The Family Murder Riddle
One evening there was a murder in the home of married couple, their son and daughter. One of these four people murdered one of the others. One of the members of the family witnessed the crime.
The other one helped the murderer.
These are the things we know for sure:
1. The witness and the one who helped the murderer were not of the same sex.
2. The oldest person and the witness were not of the same sex.
3. The youngest person and the victim were not of the same sex.
4. The one who helped the murderer was older than the victim.
5. The father was the oldest member of the family.
6. The murderer was not the youngest member of the family.
Who was the murderer?
The other one helped the murderer.
These are the things we know for sure:
1. The witness and the one who helped the murderer were not of the same sex.
2. The oldest person and the witness were not of the same sex.
3. The youngest person and the victim were not of the same sex.
4. The one who helped the murderer was older than the victim.
5. The father was the oldest member of the family.
6. The murderer was not the youngest member of the family.
Who was the murderer?
Hint:
We know from (3) that the youngest person was not the victim, from (4) that the youngest person was not the helper and from (6) that the youngest person was not the killer. The youngest person can only have been the witness therefore. If we make up a chart there are now three possible combinations:
Oldest person (father) H H M
Next to oldest (mother) V M H
Next to youngest (son) M V V
Youngest (daughter) W W W
(H = Helper ; V = Victim ; M = Murderer ; W = Witness)
We can work out from (5) that the father was the oldest, from (2) that the youngest person must have been the daughter. Therefore the next to the youngest must have been the son and the next to the oldest, the mother.
Of three possibilities: the first is impossible (from (3) the youngest person and the victim were of different sexes); the third is also impossible (from (1) the witness and the helper were of different sexes). Therefore only the second possibility holds and the mother was the murderess Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Oldest person (father) H H M
Next to oldest (mother) V M H
Next to youngest (son) M V V
Youngest (daughter) W W W
(H = Helper ; V = Victim ; M = Murderer ; W = Witness)
We can work out from (5) that the father was the oldest, from (2) that the youngest person must have been the daughter. Therefore the next to the youngest must have been the son and the next to the oldest, the mother.
Of three possibilities: the first is impossible (from (3) the youngest person and the victim were of different sexes); the third is also impossible (from (1) the witness and the helper were of different sexes). Therefore only the second possibility holds and the mother was the murderess Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Ice Cube In The Freezer Riddle
There was an ice cube sitting in the freezer. Somebody who knew the ice cube was there went to get the ice cube in the freezer, but it was gone. Why was the ice cube gone?
Hint:
The Death Of Dave And Brad Riddle
Dave and Brad, two popular politicians, met at a club to discuss the overthrow of their party leader. They each ordered a vodka on the rocks. Brad downed his and ordered another. He then drank his second in a gulp and decided to wait before he ordered a third. Meanwhile, Dave, who was sipping his drink, suddenly fell forward dead. Both men were setup for an assassination. Why did Dave die and Brad live?
Hint:
Both Dave and Brad were given drinks with poisoned ice cubes. Brad drank his drinks so quickly that the ice didn't have time to melt and release the poison. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
Power Outage Riddle
Julie is going on an extended trip for three weeks. She lives in a remote area where there are frequent electrical power outages which can last up to three or four days. Julie has quite a bit of food in her freezer which would go bad if it thawed and then re-froze. She does have digital clock and a VCR which would flash 12:00 if the power went out. Unfortunately the clock and VCR flash even if the power only goes out for a few seconds. What can Julie do so that when she returns home she will be able to determine whether the power was out long enough to thaw her food? Asking a neighbor whether the power was out, isn't a reliable option because the nearest house is half a mile away, and one house may have power, while another house may have no power. She won't be able to have a neighbor check on her house every day, and has no one to house sit.
Hint:
One thing Julie could do is freeze a tray of ice-cubes, and turn the tray of ice upside down in her freezer. When she comes home, she should check the tray. If the ice cubes are still in the tray, the food is safe to eat. If the trays are empty, it's time to clean out the freezer. She will have to make a judgment call if the ice-cubes are only slightly thawed. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
Danger And Protection Riddle
Hint:
No More Pennies Riddle
A guy came around the corner of a square lot and found a coin sitting on the ground, but did not pick it up. He kept walking and came across a penny, but did not pick it up, yet again. He kept walking and found yet again, a penny. He picked it up. He continued his walk a and discovered there were no more pennies, even when he went backwards, why?
Hint:
He was walking around a SQUARE lot! It was like a circle. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
The Merchant Of Venice
How does Nerissa describe the trial of the caskets in "The Merchant of Venice"?
Fill in the gap. "NERISSA: Your father was ever virtuous; and holy men at their death have good inspirations: therefore ___ _______, that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver and lead, whereof who chooses his meaning chooses you, will, no doubt, never be chosen by any rightly but one who shall rightly love."
