5 RIDDLES
Puzzle 1:
1. The Camel and the Bananas Riddle
A camel needs to transport 3,000 bananas across a 1,000-mile desert.
The camel can carry at most 1,000 bananas at a time.
For each mile traveled, the camel eats 1 banana.
How many bananas can be transported to the other side?
Solution Explanation:
The key is to create intermediate storage points and reduce losses.
1. Divide the journey into segments:
o To cross the first 333 miles, start with 3 trips (carrying 1,000 each).
o At 333 miles, only 1,000 bananas remain.
2. Repeat the process for the next 500 miles, reducing trips accordingly.
3. In the final remaining 500 miles, the camel can carry the remaining bananas in a single trip.
By optimizing, only 533 bananas make it across.
Polya’s Method:
1. Understand the Problem:
o The camel eats 1 banana per mile while carrying loads.
o A maximum of 1,000 bananas can be transported at once.
2. Devise a Plan:
o Use storage points to minimize waste.
3. Carry Out the Plan:
o Reduce the number of trips in a structured way.
4. Look Back:
o By breaking down the problem into sections, the best solution is found.
Puzzle 2:
2. The Handshake Riddle
In a room of 10 people, if everyone shakes hands exactly once with everyone else, how many handshakes occur?
Solution Explanation:
This is a combinations problem, where each handshake is unique.
The number of ways to choose 2 people from 10 is:
(10/2) = 10/2 (10 – 2)! = 10 x 9 = 45 = 10 x 9 = 45
Thus, the total number of handshakes is 45.
Polya’s Method:
1. Understand the Problem:
o Every person shakes hands with everyone else once.
2. Devise a Plan:
o Use the formula for combinations C(n,2) = n(n-1)/2.
3. Carry Out the Plan:
o Compute (10/2) = 45.
4. Look Back:
o The logic works because each pair is counted only once.
Puzzle 3:
3. The Two Train Collision Riddle
Two trains are 50 miles apart, traveling toward each other at 25 miles per hour each. A bird starts flying at 100 miles
per hour from one train toward the other. When it reaches the other train, it turns around and repeats.
How far does the bird travel before the trains collide?
Solution Explanation:
1. The trains will collide in: 50 miles/(25+25) mph=1 hour\
2. Since the bird flies at 100 mph, in 1 hour, it covers: 100×1=100
Thus, the bird travels 100 miles before the trains collide.
Polya’s Method:
1. Understand the Problem:
o The bird continuously flies back and forth between two moving trains.
2. Devise a Plan:
o Calculate the total time before collision.
3. Carry Out the Plan:
o Multiply the bird’s speed by the collision time.
4. Look Back:
o The back-and-forth motion doesn’t matter; only the total flight time does.
Puzzle 4:
4. The Missing Number in the Sequence
Find the missing number in the sequence:
2, 6, 12, 20, ?, 42
Solution Explanation:
The pattern follows:
n2 + n
1. 1^2 + 1 = 2
2. 2^2 + 2 = 6
3. 3^2 + 3 = 12
4. 4^2 + 4 = 20
5. 5^2 + 5 = 30
6. 6^2 + 6 = 42
Thus, the missing number is 30.
Polya’s Method:
1. Understand the Problem:
o A number is missing in the pattern.
2. Devise a Plan:
o Find a formula by checking differences or functions of numbers.
3. Carry Out the Plan:
o Recognize that n2+nn^2 + nn2+n fits.
4. Look Back:
o The formula correctly generates all numbers in the sequence.
Puzzle 5:
5. The Three Consecutive Numbers Riddle
The sum of three consecutive numbers is 87. What are the numbers?
Solution Explanation:
Let the three numbers be x, x+1, x+2.
1. Write the equation:
x + (x + 1) +(x+2)=87
2. Simplify:
3x + 3 = 87
3. Solve for x:
3x = 84
X = 28
Thus, the numbers are 28, 29, and 30.
Polya’s Method:
1. Understand the Problem:
o Three numbers sum to 87.
2. Devise a Plan:
o Express them in terms of x and create an equation.
3. Carry Out the Plan:
o Solve for x and find the three numbers.
4. Look Back:
o Verify that 28 + 29 + 30 = 87 is correct.