Fun Facts (Hints)
Mathematics has an extensive history in just about every culture or civilized society known to man. Listed below are some cool facts to get those math juices flowing:
In 1852 mathematician JJ Sylvester established the "theory of algebraic invariants."
In 1995 math great Andrew Wiles, proved "Fermat's Last Theorem."
The first decimal number system is said to have been invented in Ancient Egypt around 5000BC.
The Ancient Mayan civilization located in Central America is one of the only cultures in the recorded history of the world to use a place-value number system.
The American Mathematical Society was formed in the late months of 1888 in New York.
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Riddles and Answers © 2023
Zebras And Ostriches In The Zoo
You count 80 heads and 200 legs.
Can you find the number of Zebras and the number of Ostriches in the Zoo?
Hint:
The number of Ostriches = 60 & The number of Zebras = 20 Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
The Greater Dozen Riddle
Hint:
A Rickety Bridge Riddle
Four people need to cross a rickety bridge at night. Unfortunately, they have only one torch and the bridge is too dangerous to cross without one. The bridge is only strong enough to support two people at a time. Not all people take the same time to cross the bridge. Times for each person: 1 min, 2 mins, 7 mins and 10 mins. What is the shortest time needed for all four of them to cross the bridge?
Hint:
17 mins.
The initial solution most people will think of is to use the fastest person as an usher to guide everyone across. How long would that take? 10 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 2 = 21 mins. Is that it? No. That would make this question too simple even as a warm up question.
Let's brainstorm a little further. To reduce the amount of time, we should find a way for 10 and 7 to go together. If they cross together, then we need one of them to come back to get the others. That would not be ideal. How do we get around that? Maybe we can have 1 waiting on the other side to bring the torch back. Ahaa, we are getting closer. The fastest way to get 1 across and be back is to use 2 to usher 1 across. So let's put all this together.
1 and 2 go cross
2 comes back
7 and 10 go across
1 comes back
1 and 2 go across (done)
Total time = 2 + 2 + 10 + 1 + 2 = 17 mins Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
The initial solution most people will think of is to use the fastest person as an usher to guide everyone across. How long would that take? 10 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 2 = 21 mins. Is that it? No. That would make this question too simple even as a warm up question.
Let's brainstorm a little further. To reduce the amount of time, we should find a way for 10 and 7 to go together. If they cross together, then we need one of them to come back to get the others. That would not be ideal. How do we get around that? Maybe we can have 1 waiting on the other side to bring the torch back. Ahaa, we are getting closer. The fastest way to get 1 across and be back is to use 2 to usher 1 across. So let's put all this together.
1 and 2 go cross
2 comes back
7 and 10 go across
1 comes back
1 and 2 go across (done)
Total time = 2 + 2 + 10 + 1 + 2 = 17 mins Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Seventeen Apples Riddle
Hint:
10 Boxes Riddle
There are ten boxes containing some balls. Each of the ball weighs exactly 10 grams. One of those boxes have defective balls (all the defective balls weigh 9 grams each).
An electronic weighing machine is provided to you and you are allowed only one chance of weighing on it.
How will you find out which box has defective balls ?
An electronic weighing machine is provided to you and you are allowed only one chance of weighing on it.
How will you find out which box has defective balls ?
Hint:
Let us simplify boxes by naming them from 1 to 10.
Now the trick here is to pick different number of balls from different boxes. So to simplify things, we will pick balls corresponding to box number.
Thus, pick 1 ball from Box 1, 2 balls from box 2, 3 balls from box 3 and so on. You will have 55 balls altogether. Now, put them all in the balance.
If all balls were weighing accurate 10 grams, the total weight of the 55 balls would have been 550 grams. But one of the box must have had the defective balls.
Suppose if the defective balls were in box number 2, then the total weight will be 2 grams less than 550. If the defective balls were in box 8, the total weight will be less than 8 grams from 550. In this way, you will be able to identify which box has the defective balls. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Now the trick here is to pick different number of balls from different boxes. So to simplify things, we will pick balls corresponding to box number.
Thus, pick 1 ball from Box 1, 2 balls from box 2, 3 balls from box 3 and so on. You will have 55 balls altogether. Now, put them all in the balance.
If all balls were weighing accurate 10 grams, the total weight of the 55 balls would have been 550 grams. But one of the box must have had the defective balls.
Suppose if the defective balls were in box number 2, then the total weight will be 2 grams less than 550. If the defective balls were in box 8, the total weight will be less than 8 grams from 550. In this way, you will be able to identify which box has the defective balls. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Eating Burgers Riddle
How many burgers can 9 boys eat in 3 hours ?
Hint:
18
More hours => more burgers.
More boys => more burgers.
The time become twice (3 hours / 1.5 hours).
Boys become six times (9 / 1.5).
Number of burgers = 2 * 6 * Original(1.5)
= 18 Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
More hours => more burgers.
More boys => more burgers.
The time become twice (3 hours / 1.5 hours).
Boys become six times (9 / 1.5).
Number of burgers = 2 * 6 * Original(1.5)
= 18 Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Bigger Upside Down Riddle
Hint:
Adding Eights Riddle
Hint:
Green And Red Apple Trees Riddle
One of the apple trees had only green apples, and the other tree had only red apples. The village boys picked all the apples from both trees, and found that there were 5 red apples for every 4 green apples. Between them, the boys then ate 16 red apples and 16 green applies. When they counted the apples that were left, they found there were 3 red apples for every 2 green apples. How many apples of each color were on the trees in the first place?
Hint:
Saving Money Riddle
Titus Scribner told his family that each month they would save twice as much as they had saved in the previous month. They would save$1 in the first month, $2 in the second month, and so on. How much money will they have saved at the end of the year?
Hint:
Guilders Expense Riddle
While building a medieval cathedral, it cost 37 guilders to hire 4 artists and 3 stonemasons or 33 guilders for 3 artists and 4 stonemasons. What would the expense of just one of each?
Hint:
Ten guilders. An artist cost 7 guilders, and a stonemason cost 3 guilders.
Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Shotgun Pete Riddle
Shotgun Pete owned a lot of guns. He left a quarter of them in Death Valley, gave one to each of the three passengers in the stagecoach, and kept half of them with him. How many guns did Pete own?
Hint:
One Third As Old Riddle
Hint:
Add Up To 100 Riddle
With the numbers 123456789, make them add up to 100. They must stay in the same order. You can use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Remember, they have to stay in the same order!
Hint:
How Many Spaces Riddle
Hint:
64; the space that comes after the 64th spoke, would be the first spoke. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
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