Solve Enjoyable Enigmas with Mr.E's Challenge

[Enigman]

Spoiler

The clergyman?

 

[consciousness]

Correct. There is another answer also...

Edit-Actually the second answer may not be found by people of all cultures.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Spoiler

"It" is ambiguous, and could be referring to the woman, in which case it is clear that she is not her own husband

 

[consciousness]

Spoiler

"It" is ambiguous, and could be referring to the woman, in which case it is clear that she is not her own husband

You can read it as-

A man marries a woman, but he is not her husband. How?

 

[Office_Shredder]

Hmm... somehow the first time when I read it I thought it said
"A man marries a woman, but IT is not her husband. How?"

Never mind, carry on.

 

[Enigman]

Spoiler

he is her widower? her ex-husband?

 

[zoobyshoe]

This is still math but maybe less enough that it counts:

Spoiler

If there were 10 dogs, we would need 60 biscuits. We need 4 fewer biscuits so there must be 4 cats.

Spoiler

Right idea. The solution in the book is to make note of the fact each animal gets at least 5 biscuits. Removing 5 x 10 from the total leaves 6, which must also be the total number of dogs.

 

[consciousness]

@Enigman, I haven't heard this phrase used in that sense. But I have in another sense though. Not sure about you guys.

 

[Enigman]

Okkkaaaay...
Baseball?

 

[zoobyshoe]

The Puzzleland Toy Store charges $6 for a doll, $7.50 for a train, $4.50 for a top, and $12 for a paint set.

What would you pay there for a bicycle?

 

[collinsmark]

the puzzleland toy store charges $6 for a doll, $7.50 for a train, $4.50 for a top, and $12 for a paint set.

What would you pay there for a bicycle?

Spoiler

$10.50

[Edit: More detailed spoiler:]

Spoiler

The store charges by the letter.

 

[zoobyshoe]

Spoiler

$10.50

[Edit: More detailed spoiler:]

Spoiler

The store charges by the letter.

Correct on both counts!

 

[Enigman]

Wait on me...yet again.
(more hypothetical money this time.)
I go to a restaurant and ask the waiter (you) to bring me two glasses, a jug of water, matchsticks, a table spoon, fork, paper towels and a fruit (just for the sake of tradition).
You bring the said things and set them on the table. I pour water from the jug into a glass and challenge you to transfer some water from the glass to the empty glass so that they both have approximately equal amounts of water. And of course do this without touching the glasses (or breaking them), you may use anything on the table and nothing else. Glasses are set at a close distance and may not be moved from their original places.
Extra tips- $200*

_{*T&C applied- money in concern is perfectly imaginary.[/size]}

 

[zoobyshoe]

I know this one, so I'll recuse myself.

 

[Office_Shredder]

This is a cheap answer to the water transfer problem:

Spoiler

It says that we have to transfer SOME water from one glass to the other, so that both have about the same amount of water. So step 1 is to pour water from the jug into the empty glass until the glasses have about the same amount of water. At this point, if I transfer a very small amount of water from one glass to the other, then I will have transferred some water from one glass to the other, so that both have about the same amount of water (indeed, if I transferred more I would make the one glass have too much!). So I dip the paper towel into the one glass, and squeeze the water out into the other glass, completing the task

 

[Enigman]

This is a cheap answer to the water transfer problem:

Spoiler

It says that we have to transfer SOME water from one glass to the other, so that both have about the same amount of water. So step 1 is to pour water from the jug into the empty glass until the glasses have about the same amount of water. At this point, if I transfer a very small amount of water from one glass to the other, then I will have transferred some water from one glass to the other, so that both have about the same amount of water (indeed, if I transferred more I would make the one glass have too much!). So I dip the paper towel into the one glass, and squeeze the water out into the other glass, completing the task

...quite acceptable but there's a better physical answer... though this is certainly much quicker...

 

[Enigman]

I can't really move on to the next one till someone answers it...
ANYONE?
PLEAAASSSEEE?

 

[consciousness]

Does the answer involve boiling and condensation?

 

[Enigman]

nope. hint: most of the things I asked for are useless... choose that/those which will help. Also its going to take a long time...

