Lateral Thinking Puzzles

Elementary
GOAL
 The Man in the Elevator
For a start, heres one of the oldest
and best-known lateral thinking
problems. It goes like this:
 The Man in the Elevator
A man lives on the tenth floor of a
building. Every day, he takes the
elevator to the first floor to go to
work. When he returns, he always
takes the elevator to the seventh
floor and then walks the remaining
flights of stairs to his apartment on
the tenth floor. Why does he do
this?
The Man in the Elevator
Generate some ideas.
 The Man in the Elevator
Ask yourself:
Is there anything he does between
the seventh and tenth floors other
than climb the stairs?
No
If he had someone else with him,
would they both get out at the 7th
floor and walk up to the tenth?
No
 The Man in the Elevator
If he lived on the sixth floor, would he
go up to the sixth floor in the
elevator?
Yes
If he lived in a different block of
apartments in a different country but
still on the 10th floor, would he still get
out on the 7th floor when going up?
Most probably yes.
 The Man in the Elevator
So why does he get off the
elevator on the seventh floor and
walk up to the tenth floor?

The man is a dwarf. He can reach

the button in the elevator for the
first floor, but he cannot reach the
button for the tenth floor. The
seventh floor button is the highest
he can reach.
 1. The Coal, Carrot, and
Scarf
Five pieces of coal, a carrot, and a
scarf are lying on the lawn. Nobody
put them on the lawn, but there is
a perfectly logical reason for their
being there. What is it?
 1. The Coal, Carrot, and
Scarf
Ask:
Does the time of year matter?

Yes
Were the objects brought out to
the yard by human beings?
Yes
Were they used for some
entertainment purpose?
Yes
 1. The Coal, Carrot, and
Scarf
So why were they there?

They were used by children who

made a snowman. The snow has
now melted.
 2. The Two Americans
There were two Americans waiting
at the entrance to the British
Museum. One of them was the
father of the other ones son.

How could this be?

 2. The Two Americans
This one is based on a familiar
theme. You either get it quickly or
not at all. It does not lend itself to a
long line of intelligent questioning. It
boils down to the simple question
how can two people have the same
son?

They were husband and wife

 3. The Men in the Hotel
Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones are two
businessmen who book into the same
hotel for the night. They are given
adjacent rooms on the third floor.
During the night, Mr. Smith sleeps
soundly. However, despite being very
tired, Mr. Jones cannot fall asleep. He
eventually phones Mr. Smith and falls
asleep immediately after hanging up.
Why should this be so?
 3. The Men in the Hotel
Was there something happening in
Mr. Smiths room that was preventing
Mr. Jones from sleeping?
Yes
Was it a noise?
Yes
Did they speak for long on the phone?
No
 3. The Men in the Hotel
Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones are two
businessmen who book into the same
hotel for the night. They are given
adjacent rooms on the third floor.
During the night, Mr. Smith sleeps
soundly. However, despite being very
Mr. Jones
tired, Mr. Jones could notfall
cannot sleepasleep.
because Mr.He
eventually Smith was snoring.
phones His phone
Mr. Smith call awoke
and falls
Mr. Smith and stopped him from snoring
asleep immediately after hanging up.
long enough for Mr. Jones to get to sleep.
Why should this be so?
 4. Happy or Sad
Three women dressed in swimsuits
were standing together. Two were
sad and one was happy. But the
sad women were both smiling and
the happy one was crying. Why
should that be so?
 4. Happy or Sad
Were they on the beach or at a
swimming pool?
No
Is it relevant that they were wearing
swimsuits?
Yes
Was the happy one crying because she
was happy?
Yes
Were the sad ones smiling because they
were sad?
No
 4. Happy or Sad
It was the final of the Miss World
Beauty Contest. The winner always
cries. The disappointed runners-up
smile because everyone is
watching them and they are
expected to look happy and
radiant.
 5. A Peculiar House
Mrs. Jones wanted a new house.
She very much liked to see the sun
shining into a room, so she
instructed the builders to construct
a house of which all four walls face
south. After much thought, the
builder managed to erect just such
a house. How did he do it?
 5. A Peculiar House
This house had only four walls and
they all faced south. Think about
where it might be located.S

S S

S
 5. A Peculiar House
Mrs. Jones wanted a new house. She
very much liked to see the sun
shining into a room, so she instructed
the builders to construct a house of
which all four walls face south. After
much thought, the builder managed
to erect just such a house. How did
he do it?
The builder built the house at
the North Pole.
Lateral Thinking Puzzles
and
Brain Teasers
GOAL
Mr. Comm
 6. The Painted Tower
A painter was hired to repaint the
Eatonville water tower which was located
just off a very busy street in the centre of
the town.
Everyday for two weeks the man painted
diligently but he was never seen working
by anyone and nobody noticed any
change in the tower. When he had
finished he was congratulated for doing
such a splendid job and paid by the
Eatonville Town Clerk.
Why?
 6. The Painted Tower
Did he actually paint the tower?
Yes
Is there some way that the painter
could do the job and not be seen?
Yes
Did the shape of the water tower
affect the view of the painter working?
No
 6. The Painted Tower
Answer

