Lateral 5 - Puzzle Prime

Two Barbers

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Medium

There are only two barbers in one town. One of the barbers has a neat haircut and a clean working place. The other barber’s haircut is a total mess and his working place is dirty. Which barber would you choose to give you a haircut and why?

SOLUTION

You should choose the second barber. Since there are only two barbers, the chances are that they give each other haircuts. Also, probably the second barber’s salon is dirtier because he has lots of work and does not have time to clean up properly.

Unknown Author January 7, 2019

1 Comment

The Silent Parrot

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Easy

A person enters a pet shop and sees a beautiful parrot. The seller guarantees him that the bird repeats everything it hears, so the person buys it. However, when he goes back home and tests the bird, it turns out that it doesn’t say a word. The buyer goes to the shop to complain to the seller, but the seller argues he has not lied. How is this possible?

SOLUTION

The parrot is deaf.

Unknown Author November 19, 2018

0 Comments

Spelling Bees and Feet

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Easy

Researchers have discovered a strong positive correlation between performance in spelling bees and contestants’ shoe sizes. Can you find an explanation for this?

SOLUTION

Older students have bigger feet and perform better at spelling bee contests.

Unknown Author November 10, 2018

2 Comments

London Escalators

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Advanced

In London, many Underground tube stations have two escalators going up, but just one going down. Why?

SOLUTION

This is because when people leave the train, they pack into groups, whereas when they go to catch the train, their flow is evener.

Unknown Author June 10, 2018

0 Comments

Nervous Breakdown

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Advanced

Once there was a recluse who always stayed in his home. The only time anyone visited him was when his food and supplies were delivered, but nobody came inside. One winter night there was a big storm and the recluse had a nervous breakdown. He went to his room, turned off all the lights and got in his bed. The next morning he found out that he caused the deaths of several hundred people. How?

SOLUTION

The recluse was living in a lighthouse. When he turned off the lights, he caused several ships to get wrecked in the cliffs and many people die.

Unknown Author April 23, 2018

2 Comments

Boat on the River

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Easy

Two men come to a river. There is no bridge, the water is freezing cold and there is only one single-seated boat on the shore. However, both people succeed to cross the river. How is this possible?

SOLUTION

The two men approach the river from the opposite shores.

Unknown Author March 14, 2018

3 Comments

On the Lawn

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Easy

There are several pieces of coal, a carrot, and a scarf lying on a lawn. If nobody placed them there, how did they end up like that?

SOLUTION

Somebody made a snowman which melted within a few days.

Unknown Author January 29, 2018

0 Comments

Deez Nuts

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Easy

While changing a tire, a motorist accidentally dropped all four wheel nuts into the sewer grate. Just when the man lost all hope to retrieve the nuts and continue on his way, a kid passed by. After hearing the story, the kid gave an advice, which enabled the driver to successfully fit a new tire and drive to the nearest service station without any more accidents. What was the advice the kid gave to the motorist?

SOLUTION

The kid suggested that the man uses one bolt from each of the other three wheels to fix the fourth one.

Unknown Author January 20, 2018

1 Comment

Legs of a Horse

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Medium

One horse traveled for a whole day and at the end, it turned out that two of its legs covered 30 miles, whereas the other two covered 31 miles. How is this possible?

SOLUTION

The horse was operating a mill and was traveling in a circle. Thus its outer legs covered larger distance than its inner legs.

Unknown Author December 1, 2017

0 Comments

Not a Nickel

Section: Brain Teasers Category: Lateral

Difficulty: Easy

I have two coins, worth 55 cents in total. If one of them is not a nickel, what are the coins?

SOLUTION

One of them is not a nickel, but the other one is. The two coins are a 50 cents and a nickel.

Unknown Author November 10, 2017

0 Comments