 

[collinsmark]

Wait on me...yet again.
(more hypothetical money this time.)
I go to a restaurant and ask the waiter (you) to bring me two glasses, a jug of water, matchsticks, a table spoon, fork, paper towels and a fruit (just for the sake of tradition).
You bring the said things and set them on the table. I pour water from the jug into a glass and challenge you to transfer some water from the glass to the empty glass so that they both have approximately equal amounts of water. And of course do this without touching the glasses (or breaking them), you may use anything on the table and nothing else. Glasses are set at a close distance and may not be moved from their original places.
Extra tips- $200*

_{*T&C applied- money in concern is perfectly imaginary.[/size]}

Spoiler

This is just a guess (I haven't experimented with this [yet]), but I'm thinking that all that is really necessary is the paper towel.

Let's assume that the two glasses are close together. If not use the fruit to attract Gad and then light a match which is laced through the prongs of the fork which is placed under the table. This startles Gad causing her to bump the table such that the glasses end up being closer together. (Or you could just kindly ask Gad to move one of the glasses next to the other.)

So at this point, the two glasses are next to each other, and one is filled with water, the other empty. Roll up the paper towel into a tube sort of shape. Fold this paper tube in half and put one end into each glass. That should do it, I think.

What I'm guessing will happen is that the water will rise up the paper towel through capillary action, and down the other side (into the empty glass). The water will will flow from the full glass to the empty glass as long as the water level in the once full glass is higher than the water level in the once empty glass. This is similar behavior to a siphon. The water level in each glass should asymptotically approach each other, ignoring evaporation effects. However, it might take a long time to reach something resembling equilibrium.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Or how about

Spoiler

Use the spoon to scoop out a cavity in the fruit. Stick the fork in the fruit, and dip it into the full glass. Then pour the water filling the cavity into the empty glass. Rinse and repeat. Light your 200 dollar tip on fire with the matchstick and use it to smoke a cigar.

Or even better

Spoiler

Use the spoon to scoop water out of one glass and dump it in the other one. Rinse and repeat

 

[Enigman]

Let's assume that the two glasses are close together. If not use the fruit to attract Gad and then light a match which is laced through the prongs of the fork which is placed under the table. This startles Gad causing her to bump the table such that the glasses end up being closer together. (Or you could just kindly ask Gad to move one of the glasses next to the other.)

a tad sadistic and wholly unnecessary- I already mentioned that they are close to together.
And that's the answer I was looking for...

Or how about

Spoiler

Use the spoon to scoop out a cavity in the fruit. Stick the fork in the fruit, and dip it into the full glass. Then pour the water filling the cavity into the empty glass. Rinse and repeat. Light your 200 dollar tip on fire with the matchstick and use it to smoke a cigar.

Or even better

Spoiler

Use the spoon to scoop water out of one glass and dump it in the other one. Rinse and repeat

I am regretting ordering the spoon now...

 

[Enigman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8tlEoBs
A demo.

Okay, next one-
I show you a bottle of water* and say that I'll bet you a hundred bucks that you won't be able to pour the water out of the bottle any time soon, you refuse the bet.Why?
*Edit- liquid

 

[drizzle]

No fruit involved? :pThere's no water in the bottle/bottle is broken.

 

[Enigman]

Bottle is fine and filled with water. What's your favourite fruit Gad?

 

[drizzle]

So fruit is involved!

Let me see, hmm, I would say pomegranate.

 

[drizzle]

Bottle is fine and filled with water. What's your favourite fruit Gad?

Spoiler

Ok, cause it's locked inside a broken vending machine.

 

[Enigman]

Spoiler

Ok, cause it's locked inside a broken vending machine.

OK...that's acceptable I guess...
Assume that the bottle is perfectly fine and is filled with liquid water and is in my hands. Also to make the enigma more solvable- If you did accept the bet I would do something to it which would make pouring the water out impossible- before handing the bottle to you.
hint:

Spoiler

Enigma is a physical one and a rather cool one at that.

 

[drizzle]

Spoiler

You must be thirsty to hold it in your hand. :p

 

[Enigman]

Spoiler

You must be thirsty to hold it in your hand. :p

I wouldn't drink it...

 

[Enigman]

You must be thirsty to hold it in your hand. :p

I wouldn't drink it...

Also I don't know if I could hold it for too long...

 

[consciousness]

First guess is-

Spoiler

The bottle is actually made out of ice. By the time you pour out some water it can be argued that some ice melted and there is some water inside the ice. Holding it would be a pain too.

 

[Enigman]

First guess is-

Spoiler

The bottle is actually made out of ice. By the time you pour out some water it can be argued that some ice melted and there is some water inside the ice. Holding it would be a pain too.

No.
Also doesn't explain why you would leave a hundred bucks and not take the bet...

Spoiler

The enigma is really cool!

