaser No : 00347 Submitted by : Milind
Gadagkar Answer
At the entrance to a members
The correct answer was

"Four". Can a perfect sphere of
diameter 7 cms. pass through
The answer is the number of the space between the big
letters in the word spoken by sphere, the wall and the floor?
the door warden. Support your answer with valid
arguments. Don't submit just
"Twelve" contains "Six" letters "Yes" or "No".
i.e. T, W, E, L, V, E
"Six" contains "Three" letters
i.e. S, I, X
Similarly, "Four" contains "Four"
letters i.e. F, O, U, R
There is a perfect sphere of
diameter 40 cms. resting up
against a perfectly straight wall
and a perfectly straight floor i.e.
the wall and the floor make a
perfect right angle.
Sarika multiplied 414 by certain

number and obtained 69958 as If you divide 69958 by 414, you
the answer. But she found that will get 168.98. Hence, assume
there is some error in the some three digit number and
answer - both the 9s in the multiply it by 414 and use 6**58
answer are wrong and all the as the answer.
other digits are correct.
Assume three digit number
Can you find the correct such that
answer?
Answer
The correct answer is 60858.

* * * * * 7
4 1 4 4 1 4
------------- -------------
* * * * * 8
* * * 0 * * 7 0
* * * 0 0 * * 8 0 0
------------- -------------
6 * * 5 8 6 * * 5 8
It is obvious that the last digit of Now, the second last digit of the
the assumed number must be assumed number must be 4 or
7. 9. Also, the first digit of the
assumed number must be 1 as
the first digit of the answer is 6.
Using trial and error for above
two conditions, the answer is
1 4 7 canteen. What % of class takes

lunch in canteen?
4 1 4 Answer
------------- Assume there are 6X boys and

4X Girls
5 8 8
Total Students taking lunch in
1 4 7 0 canteen
= (6X)(60/100) + (4X)(40/100)
5 8 8 0 0 = 36(X/10) + 16(X/10)
= 52(X/10)
-------------
Total students are = 6X + 4X =
6 0 8 5 8 10X
Find the least number which
when divided by 35, leaves % of class taking lunch in
remainder 25; when divided by canteen
45, leaves remainder 35 and = ((52X/10) * 100 ) / 10X
when divided by 55, leaves = 52 %
remainder 45. In the following multiplication,
certain digits have been
Answer replaced with asterisks (*).
Replace all the asterisks such
3455 that the problem holds the
result.
The answer is LCM of (35, 45,
55) minus 10.
LCM of (35, 45, 55) is 3465.
Hence, the answer is 3455.
The ratio of Boys to Girls is 6:4.
60% of the boys and 40% of
the girls take lunch in the
* * 7 1 1 7
X 3 * * X 3 1 9
---------- ----------
* 0 * 3 1 0 5 3
* 1 * 1 1 7
* 5 * 3 5 1
------------- -------------
* 7 * * 3 3 7 3 2 3
Answer How long would it take you to
count 1 billion orally if you could
A simple one. count 200 every minute and
were given a day off every four
years?
Assume that you start counting

on 1 January 2001.
SubmitteAnswer
9 Years, 187 Days, 5 Hours,

20 minutes
As you can count 200 per

minute, to count 1 billion you
require
= 1,000,000,000/200 minutes
= 5,000,000 minutes
= 83,333.3333 hours I II
= 3,472.2222 days III IV V
= 9.512937 years
= 9 Years, 187 Days, 5 Hours, ----------------------
20 minutes -----------------------
-----
Note that a day off every four
year will be a Leap day. Hence, Chintan c b
no need to consider leap year. True True False
dFive students - Akash,
Chintan, Jignesh, Mukund and Akash c c
Venky - appeared for an exam. True True True
There were total five questions
- two multiple choice (a, b or c) Jignesh a c
and three true/false questions. False True True
They answered five questions
each and answered as follow. Mukund b a
True True False
Venky b b
True False True
----------------------
-----------------------
-----
Also, no two students got the
same number of correct
answers.
Can you tell which are the

correct answers? What are
their individual score?
Answer correct answers. And also,

