What are some examples of challenging logical puzzles and questions?

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Discussion Overview

The thread explores challenging logical puzzles and questions, inviting participants to engage in reasoning and problem-solving. The scope includes various scenarios that require critical thinking and logical deduction, often with multiple potential answers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Participants are invited to solve puzzles that require logical reasoning, with the first puzzle involving two dead men in a cabin and the question of how they died.
  • Some participants propose answers such as poisoning or carbon monoxide, but these are challenged by others who seek a more logical explanation.
  • A subsequent puzzle involves two men entering a bar and ordering identical drinks, with one living and the other dying; various hypotheses are suggested, including one man being immune to a poison and another suffering from alcohol poisoning.
  • Responses include creative narratives and elaborate scenarios, with some participants emphasizing the need for a single feasible solution to the puzzles.
  • Another puzzle involves a woman throwing something out of a window, with answers ranging from her throwing her husband out to her own suicide attempt, highlighting the ambiguity in the scenarios presented.
  • Participants express differing views on the validity of answers based on assumptions about the situations or the psychology of the characters involved.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the answers to the puzzles, with multiple competing views and interpretations remaining throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some answers depend on specific assumptions about the characters' circumstances or psychological states, which may not be universally applicable. The puzzles often allow for multiple interpretations, leading to varied responses.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in logical reasoning, puzzle-solving, and critical thinking may find this discussion engaging and thought-provoking.

  • #91
Here comes the next one:

You want to send a valuable object to a friend securely. You have a box which can be fitted with multiple locks, and you have several locks and their corresponding keys. However, your friend does not have any keys to your locks, and if you send a key in an unlocked box, the key could be copied en route. How can you send the object securely?

Question open for all.
 
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  • #92
physixguru said:
Here comes the next one:

You want to send a valuable object to a friend securely. You have a box which can be fitted with multiple locks, and you have several locks and their corresponding keys. However, your friend does not have any keys to your locks, and if you send a key in an unlocked box, the key could be copied en route. How can you send the object securely?

Question open for all.

Lock the box and send it. Tell your friend to buy a boltcutter and/or hacksaw.



Jordan.
 
  • #93
Jordan Joab said:
Lock the box and send it. Tell your friend to buy a boltcutter and/or hacksaw.



Jordan.

If the locks could have been opened with a hacksaw or a bolt-cutter, they could be unlocked midway also by an unauthorized person.They can be opened only using proper keys.
 
  • #94
Send locked box, wait for confirmation it hit the destination, send keys.
 
  • #95
Can you communicate with your friend?
 
  • #96
Build a quantum computer, use it to simulate the valuable object to almost perfect replication, then also use it along with the BB84 algorithm to encrypt a key which encodes the simulation data, distribute this key to your friend (who also has a quantum computer) along with the data. Your friedn then runs the simulation and "attains" the valuable object.

simple

(or do what Borek said)
 
  • #97
neu said:
Build a quantum computer, use it to simulate the valuable object to almost perfect replication, then also use it along with the BB84 algorithm to encrypt a key which encodes the simulation data, distribute this key to your friend (who also has a quantum computer) along with the data. Your friedn then runs the simulation and "attains" the valuable object.

simple

(or do what Borek said)

A quantum computer is too big a deal.He is a simple man ,not a cyber junkie ,friend.Do what you would do in your real life.The solution is more than just simple.
 
  • #98
Borek said:
Send locked box, wait for confirmation it hit the destination, send keys.

As usual Borek, it seems you have not read the question carefully.It says that if you send the keys in an unlocked box, it can be copied en-route.

Chou.
 
  • #99
What Borek said except while you send the package you get your friend to send a box and lock which he has the key to then send the keys in that box locked with the lock your friend sent.

EDIT: Besides it wouldn't matter if the keys were copied since the box was safely in your friends hands anyway would it?
 
  • #100
Kurdt said:
What Borek said except while you send the package you get your friend to send a box and lock which he has the key to then send the keys in that box locked with the lock your friend sent.

EDIT: Besides it wouldn't matter if the keys were copied since the box was safely in your friends hands anyway would it?

Extremely nice try Kurdt ,buddy.But you don't have the key to your friends box in which he has sent the lock of which he has the key nor the key of the lock to lock it back to him.

As what Borek said, you never want you house keys to get into somebody else's hands even though you also possesses the key.It is unsafe friend.

Make a clean transaction with no hazards at all.
 
  • #101
I get 2 attempts to answer right?

2nd answer:
Construct a box with a time lock such that it only opens after 5 days. Put a key in the time locked box and send it to you're friend. Repeat until you friend reports reciept of the box within 5 days. Then send the box locked by the key that was safely sent.
 
  • #102
Send the box unlocked and with no keys in it.
 
  • #103
neu said:
I get 2 attempts to answer right?

2nd answer:
Construct a box with a time lock such that it only opens after 5 days. Put a key in the time locked box and send it to you're friend. Repeat until you friend reports reciept of the box within 5 days. Then send the box locked by the key that was safely sent.

Unrealistic answer.You method would cost him more than he can afford.:smile:

Seems you wasted all your energy in arguing with me and proving me wrong.Wake up!

Also, nobody gets to answer twice from now on.


Answer Discarded.
 
  • #104
jimmysnyder said:
Send the box unlocked and with no keys in it.

Sleeping or what?
Read my question again friend.Your item would be stolen.
 
