Problem of the Week

A riddle problem is a question or statement intentionally phrased so as to require ingenuity in ascertaining its answer or meaning, typically presented as a game. Below is a list of the past problem of the week riddles in descending chronological order.

What Is The Next Number In The Series 7,645

POW: 12-23-2024

What is the next number in the series? 7,645 5,764 4,576...

Answer: 6,457. The last digit is moved to the front to make the next number.

Strange Subtraction

POW: 12-16-2024

How can you take 2 from 5 and leave 4?

Answer: F I V E Remove the 2 letters F and E from five and you have IV which is the Roman numeral for four.

Handshaking

POW: 12-09-2024

If seven people meet each other and each shakes hands only once with each of the others, how many handshakes will there have been?

Answer: Twenty one. Most people would think there were 42 handshakes. The first person shakes the hand of 6 others, the second person shakes the hand of 5 remaining people, the third person shakes the hand of 4 remaining people, the fourth person shakes the hand of 3 remaining people, the 5th person shakes the hand of 2 remaining people and the sixth person shakes the hand of 1 remaining person. 6+5+4+3+2+1=21

In A Certain City, Five Percent Of All The People In Town Have Unlisted Phone Numbers

POW: 12-02-2024

In a certain city, 5% of all the people in town have unlisted phone numbers. If you select 100 names at random from that city's phone directory, how many people selected will have unlisted phone numbers?

Answer: None. If their names are in the phone directory, they do not have unlisted phone numbers!

Tell Us The Day!

POW: 11-25-2024

A group of campers have been on vacation so long, that they've forgotten the day of the week. The following conversation ensues. Darryl: What's the day? I don't think it is Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Tracy: Well that doesn't narrow it down much. Yesterday was Sunday. Melissa: Yesterday wasn't Sunday, tomorrow is Sunday. Ben: The day after tomorrow is Saturday. Adrienne: The day before yesterday was Thursday. Susie: Tomorrow is Saturday. David: I know that the day after tomorrow is not Friday. If only one person's statement is true, what day of the week is it?

Answer: It is Wednesday. If it was any other day of the week, more than one statement would be true. To solve the riddle, evaluate each person's statement and write down what day it could be according to the statement. David's statement indicates it could be any day of the week except for Wednesday. When you list the days that it could be according to everyone's statement, it turns out Wednesday is the day mentioned only one time. Darryl: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday Tracy: Monday Melissa: Saturday Ben: Thursday Adrienne: Saturday Susie: Friday David: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday

When Can You Add Two To Eleven And Get One

POW: 11-18-2024

When can you add two to eleven and get one as the correct answer?

Answer: When you add two hours to eleven o'clock, you get one o'clock.

If You Have Two Coins Which Total 35 Cents And One Of The Coins Is Not A Dim

POW: 11-04-2024

If you have two coins which total 35 cents and one of the coins is not a dime, what are the two coins?

Answer: A quarter and a dime. One coin is not a dime, but the other one is.

A 300 Ft. Train Is Traveling 300 Ft. Per Minute Must Travel Through A 300 Ft. Long Tunnel

POW: 10-28-2024

A 300 ft. train is traveling 300 ft. per minute must travel through a 300 ft. long tunnel. How long will it take the train to travel through the tunnel?

Answer: Two minutes. It takes the front of the train one minute and the rest of the train will take two minutes to clear the tunnel.

Three Playing Cards In A Row

POW: 10-21-2024

Three playing cards in a row. Can you name them with these clues? There is a two to the right of a king. A diamond will be found to the left of a spade. An ace is to the left of a heart. A heart is to the left of a spade. Now, identify all three cards.

Answer: Ace of Diamonds, King of Hearts, Two of Spades.