Mukund and Venky would have
The correct answers are b, a, 2 correct answers. So no one
True, False and False. Also, got all five correct. One can
the scores are Jignesh (0), also arrive at this conclusion by
Akash (1), Chintan (2), Venky trial-and-error, but that would
(3) and Mukund (4). be bit lengthy.
As no two students got the Now, it is clear that total

same number of correct number of correct answers are
answers, the total number of 10 (0+1+2+3+4). Questions III
correct answers must be either and IV both can not be False. If
15 (1+2+3+4+5) or 10 so, total number of correct
(0+1+2+3+4). answers would not be 10. So
the student who got all wrong
Let's find out the maximum can not be Chintan, Akash and
number of correct answers Mukund.
possible from the answers
given by them. If Venky got all wrong, then
For Question I = 2 (b or c) Chintan, Jignesh and Mukund
For Question II = 2 (b or c) each would have atleast 2
For Question III = 4 (True) correct answers. It means that
For Question IV = 4 (True) Akash would have to be the
For Question V = 3 (True) student with only one correct
answer and the correct
Thus, the maximum number of answers for questions I and II
correct answers possible are 15 would be a and a respectively.
(2+2+4+4+3) which means that But then the total number of
Akash would have given all correct answers would be 1 (a)
correct answers as only he + 1 (a) + 1 (False) + 4 (True) +
answered True for questions III, 2 (Flase) = 9.
IV and V. But then Chintan and
Jignesh would have exactly 3 Thus, Jignesh is the student
with all wrong answers. The method of induction.

correct answers are b, a, True,
False and False. Also, the If there is just a one person and
scores are Jignesh (0), Akash one seat, that person has only
(1), Chintan (2), Venky (3) and one option.
Mukund (4).
If there are two persons and
Eleven boys and girls wait to two seats, it can be
take their seats in the same row accomplished in 2 different
in a movie theater. There are ways.
exactly 11 seats in the row.
If there are three persons and
They decided that after the first three seats, it can be
person sits down, the next accomplished in 4 different
person has to sit next to the ways. Remember that no
first. The third sits next to one person can take a seat that
of the first two and so on until separates him/her from at least
all eleven are seated. In other one other person.
words, no person can take a
seat that separates him/her Similarly, four persons and four
from at least one other person. seats produce 8 different ways.
And five persons with five seats
How many different ways can produce 16 different ways.
this be accomplished? Note
that the first person can choose It can be seen that with each
any of the 11 seats. additional person and seat, the
Answer different ways increase by the
power of two. For six persons
There are 1024 different with six seats, there are 32
ways. different ways.
This is the type of Brain Teaser For any number N, the different
that can be solved using the possible ways are 2(N-1)
would not be able to say the

Thus, for 11 persons and 11 number of vowels. Same
seats, total different ways are arguments can be given for
210 i.e. 1024 characters O and D.
The secret agent X emailed a
code word to his head office. Hence, the word with any one
They are "AIM DUE OAT TIE of M, O or D is not a code word
MOD". But four of these five i.e. AIM, DUE, OAT and MOD
words are fake and only one are not the code word. Thus,
contains the information. TIE is the code word.
T : two words - TIE and OAT,
The agent X also mailed a both with 2 vowels
sentence as a clue - if I tell you I : two words - TIE and AIM,
any one character of the code both with 2 vowels
word, you would be able to tell E : two words - TIE and DUE,
the number of vowels in the both with 2 vowels.
code word. Brain Teaser No : 00361
Can you tell which is the code Four men - Abraham, Bobby,
word? Clinton and Denial - are
standing in a straight line.
Answer
1. One man is fair,
The code word is TIE. handsome and
unscarred.
If you were told any one 2. Two men who are not fair,
character of MOD, then you are each standing next to
would not be able to determine Abraham.
whether the number of vowels 3. Bobby is the only man
are one or two. e.g. if you were standing next to exactly
told M, there are two words with one handsome man.
M - AIM with 2 vowels and
MOD with 1 vowel. So you
4. Clinton is the only man is fair, handsome and