The painter had painted the inside

of the water tower, as he had been
employed to do...
 7. The Delivery
A farmer in Somerset owns a beautiful
pear tree, from which he supplies the
fruit to a nearby grocery store.
The store owner has called the farmer
to see how much fruit is available for
him to purchase. The farmer knows that
the main trunk has 24 branches. Each
branch has exactly 12 boughs and each
bough has exactly 6 twigs. Since each
twig bears one piece of fruit, how many
plums will the farmer be able to deliver?
 7. The Delivery
Answer

None - the farmer owns a Pear

tree, not a Plum tree...
 8. 15 Cents
Can 15 cents be made from 2 coins if
one coin is not a dime?

Hint:
What can the other coin be?

Answer:
Yes, a nickel and a dime, the question
only says that one coin can't be a dime.
 9. A Chess Piece
Two grandmasters played five
games of chess. Each won the
same number of games and lost
the same number of games. There
were no draws in any of the
games. How could this be so?
 9. A Chess Piece
This is the kind of problem that depends
on the reader or the listener making the
wrong assumptions. Test all the
assumptions with questions like the
following:
Q: Were they playing normal chess?
A: yes
Q: In chess, if one player wins then the
other loses?
Yes, always.
 9. A Chess Piece
Q: So when one of the grandmasters
won a game, the other grandmaster
lost it?
No.
Q: Was there anybody else involved?
Yes.

Lets see it one more time.

 9. A Chess Piece
Two grandmasters played five games
of chess. Each won the same
number of games and lost the same
number of games. There were no
draws in any of the games. How
could this be so?

Answer: Who said they were playing

each other?
 10. The Unseen Walker
On a busy Friday afternoon, a man
walked several miles across London from
Westminister to Knightsbridge without
seeing anybody or being seen by
anybody. The day was clear and bright.
He had perfect eyesight and he looked
where he was going. He did not travel by
any method of transport other than by
foot. London was thronged with people
yet not one of them saw him. How?
 10. The Unseen Walker
Q: If he walked into this room now,
would we see him and he see us?
A: Yes
Q: Did he wear anything special?
A: Yes. Clue: It was a miners helmet.
Q: Did he walk along normal roads?
A: No
 10. The Unseen Walker
On a busy Friday afternoon, a man walked
several miles across London from
Westminister to Knightsbridge without
seeing anybody or being seen by anybody.
The day was clear and bright. He had
perfect eyesight and he looked where he
was going. He did not travel by any method
of transport other than by foot. London was
thronged with people yet not one of them
saw him. How?

He walked through the sewers.

 11. A Riddle
For a little light relief, we will now
have an old riddle. What is it that
gets wetter as it dries?

No clues for this one.

The answer is a towel

 12. Five Men
Five men were proceeding together
down a country path. It began to
rain. Four of the men quickened their
step and began to walk faster. The
fifth man made no effort to move
any faster. However, he remained
dry and the other four got wet. They
all arrived at their destination
together. How could this be so?
 12. Five Men
Clue: They all relied only on foot
power.

Did the man who stayed dry carry

any kind of umbrella or covering?
Answer: No
Did he walk?
Answer: No
 12. Five Men
Five men were proceeding together
down a country path. It began to rain.
Four of the men quickened their step
and began to walk faster. The fifth man
made no effort to move any faster.
However, he remained dry and the
other four got wet. They all arrived at
their destination together. How could
this be so? (Click once for answer)
 12. Five Men
The four men were carrying the
fifth man, who was in his coffin.
 13. Another Riddle
What is it that the man who makes it
does not need; the man who buys it
does not use himself, and the person
who uses it does so without knowing?

Clue: It might also be said that nobody

wants it, but everybody needs it.

(Click once for answer)

 13. Another Riddle
What is it that the man who makes
it does not need; the man who
buys it does not use himself, and
the person who uses it does so
without knowing?

The answer is a coffin.

 14. The Disappearing
Pickles
Peter Piper the pickle salesman went
to market and sold half of his pickles
plus half a pickle. He was left with
one whole pickle. How many pickles
did Peter Piper start with?
(Click Once for Solution)
Three. If he sold half of his pickles
that would leave him with one and a
half. Then selling a half, he has one
pickle left.
 15. Pied Piper Wanted
How many rats are in the room if
there is a rat in each of the 4
corners and 3 rats across from
every rat and a rat in the corner
next to every rat?

4 rats: There are only 4 corners to

the room.
 16. Dog Dayz
What is the next letter in the series?

D N O S A J __
(Click once for answer)
J (June the letters are the first
letters of the month of the year in
reverse order.)
 17. Just Kidding
Lets go play with the 3 kids up on
that hill, said Silly Sally. Joe ran
ahead but only found 2 children and
some grazing farm animals when he
arrived. Where did the third kid go?
(Click once for a clue)
Clue. Does a kid have to be a
person?
(Click for answer)
 17. Just Kidding
Lets go play with the 3 kids up on
that hill, said Silly Sally. Joe ran
ahead but only found 2 children
and some grazing farm animals
when he arrived. Where did the
third kid go?