 

[consciousness]

Spoiler

The bottle has mostly oil in it. (Its an emulsion.)

 

[consciousness]

Another answer-

Spoiler

The bet took place at one of the poles. The water will simply freeze when you try to pour it out. Taking the ice out will be a real challenge.

 

[Office_Shredder]

My guess is something like

Spoiler

you are going to squeeze the bottle, put the cap on, then pop the bottle back into shape creating a vacuum inside and preventing you from ever uncapping it. Is this actually possible, I do not know

 

[Enigman]

Another answer-

Spoiler

The bet took place at one of poles. The water will simply freeze when you try to pour it out. Taking the ice out will be a real challenge.

No. It can be done anywhere.
And the bottle contains only H₂O

 

[Enigman]

My guess is something like

Spoiler

you are going to squeeze the bottle, put the cap on, then pop the bottle back into shape creating a vacuum inside and preventing you from ever uncapping it. Is this actually possible, I do not know

It isn't. The bottle won't regain its shape...I have tried this before.
As I said it is a really cool enigma...

 

[Office_Shredder]

Spoiler

The bottle is a hard plastic (can't be deformed) and you just removed it from a very cold freezer. The pressure in the bottle was 1 atmosphere going in, so with the temperature decrease it is now much less than one atmosphere. You shouldn't be able to open it until the bottle warms back up again (which if it's a thermos for example will be a very long time)

This doesn't have you doing something to the bottle after the bet is made so it can't be what you're thinking of, but possibly something along these lines.

 

[Enigman]

The bottle is a hard plastic (can't be deformed) and you just removed it from a very cold freezer.

So far so good.

The pressure in the bottle was 1 atmosphere going in, so with the temperature decrease it is now much less than one atmosphere. You shouldn't be able to open it until the bottle warms back up again (which if it's a thermos for example will be a very long time)

Water expands on freezing so the pressure should be greater.
This is a super cool enigma!

Spoiler

That was a huge hint.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Oops I didn't realize it's totally filled with liquid, I was thinking just partially filled.

 

[consciousness]

Spoiler

The water inside the bottle is supercooled. It will crystallize the moment you open the cap. You then have to wait for a long time in order to pour water out of it (till it melts).

 

[Enigman]

Spoiler

The water inside the bottle is supercooled. It will crystallize the moment you open the cap. You then have to wait for a long time in order to pour water out of it (till it melts).

Spoiler

Actually I shake it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lISK1YFcZBM

 

[Enigman]

So fruit is involved!

Let me see, hmm, I would say pomegranate.

Here you go Gad, made some ice pops for you with the ice:
http://timescity.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Easy-Pomegranate-Ice-Pops-21-300x199.jpg

 

[drizzle]

Thanks a bunch! They look yummy. *plans on getting some soon*:!)

 

[consciousness]

There is a minor flaw. This would only work if the other guy knows that the water is

Spoiler

Supercooled.

Next one-

A man leads a mundane corporate life on the 100th floor of a building. Perhaps disgusted with himself, he jumps through a window on the wall with great speed. There is nothing to cushion his fall down like wires etc. He is wearing only his formal attire when he jumps. He escapes mostly unhurt. How?

 

[Office_Shredder]

Spoiler

Nothing says it's an exterior window - he jumps through the window and lands in the conference room, utterly embarrased

 

[consciousness]

Spoiler

Nothing says it's an exterior window - he jumps through the window and lands in the conference room, utterly embarrased

Correct!

 

[collinsmark]

A new homeowner walks into the hardware store* to buy some items for her new home. After deciding on a style she likes, she examines the pricing:

1 costs $4
16 costs $8
128 costs $12​

What type of items is she buying for her home?


*A home improvement warehouse would also qualify, but it isn't necessary. Pretty much any small or large, residential** oriented hardware store should carry such items.***

**As opposed to "industrial."

***This might be somewhat culturally biased. But I don't know of any exceptions to the statement, off hand. [Edit: Ever since learning this riddle many years ago, every time I enter a new hardware store that I haven't been to before, I wander around looking for such items, just to check that they carry them; sure enough, every hardware store that I have checked carries them.]

 

[zoobyshoe]

A new homeowner walks into the hardware store* to buy some items for her new home. After deciding on a style she likes, she examines the pricing:

1 costs $4
16 costs $8
128 costs $12​

What type of items is she buying for her home?

I'm not sure about the wording, "type of item". If we consider all nails to be the same "type" of item, one foot-long spike might cost $4 while 128 smaller nails might cost $12.