not standing next to unscarred.
exactly one scarred man.
From (4), it is deduced that
Who is fair, handsome and Clinton is standing next to
unscarred? unscarred man and each of the
Answer other men standing next to
exactly one scarred man.
Clinton is fair, handsome and
unscarred. Case 1 :: Clinton (N, ?, N) :
Abraham (Y, Y, N) : ? (N, ?, Y)
From (2), both the men : ? (?, ?, Y)
standing next to Abraham are Case 2 :: ? (N, ?, Y) : Abraham
not fair. Also, exactly one man (?, ?, Y) : ? (N, ?, N) : Clinton
is fair, handsom and unscarred. (Y, Y, N)
Hence, there are two cases:
From (3), Bobby is the only
Case 1 :: ? (N, ?, ?) : Abraham man standing next to exactly
(Y, Y, N) : ? (N, ?, ?) : ? (?, ?, ?) one handsome man. But in
Case 1, Clinton is standing next
Case 2 :: ? (N, ?, ?) : Abraham to exactly one handsome man.
(?, ?, ?) : ? (N, ?, ?) : ? (Y, Y, N) Hence, Case 1 is not possible
and Case 2 is the correct one.
Note the representation - Name Case 2 :: ? (N, ?, Y) : Abraham

(Fair, Handsome, Scarred). "Y" (?, ?, Y) : ? (N, ?, N) : Clinton
stands for Yes and "N" stabds (Y, Y, N)
for No. Abraham (Y, Y, N)
means Abraham is Fair, Again from (3) and (4), there
Handsome and Unscarred. are 2 possibilities as shown
below.
It is clear that either Abraham
or the man at the extreme right Case 2a :: Denial (N, N, Y) :
Abraham (?, N, Y) : Bobby (N, Now, 50ml of the orange juice

N, N) : Clinton (Y, Y, N) is taken and poured into the
Case 2b :: Bobby (N, N, Y) : White glass. Hence, orange
Abraham (?, Y, Y) : Denial (N, colored glass contains 400 ml
N, N) : Clinton (Y, Y, N) of Orange juice and white glass
contains 450 ml of Apple juice
Thus, Clinton is fair, handsome and 50 ml of Orange juice i.e.
and unscarred. Also, Abraham total of 500 ml from white glass
may be either fair or not fair. contains 450 ml of Apple juice
An orange colored glass has and 50 ml of Orange juice. It
Orange juice and white colored means that every 50 ml from
glass has Apple juice both of white glass contains 45 ml of
equal volumes. 50ml of the Apple juice and 5 ml of
orange juice is taken and Orange juice.
poured into the white glass.
After that similarly, 50ml from Similary, 50 ml of juice from
the white glass is poured into white glass is poured into
the orange glass. orange glass. Now this 50 ml is
not a pure apple juice. It
Of the two quantities, the contains 45 ml of Apple juice
amount of apple juice in the and 5 ml of Orange juice.
orange glass and the amount of
orange juice in the white glass, Hence, Orange glass contains
which one is greater and by 405 ml of Orange juice and 45
how much? ml of Apple juice. Similary,
Answer white glass contains 405 ml of
Apple juice and 45 ml of
The two quantities are equal. Orange juice.
Solve it by taking example.

Let's assume that both glasses
contain 450 ml of juice each.
Orange White of apple juice in the orange

Glass Glass glass and the amount of orange
juice in the white glass are the
Appl Appl same.
Oran Oran
e e
ge ge
Juic Juic P.S. Here we assumed 450 ml
Juice Juice
e e as initial quantity in both the
glasses just for simplicity. You
Initiall 450 450 can try the same by assuming
0 ml 0 ml
y ml ml any other number. But the
50 ml answer is the same.
from Brain Teaser No : 00433
Oran
ge Annie, Bunnie, Candy and Dina
Glass 400 450 visited Edy on 14th February.
0 ml 50 ml
is ml ml
poure 1. The time of each visit was
d into as follows:
White - Annie at 8:00
Glass - Bunnie at 9:00
- Candy at 10:00
50 ml - Dina at 11:00
from Each time mentioned
White above may be either AM
Glass or PM.
is 405 45 405 2. Candy did not visit Edy
45 ml
poure ml ml ml between Bunnie and
d into Dina.
Oran 3. At least one female
ge visited Edy between
Glass Annie and Bunnie.
Now it is clear that the amount

