Can You Solve These Brain Teasers Instantly?

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Discussion Overview

The thread presents a series of brain teasers that challenge participants to answer questions quickly, focusing on logic and lateral thinking. The questions include scenarios involving races, mathematical calculations, and social interactions with a mute and a blind person. The discussion explores various interpretations and responses to these teasers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that overtaking the second person in a race places you in second position, while others question the phrasing of the question.
  • Responses to the second question vary, with some asserting that overtaking the last person is not possible unless in a circular track, while others claim it could mean being in any position.
  • Mathematical responses to the addition problem yield different results, with some participants stating 4100 and others 5000, indicating confusion over the trick nature of the question.
  • For the question about Mary's fifth daughter, many participants correctly identify "Mary," while others mistakenly suggest names like "Nunu."
  • In response to the bonus question, participants propose various ways the blind man could express his need for sunglasses, with some suggesting he could simply ask verbally.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no clear consensus on the answers to the brain teasers, as participants present multiple interpretations and responses, leading to a mix of agreement and disagreement on the logic behind the questions.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the phrasing of the questions, particularly regarding the implications of overtaking positions in a race. Additionally, there are references to the trick nature of the math question, which may lead to different interpretations of the expected answer.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in logic puzzles, brain teasers, and lateral thinking challenges may find this discussion engaging.

Lisa!
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Below are 4 questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. Answer all of them immediately. I'll give you te answers later unless you heard it before.

PS: Don't forget to write your answers in white

First Question:

You're participating in a race. You overtake the scond person. What position are you in?

Second Question:(Don't take as much time as you took for the first question)

If you overtake the last person, then you are...?

Third Question:(very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only. You're not allowed to use paper and pencil or a calculator)

Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000 Now add 10.


Fourth Question:

Mary's father has five daughter: 1.Nana 2.Nene 3. Nini 4. Nono.
What's the name f the fifth daughter?


The Bonus round:

There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.

Now if there's a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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second, second-last, 4100 [i heard it today], nunu, why would he need it? he could simply say that he needs sunnies.

edit by Evo: you loose, you didn't follow instructions.
edit by me: :redface:
 
Last edited:
First Question:

You're participating in a race. You overtake the scond person. What position are you in?
answer: second

Second Question:(Don't take as much time as you took for the first question)

If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
answer:second to last, I'm assuming I was last but overtook the person ahead of me

Third Question:(very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only. You're not allowed to use paper and pencil or a calculator)

Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000 Now add 10.
answer: 4,100


Fourth Question:

Mary's father has five daughter: 1.Nana 2.Nene 3. Nini 4. Nono.
What's the name f the fifth daughter?
answer: Mary


The Bonus round:

There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.

Now if there's a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?
answer: He should just ask for a pair of sunglasses.

edit, yeah I missed #4 initially, just not paying attention
 
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what instructions?
 
Perhaps writing in white!
 
gurkhawarhorse said:
what instructions?
You were supposed to write your answers in white. I changed your answers to white, they're still there. (you didn't really lose)

We answer quizzes in white so that people that want to play don't accidently see the answers.
 
oh! sorry
 
First question: You are in second place.

Second question: It depends on the type of race. How can you overtake the last in a race unless it is a circle track? If so, then it could be any position.

Third question: I got 4100. I seen this in an email one time and I got it wrong. I couldn't believe it. I probably got it wrong this time too.

Fourth question: Ummmm, how about Mary?

Fifth question: I suppose the smart thing to do would be to just verbally ask. Although I will admit it took me a minute to figure that one out.
 
1 second

2 one lap ahead or last

3 5000

4 Nunu

5 ask for pair of sun glasses
 
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  • #10
^
|||||
see, I'm not the only one :biggrin:
 
  • #11
gurkhawarhorse said:
^
|||||
see, I'm not the only one :biggrin:

What you talking about Horsey :confused: :rolleyes:
 
  • #12
My first couple were different..

First: What does "second person" mean? The person ranked second in the race, or the second person that you overtake?

Second: To overtake the last person, you must be in last. Thus, it doesn't make sense.

Third: 4100? Trick question?

Fourth: Nunu, duh.

Fifth: Ask.
 