Fill in the gap. "NERISSA: Your father was ever virtuous; and holy men at their death have good inspirations: therefore ___ _______, that he hath devised in these three chests of gold, silver and lead, whereof who chooses his meaning chooses you, will, no doubt, never be chosen by any rightly but one who shall rightly love."
Hint:
The Actions Of Pericles
Pericles must answer Antiochus' riddle to win the hand of his daughter. If he fails he will face death. The riddle is:
"I am no viper, yet I feed
On mother's flesh which did me breed.
I sought a husband, in which labour
I found that kindness in a father:
He's father, son, and husband mild;
I mother, wife, and yet his child.
How they may be, and yet in two,
As you will live, resolve it you."
What does Pericles do?
"I am no viper, yet I feed
On mother's flesh which did me breed.
I sought a husband, in which labour
I found that kindness in a father:
He's father, son, and husband mild;
I mother, wife, and yet his child.
How they may be, and yet in two,
As you will live, resolve it you."
What does Pericles do?
Hint:
Understands the riddle to mean incest and hints to Antiochus his understanding.
Antiochus realises from Pericles' hints that Pericles has understood the riddle and determines to have him killed. I am not aware of any other reference to incest in Shakespeare. Incest seems to retain its rightful shock value much more in Shakespeare and the classics. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Antiochus realises from Pericles' hints that Pericles has understood the riddle and determines to have him killed. I am not aware of any other reference to incest in Shakespeare. Incest seems to retain its rightful shock value much more in Shakespeare and the classics. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
My Last Words Riddle
One of four
Bloodline pure
History and secrets
I buried them low and deep
Listened
Spoke
Disagreed
Left
If you heard me speak
You may not understand
But the last words your hear
Were my sole command
I left behind
My virtues; my beliefs
And one day
My work will be finished
Who am I?
Bloodline pure
History and secrets
I buried them low and deep
Listened
Spoke
Disagreed
Left
If you heard me speak
You may not understand
But the last words your hear
Were my sole command
I left behind
My virtues; my beliefs
And one day
My work will be finished
Who am I?
Hint:
First In A Family Of Nine Riddle
I came to Hogwarts and graduated 1988,
I came back at the time of Harry's almost, yet terrible fate.
I came in first in a family of nine,
I handle money but it's definitely not mine.
I've got a fang on a part of my body, long hair is my style,
A woman was once staring at me, which was caught by Harry's eye.
I took a desk job and that's where my love started,
I joined the Order of which cannot be parted.
I wear dragon hide on my feet, muggle clothes is what I've got,
My charm would outwit anyone, do you think they have not?
I respect my family with pride, unlike a dear brother that is so uncool,
One quality we share is that we were both Prefects at our dear old school.
Who am I?
I came back at the time of Harry's almost, yet terrible fate.
I came in first in a family of nine,
I handle money but it's definitely not mine.
I've got a fang on a part of my body, long hair is my style,
A woman was once staring at me, which was caught by Harry's eye.
I took a desk job and that's where my love started,
I joined the Order of which cannot be parted.
I wear dragon hide on my feet, muggle clothes is what I've got,
My charm would outwit anyone, do you think they have not?
I respect my family with pride, unlike a dear brother that is so uncool,
One quality we share is that we were both Prefects at our dear old school.
Who am I?
Hint:
I Choose To Fall Back
While some spring forward, I choose to fall back.
Come and join me while you sit on a haystack.
I may show a movie with a crazed maniac,
I will for sure host a festival to give you a heart attack.
Come and join me while you sit on a haystack.
I may show a movie with a crazed maniac,
I will for sure host a festival to give you a heart attack.
Hint:
Angel Games Riddle
Hint:
The Blindfolded Sharpshooter Riddle
A sharpshooter hung up his hat and put on a blindfold. He then walked 100 yards, turned around, and shot a bullet through his hat. The blindfold was a perfectly good one, completely blocking the man's vision. How did he manage this?
Hint:
An Unpopular Invention
My invention is not very popular with people who visit the doctor. It is pointy and sometimes makes people cry. Who am I and what did I invent?
Hint:
Rope Burn Riddle
You have two ropes. Each rope takes one hour to burn. These ropes are not identical, nor are they uniform; i.e. it does not necessarily take half an hour for half the rope to burn (if you have trouble visualizing this, imagine a rope of varying thickness across its length). With only these two ropes and a way to light them, how do you measure out 45 minutes?
Hint: You can light multiple ends and/or multiple ropes at the exact same time.
Light both ends of one rope, and only one end of the other rope. This will cause the first rope to burn out in 30 minutes. When the first rope burns out, there will be 30 minutes left on the second rope. So then, light the other end of the second rope, and the rest of it will burn out in 15 minutes. 30 + 15 = 45 minutes. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
Add Your Riddle Here
Have some tricky riddles of your own? Leave them below for our users to try and solve.