4. Annie did not visit Edy (11:00AM) - Annie (8:00PM) -

before both Candy and Candy (10:00PM)
Dina.
In training for a competition,
Can you tell at what time did you find that swimming
they individually visit Edy? downstream (with the current)
Answer in a river, you can swim 2 miles
in 40 minutes, & upstream
Bunnie (9:00AM) - Dina (against the current), you can
(11:00AM) - Annie (8:00PM) - swim 2 miles in 60 minutes.
Candy (10:00PM)
How long would it take you to
From the given data, it is clear swim a mile in still water?
that at least one female visited Answer
Edy in the morning and at least
one female visited Edy in the You are able to swim
evening. Also, from (4), Annie downstream at 3 miles an hour,
did not visit Edy first. It means & upstream at 2 miles an hour.
that Annie visited Edy at 8:00 There is a difference of 1 mile
PM an hour, which is the river
helping you in 1 direction, &
From (3), Bunnie must have slowing you in the other
visited Edy at 9:00 AM. Also, direction.
either Candy or Dina or both
visited Edy in the morning. Average the 2 rates, & you
have the rate that you can swim
But from (2), only Dina must in still water, which is 2.5 miles
have visited Edy in the morning an hour.
at 11:00 AM and hence, Candy
visited Edy at 10:00 PM. You can thus swim a mile in still
water in 24 minutes.
The order of visits must be: Father's age is three years
Bunnie (9:00AM) - Dina more than three times the son's
age. After three years, father's After 3 years, son's age will be
age will be ten years more than (X + 3) years.
twice the son's age. and father's age will be (3X + 6)
years.
What is the father's present
age? But given that after 3 years
Answer father's age will be ten years
more than twice the son's age.
Let son's present age is X (3X + 6) = 2 * (X + 3) + 10 3X +
years. 6 = 2X + 16 X = 10
Hence, father's present age is Therefore, father's present age
(3X + 3) years. is 33 years
.
• A is the father of two children - B and D who are of different

sexes.
• C is B's spouse.
• E is the same sex as D.
• B and C have the two children - F who is the same sex as B
and G who is the same sex as C.
• E's mother, H who is married to L, is the sister of D's mother, M.
• E and E's spouse, I have two children - J and K who are the
same sex as I.
Note that no persons have married more than once. Also, there are
more number of females than males. Can you tell how many females
are there?
Answer Assume that there are four

sexes - male, female, X and Y.
There are 7 females and 6 Prepare the following tree
males. based on the data given :
Hence, all Y must represent

female. Thus, there are 7
sister females and 6 males.
A positive integer that, when
L(m) - H(f) added to 1000 gives a sum
-------------------- which is greater than when
M(f) - A(m) multiplied by 1000.
| Find the positive integer.

| Answer
| The positive integer is 1.
|
Sum of 1 and 1000 = 1 + 1000
E(x) - I(y) = 1001
D(x) B(y) - C(x) Multiplication of 1 and 1000 = 1
* 1000 = 1000
|
| Thus, sum of 1 and 1000 is
greater than the multiplication
| of 1 and 1000.
| Mr. D'souza has bought four
cars - Merc, Honda, Ford, Zen -
J(y) K(y)
as presents for his sons'
F(y) G(x)
birthdays, all of which are next
week. Given the following
It is clear that there are information, what will each son
altogether 13 persons - 2 get?
males, 2 females, 4 Xs and 5
Ys. Alan will not get the Honda
unless Barry gets the Merc and
It is given that there are more Denzil gets the Ford. Barry will
number of females than male. not get the Ford unless Carl
gets the Zen and Alan gets the 1 Barry Alan Denzil Carl
Merc. Denzil will not get the
Zen unless Alan gets the Denz
2 Alan il Barry Carl
Honda and Barry gets the
Merc. Alan will not get the Merc
unless Carl gets the Zen and 3 Barry Alan Carl Denzi
Denzil gets the Ford. Barry will l
not get the Merc unless Alan Barr
gets the Zen and Denzil gets 4 Alan y Denzil Carl
the Ford. Alan will not get the
Zen unless Barry gets the 5 Barry Carl Denzil Alan
Honda and Carl gets the Merc. Denz
Carl will not get the Zen unless 6 Carl Barry il Alan
Barry gets the Honda and Alan
gets the Ford. Alan will not get Denz
7 Barry Alan Carl
the Ford unless Barry gets the il
Zen and Denzil gets the Honda.
Carl will not get the Merc 8 Carl Denzil Alan Barry
unless Denzil gets the Honda. 9 Carl Denzil ? ?
Answer
Let's put given 9 information in Now, let's assume that Alan

