Sir Lancelot with his squire Jerkin wants to rescue the lovely princess Jennivere, kept prisoner by the Black Knight in his impregnable castle.
His obstacle is a rectangular moat full of poisonous dragon fish.
Looking about for useful resources, Jerkin finds two planks each of which is exactly as long at the moat is wide.
How will they get across without falling into the moat?
A billionaire enters a reality show saloon with five bellboy hats, three red and two white.
“I need three volunteers to play a game for a million dollars,” he said. “Any takers?”
Three men put down their beer mugs immediately and volunteered: Jack, Tobias and Charlie.
“Very well. Set up three chairs in a triangle so each of you can see the other two,” commanded the billionaire.
This was speedily arranged.
“Close your eyes while I place one of these five hats on each of your heads. I’ll tell you when to open them. The hats are so small you won’t be able to see the color of your own hat,” he explained cheerily.
He put the hats on their heads and threw the remaining two out the window.
“I’ll give a million dollars to the man who can say which color hat he has on his head,” he said.
They opened their eyes and looked eagerly at their respective companions.
“What do you say, Jack?” asked the billionaire.
“Ummm, I don’t know,” Jack said with a sad face.
“What about you, Tobias?” asked the billionaire.
Tobias looked studiously at his two companions. “Well, I can’t say either,” he grumbled.
“But I know,” exclaimed Charlie jubilantly, “and I am blind.”
And, sure enough, he did know and received the million dollars with a big smile.
What was the color of Charlie’s hat, and how did he know?
Three piles of coins are placed in front of you, which respectively contain 11, 7 and 6 coins.
You are to obtain three piles with eight coins each.
The rule is that you can only move the same number of coins onto a pile which the pile already has.
You have three moves.
Supposedly Einstein solved this problem in three minutes. It might take you longer.
You are given 12 balls and told that one of them has a different weight, whether lighter or heavier.
With three weighings using any scale you are to locate this ball.
Patience is a virtue.
Good luck!