The third kid was a baby goat.

 18. Happy Family
Homers mother has four children.
Three of them are named Spring,
Summer and Autumn. What is the
fourth named?
(Click for answer)
Homer (Of course!)
 19. Wide Load
Mr. Stones truck attempted to
enter a parking garage, but got
caught underneath the garage
ceiling because of the trucks 66
height. It wont budge forward or
backward. How can he get the
truck out from under the garage
ceiling? (Click once for a clue)
 19. Wide Load
Mr. Stones truck attempted to enter a
parking garage, but got caught
underneath the garage ceiling because
of the trucks 66 height. It wont budge
forward or backward. How can he get the
truck out from under the garage ceiling?

Clue: Is there anything they could do to

shorten the trucks overall height?

(Click for answer)

 19. Wide Load
Mr. Stones truck attempted to enter a
parking garage, but got caught
underneath the garage ceiling because
of the trucks 66 height. It wont
budge forward or backward. How can he
get the truck out from under the garage
ceiling?
Answer: Let the air out of the tires (The
truck will lower and be able to drive
forward.)
 20. Life Lesson
f
What is it that you need to have
life, you wont have with death,
f start fun without?
and you cant

(Click twice for clues)

Answer: The letter f.

 21. Sizzler
I sizzle like bacon.
Im made with an egg.
Ive got lots of backbone,
but not even one leg.
I peel like an onion,
yet still remain whole.
Im long like a fishpole,
but fit in a hole. (Click for answer)
 21. Sizzler
I sizzle like bacon.
Im made with an egg.
Ive got lots of backbone,
but not even one leg.
I peel like an onion,
yet still remain whole.
Im long like a fishpole,
but fit in a hole.
 22. Exciting!

I start with the letter E.

I end with the letter E.
I usually contain one letter.
But I am not the letter E.

(Click for answer)

 22. Exciting!

I am an
I start with the letter E.
envelope
I end with the letter E.
I usually contain one letter.
But I am not the letter E.
 23. Im Never Blue
Sometimes Im green,
sometimes Im black.
When Im yellow,
Im a very nice fellow.
Thats when Im feeling
mighty a-peeling.

What am I? (Click for answer)

 23. Im Never Blue
Sometimes Im green,
sometimes Im black.
When Im yellow,
Im a very nice fellow.
Thats when Im feeling
mighty a-peeling.

What am I?
 24. Out of Touch
Hey, Whats up?
They Dont touch when you say
TOUCH.
-- but they do touch when you say
SEPARATE.

What are they?

(Click for answer)
 24. Out of Touch
Hey, Whats up?
They Dont touch when you say
TOUCH.
-- but they do touch when you say
SEPARATE.

What are they?

Your lips
 25. E-X-T-R-A Credit
What two European cities would
you visit to find Ed and Sara?

Ed

Sara
Scotland
Bosnia and Herzegovina
 25. E-X-T-R-A Credit
What two European cities would
you visit to find Ed and Sara?
 26. SSSSSSS
What word becomes plural when
an s is added, but becomes
singular again by adding another
s?
hint

(Click for answer)

 26. SSSSSSS
What word becomes plural when
an s is added, but becomes
singular again by adding another
s?
hint
Prince
Princes
Princess
 27. Peanut Riddle
A peanut tree was planted on the
west side if a house. The wind is
blowing from the north. When the
peanuts fall to the ground, will
they fall on the north or south side
of the tree?

(Click for answer)

 27. Peanut Riddle
A peanut tree was planted on the
west side if a house. The wind is
blowing from the north. When the
peanuts fall to the ground, will they
fall on the north or south side of the
tree?

Peanuts dont grow on trees they

grow under ground
 28. Meaty Guy
At a local market, the meat
manager is 5 feet 9 inches tall,
wears a size 16 shirt and size 7
shoes. What does he weigh?

Hint: You dont have to do any

math to solve this one.
(Click once for a hint)
 28. Meaty Guy
At a local market, the meat
manager is 5 feet 9 inches tall,
wears a size 16 shirt and size 7
shoes. What does he weigh?

The meat manager weighs meat.

 29. Door-to-Door
Going to school you count 15
houses on the right side of the
street. Going home you count 15
on the left side. How many houses
did you count?
(Click for answer)
 29. Door-to-Door
Going to school you count 15 houses
on the right side of the street. Going
home you count 15 on the left side.
How many houses did you count?

Fifteen. You count the same number

of houses because it is the same
side of the street.
 30. My Hero Zero
How can the number 8 be divided
into two equal halves so that the
result is zero?

oo
There is no math involved.
(Click once for a hint)
 30. My Hero Zero
How can the number 8 be divided
into two equal halves so that the
result is zero?

oo
 31. Day by Day
Some months have 30 days; others
have 31. How many months have
28 days?
 31. Day by Day
Some months have 30 days; others
have 31. How many months have
28 days?

All the months have 28 days.

# 32
# 33