a table. The person in Bold gets the Merc. Then from (4),
Font will not get the Barry gets the Honda, Denzil
corresponding car unless the gets the Ford and Carl gets the
persons in Normal Font get the Zen. But from (7), Carl will not
corresponding cars. Also, the get the Zen unless Barry gets
person will Italics will get the Honda and Alan gets the
the remaining car. Ford. Thus, it contradicts the
original assumption. Hence,
Alan will not get the Merc.
Hond
Merc Ford Zen
a
Let's assume that Alan gets the
Honda. Then from (1), Barry Assume that the current year is
gets the Merc, Denzil gets the 2000.
Ford and Carl gets the Zen. But Answer
from (5) or from (7), it
contradicts the original Mr. Shah's date of birth is 31
assumption. Hence, Alan will December, 1915
not get the Honda.
Today is 1 January, 2000. The
Let's assume that Alan gets the day before yesterday was 30
Ford. Then from (8), Carl gets December, 1999 and Mr. Shah
the Merc, Denzil gets the Ford was 83 on that day. Today i.e. 1
and Barry gets the Zen - which January, 2000 - he is 84. On 31
does not contradict any of the December 2000, he will be 85
statement. and next year i.e. 31
December, 2001 - he will be 86.
Similaly, you can assume that Hence, the date of birth is 31
Alan gets the Zen. (which is December, 1915.
contradictory to (9))
Many people do think of Leap
Hence, Alan gets the Ford, year and date of birth as 29th
Barry gets the Zen, Carl gets February as 2000 is the Leap
the Merc and Denzil gets the year and there is difference of 3
Honda. years in Mr. Shah's age. But
Yesterday in a party, I asked that is not the answer.
Mr. Shah his birthday. With a Brain Teaser No : 00800
mischievous glint in his eyes he
replied. "The day before There are 4 mathematicians -
yesterday I was 83 years old Brahma, Sachin, Prashant and
and next year I will be 86." Nakul - having lunch in a hotel.
Suddenly, Brahma thinks of 2
Can you figure out what is the integer numbers greater than 1
Date of Birth of Mr. Shah? and says, "The sum of the
numbers is..." and he whispers
the sum to Sachin. Then he 2) The product cannot be less

says, "The product of the than 12, otherwise there would
numbers is..." and he whispers only be one choice and
the product to Prashant. After Prashant would have figured
that following conversation that out also.
takes place :
Such possible sum are - 11, 17,
Sachin : Prashant, I don't think 23, 27, 29, 35, 37, 41, 47, 51,
that we know the numbers. 53, 57, 59, 65, 67, 71, 77, 79,
Prashant : Aha!, now I know the 83, 87, 89, 93, 95, 97, 101,
numbers. 107, 113, 117, 119, 121, 123,
Sachin : Oh, now I also know 125, 127, 131, 135, 137, 143,
the numbers. 145, 147, 149, 155, 157, 161,
Nakul : Now, I also know the 163, 167, 171, 173, 177, 179,
numbers. 185, 187, 189, 191, 197, ....
What are the numbers? Explain Let's examine them one by one.
your answer.
Submitted
Answer If the sum of two numbers is 11,
Sachin will think that the
The numbers are 4 and 13. numbers would be (2,9), (3,8),
(4,7) or (5,6).
As Sachin is initially confident
that they (i.e. he and Prashant) Sachin : "As 11 is not
don't know the numbers, we expressible as sum of two
can conclude that - primes, Prashant can't know
1) The sum must not be the numbers."
expressible as sum of two
primes, otherwise Sachin could Here, the product would be
not have been sure in advance 18(2*9), 24(3*8), 28(4*7) or
that Prashant did not know the 30(5*6). In all the cases except
numbers. for product 30, Prashant would
know the numbers. - if product of two numbers is

30:
- if product of two numbers is Prashant : "Since the product is
18: 30, the sum could be either
Prashant : "Since the product is 17(2,15), 13(3,10) or 11(5,6).
18, the sum could be either But 13 is not in the Possible
11(2,9) or 9(3,6). But if the sum Sum List. Hence, the numbers
was 9, Sachin would have must be either (2,15) or (5,6)."
deduced that I might know the Here, Prashant won't be sure of
numbers as (2,7) is the the numbers.
possible prime numbers pair.
Hence, the numbers must be 2 Hence, Prashant will be sure of
and 9." (OR in otherwords, 9 is the numbers if product is either
not in the Possible Sum List) 18, 24 or 28.
- if product of two numbers is Sachin : "Since Prashant knows