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  • #13
second, any position, 4100, nunu, verbally[/color]
 
  • #14
wolram said:
What you talking about Horsey :confused: :rolleyes:

u 2 forgot to make your answers white like me.:biggrin:
 
  • #15
<<1.2
2.not possible
3.4100 (still don't see the catch)
4. mary
5. He could walk into the store with his dog, pick it up, and start swinging it around. Surely, this will will the nearest store attendant to him, asking him what he's doing. To this the blind man could reply "Oh, I'm just looking around !".

Or he could, being a ZZTop fan and all, ask for a pair of cheap sunglasses. [/color]>>

I think I overshot the time-limit on that last question.
 
  • #16
the pattern of mary's daughter's names seem to go in the alphabetical order of sanskrit. i don't think that the person who made the question knwew sanskrit but the pattern looks familiar and matches others answers too.
like ka , kaa, ki, kee, ku, koo, ke , kai, ko...
thats why i got it wrong
 
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  • #17
It's the old establish a pattern trick, and see who sticks with the pattern even when it isn't appropriate. Despite knowing that, I got two wrong.
 
  • #18
Bah! I wrote nunu as well :cry:
 
  • #19

2nd
2nd to last
5000
Mary
He should ask for a pair of sunglasses. [/color]

kinda easy
 
  • #20
yomamma said:
kinda easy
Nice to know you can't add :biggrin:
 
  • #21
I don't see how I got that wrong!
 
  • #22
oh, I get how it tricked me! :rolleyes:
 
  • #23
Ok, Averagesupernova and Gokul43201 answered all the questions correct. You can check the answers in their replies!

Knavish, it's sunglasses, ok?


Gokul43201 said:
<<1.wrote in white
2.white
3. white
4. white
5. He could walk into the store with his dog, pick it up, and start swinging it around. Surely, this will will the nearest store attendant to him, asking him what he's doing. To this the blind man could reply "Oh, I'm just looking around !".

Or he could, being a ZZTop fan and all, ask for a pair of cheap sunglasses. [/color]>>

I think I overshot the time-limit on that last question.

3. Most of people think 4090+10= 5000!
5. :smile: :smile: :smile: what long story!
 
  • #24
Lisa! said:
The Bonus round:

There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.

Now if there's a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?

After the first four I was expecting a trick question and so I read this and thought, duh, why would a blind man need to wear sunglasses?
 
  • #25
I originally paid no attention to the first part of the question "mary's father" and just looked at the pattern of names. :rolleyes: It wasn't until I reread it later that I caught the obvious. :frown:

At least I can count. :biggrin:

The correct title of the quiz should be "how well do you pay attention?" :wink:
 
  • #26
Now we should change "how to bother people or cause they feel bad about themselves". :wink:
 
  • #27
Lisa! said:
Below are 4 questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. Answer all of them immediately. I'll give you te answers later unless you heard it before.
PS: Don't forget to write your answers in white
First Question:
You're participating in a race. You overtake the scond person. What position are you in?
Second Question:(Don't take as much time as you took for the first question)
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?

There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.
Now if there's a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?


The confusing ones
2nd, 1st (you just lapped them), just ask him to get you sunglass because you aren't mute, you are blind:wink:

btw, Mary's a transsexual, the last daughter is Nunu:smile:

edit: just saw average's answer for the 2nd one, guess that'd be the correct one.
 
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  • #28
I still don't get how you could overtake the last person.

If you were to overtake them, that would mean you being behind them, and going in front of them. But you would have to be behind the last person to do that, making yourself last, but how do you overtake yourself?
 
  • #29
You lapped them, on a circular track; that's why I thought you would have to be first, because if you overtake the last person (which indicates the position they held before you passed them), then that means either you had to be last and now they are last or you lapped them. Seems that the wording indicates what I said.
 
  • #30
Lisa! said:
Below are 4 questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. Answer all of them immediately. I'll give you te answers later unless you heard it before.
PS: Don't forget to write your answers in white
First Question:
You're participating in a race. You overtake the scond person. What position are you in?
Second Question:(Don't take as much time as you took for the first question)
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
Third Question:(very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only. You're not allowed to use paper and pencil or a calculator)
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000 Now add 10.
Fourth Question:
Mary's father has five daughter: 1.Nana 2.Nene 3. Nini 4. Nono.
What's the name f the fifth daughter?
The Bonus round:
There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.
Now if there's a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?


1. 2nd
2. Impossible situation.
3. 4100
4. Mary

bonus - why would a blind man need sunglasses?
 

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