  • #105
The valuable item is gold. Mold it into the shape of a key and send it in an unlocked box. The interceptor will copy the key, but so what?
 
  • #106
The thing that weirds me out about this puzzle is that the interceptor can copy the key, but apparently must deliver the package as they found it. Unless the valuable object can be released from its box in which case they don't have to. Bizarre. But under those conditions there is a solution. Send a locked box with the valuable in it and no key. As there is no key to be copied, the interceptor sends it on to the friend. Then send the key in an unlocked box. The interceptor can make a copy of it, but it does them no good because the locked box is already in the hands of the friend.
 
  • #107
jimmysnyder said:
The valuable item is gold. Mold it into the shape of a key and send it in an unlocked box. The interceptor will copy the key, but so what?

Who in the world told you the valuable item is gold?
It can be anything, take the case of generality, do not mould the question according to your wishes.If you repeat this mistake, you will be debarred from the contest.

A skilled thief does not need to know rocket science to determine that the moulded item is gold.

Answer discarded.
 
  • #108
jimmysnyder said:
The thing that weirds me out about this puzzle is that the interceptor can copy the key, but apparently must deliver the package as they found it. Unless the valuable object can be released from its box in which case they don't have to. Bizarre. But under those conditions there is a solution. Send a locked box with the valuable in it and no key. As there is no key to be copied, the interceptor sends it on to the friend. Then send the key in an unlocked box. The interceptor can make a copy of it, but it does them no good because the locked box is already in the hands of the friend.

Too many complexities.Diverting the thread from a simple puzzle to a complex trend uselessly.
It does not matter to you , it matters for the interceptor.

Answer discarded.
 
  • #109
DaveC426913 said:
I am going to propose that the fact that there are multiple locks and multiple keys points us towards a solution of the 'Towers of Hanoi' type, or erphaps more appropriately, a farmer/wolf/sheep/plant crossing a river solution.

This is only a nominally altruistic gesture; if anyone gets the answer, I want partial credit.

Sir,
Please do not provide hints for the puzzle.Either provide the complete solution or do not participate.

I SAY THIS WITH COMPLETE RESPECT AND COURTESY.
 
  • #110
jimmysnyder said:
The thing that weirds me out about this puzzle is that the interceptor can copy the key, but apparently must deliver the package as they found it. Unless the valuable object can be released from its box in which case they don't have to. Bizarre. But under those conditions there is a solution. Send a locked box with the valuable in it and no key. As there is no key to be copied, the interceptor sends it on to the friend. Then send the key in an unlocked box. The interceptor can make a copy of it, but it does them no good because the locked box is already in the hands of the friend.

Actually, it was my assumption that this is the inspiration for the correct answer. The nature of the puzzle indicates that an interceptor can copy keys but that will not stop the box from being transferred. Ultimately then, the valuable must get to the recipient, despite the fact that the interceptor has certain keys - which implies those keys are useless to him.

I am surprised Jimmy's answer was rejected, since it will work, given the parameters of the puzzle.
 
  • #111
physixguru said:
Sir,
Please do not provide hints for the puzzle.Either provide the complete solution or do not participate.

I SAY THIS WITH COMPLETE RESPECT AND COURTESY.

Apologies. Post removed. (though you've posted it in your own post).
 
  • #112
Send the box with a lock, then get your friend to add his own lock and send it back to you. You can then remove your lock and send the parcel back.
 
  • #113
physixguru said:
As usual Borek, it seems you have not read the question carefully.It says that if you send the keys in an unlocked box, it can be copied en-route.

You have accused me of not reading the question, but you have failed to explain why my answer is wrong. Aim is to protect the item, not to make it impossible to copy the key. Even if thief copied the key, he is unable to open the box and steal the item.
 
  • #114
Kurdt said:
Send the box with a lock, then get your friend to add his own lock and send it back to you. You can then remove your lock and send the parcel back.

Kurdt strikes.Excellent work.:cool:

But Kurdt , it was your second attempt, and i have to say with due respect that please do not post your answers twice.This forces me to dicard the question.

Question discarded.

Question closed.
 
  • #115
Apologies, but I only noticed that you imposed only one attempt in the middle of the question. :-p
 
  • #116
Foul! The parameters of the puzzle - to which you said "do not mould the question according to your wishes" - did not include our friend having his own set of locks and keys!
 
  • #117
DaveC426913 said:
Foul! The parameters of the puzzle - to which you said "do not mould the question according to your wishes" - did not include our friend having his own set of locks and keys!
Read my question again, it says that the box has multiple locks.Ofcourse the answer is most satisfactory of all the other answers with no complexities.Even a lay-man would possesses locks and keys.Very general assumption.

I have already mentioned that i am not going to entertain any conflicts on the answers.
Once said, is done.
 
  • #118
Discussion closed.
 
  • #119
physixguru said:
Read my question again, it says that the box has multiple locks.Ofcourse the answer is most satisfactory of all the other answers with no complexities.Even a lay-man would possesses locks and keys.Very general assumption.

I have already mentioned that i am not going to entertain any conflicts on the answers.
Once said, is done.
That doesn't mean you have free license to violate the very rules you laid down.

"...do not mould the question according to your wishes..."

"...you have several locks and their corresponding keys..."
 
  • #120
DaveC426913 said:
That doesn't mean you have free license to violate the very rules you laid down.

"...do not mould the question according to your wishes..."

"...you have several locks and their corresponding keys..."

Discarded with due respect.
 

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