24: the numbers, they must be
Prashant : "Since the product is either (3,8), (4,7) or (5,6)." But
24, the sum could be either he won't be sure. Hence, the
14(2,12), 11(3,8) or 10(4,6). But sum is not 11.
14 and 10 are not in the
Possible Sum List. Hence, the Summerising data for sum 11:
numbers must be 3 and 8." Possible PRODUCT Possible
Sum Sum
- if product of two numbers is
28: 2+9 18 2+9=11
Prashant : "Since the product is (possible)
28, the sum could be either 3+6=9
16(2,14) or 11(4,7). But 16 is 3+8 24 2+12=14
not in the Possible Sum List. 3+8=11
Hence, the numbers must be 4 (possible)
and 7." 4+6=10
4+7 28 2+12=14 (possible)

3+8=11 4+15=19
(possible) 5+12=17
4+6=10 (possible)
6+10=16
5+6 30 2+15=17
(possible) 6+11 66 2+33=35
3+10=13 (possible)
5+6=11 3+22=25
(possible) 6+11=17
(possible)
7+10 70 2+35=37
Following the same procedure (possible)
for 17: 5+14=19
Possible PRODUCT Possible 7+10=17
Sum Sum (possible)
2+15 30 2+15=17 8+9 72 2+36=38
(possible) 3+24=27
3+10= 13 (possible)
5+6=11 4+18=22
(possible) 6+12=18
8+9=17
3+14 42 2+21=23 (possible)
(possible)
3+14=17
(possible) Here, Prashant will be sure of
6+7=13 the numbers if the product is
52.
4+13 52 2+26=28 Sachin : "Since Prashant knows
4+13=17 the numbers, they must be
(possible) (4,13)."
5+12 60 2+30=32 For all other numbers in the
3+20=23 Possible Sum List, Prashant
might be sure of the numbers such two lists exist. [see table
but Sachin won't. above for 17] Hence, two
Here is the step by step numbers are 4 and 13."
explaination: Nakul figured out both the
Sachin : "As the sum is 17, two numbers just as we did by
numbers can be either (2,15), observing the conversation
(3,14), (4,13), (5,12), (6,11), between Sachin and Prashant.
(7,10) or (8,9). Also, as none of It is interesting to note that
them is a prime numbers pair, there are no other such two
Prashant won't be knowing numbers. We checked all the
numbers either." possible sums till 500 !!!
Prashant : "Since Sachin is Substitute digits for the letters
sure that both of us don't know to make the following
the numbers, the sum must be subtraction problem true.
one of the Possible Sum List. S A N
Further, as the product is 52, T A
two numbers can be either
(2,26) or (4,13). But if they were - C L A
(2,26), Sachin would not have U S
been sure in advance that I
don't know the numbers as 28 -----------
(2+26) is not in the Possible ------
Sum List. Hence, two numbers
are 4 and 13." X M
Sachin : "As Prashant now A S
knows both the numbers, out of Note that the leftmost letter
all possible products - 30(2,15), can't be zero in any word. Also,
42(3,14), 52(4,13), 60(5,12), there must be a one-to-one
66(6,11), 70(7,10), 72(8,9) - mapping between digits and
there is one product for which letters. e.g. if you substitute 3
list of all possible sum contains for the letter M, no other letter
ONLY ONE sum from the can be 3 and all other M in the
Possible Sum List. And also, no puzzle must be 3.
Answer 36806 - 29643 = 7163

One of the simplest brain 36156 - 27693 = 8463
teaser as there are total 26
possible answers. 36156 - 28693 = 7463
62132 - 54206 = 7926
It is obvious that S=C+1. Since
A-S=S, it is clear that A=2*S or 62132 - 57206 = 4926
2*s-10. Also, L and X are
62172 - 53246 = 8926
interchangeable.
SANTA - CLAUS = XMAS 62172 - 58246 = 3926
24034 - 16492 = 7542 62402 - 53276 = 9126
24034 - 17492 = 6542 62402 - 59276 = 3126
24074 - 15432 = 8642 62712 - 53286 = 9426
24074 - 18432 = 5642 62712 - 59286 = 3426
24534 - 16492 = 8042 62932 - 58206 = 4726
24534 - 18492 = 6042 62932 - 54206 = 8726
24794 - 16452 = 8342

24794 - 18452 = 6342
24804 - 15462 = 9342
24804 - 19462 = 5342
24974 - 16432 = 8542
24974 - 18432 = 6542
36806 - 27643 = 9163

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Z U M For every minute, hour hand

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