Okay guys have a go at this. I heard this awhile ago and can not figue it out.

3 salesmen in town for a convention, go to a hotel to get a room. They inquire at the desk and are told that there is but one room left. "No problem bring in a rollaway and we'll take it." The desk clerk fills out the form and hands them a key, "That'll be $30.00 for the room." So each of the salesmen pitch in $10.00 "here you go." get the recept and head up to their room. Checking his register as he is going off duty the clerk relizes that he overcharged the salesmen. They should have only been charged $25.00 for the room. He calls the bellhop over and explains what happened. He opens the till and pulls out 5 one dollar bills. Since he cannot split this up evenly he puts one of the bills in his pocket, instructs the bell hop to put one in his pocket, and then tells the bell hop to go give each one of the salesmen back a dollar. So this means that the salesmen paid $27.00 for the room. The clerk has his $1, and the bellhop has his $1, For a grand total of $29.00. Where did the other $1 go.

I still havn't found it.

Er...

There is not a extra dollar.

1 for the bell hop

1 for the sells men

and 3 for the salesmen

thats 5. He oulled out five dollars..so thats all of them..

Did I mistunderstand the question?

The salesmen each got $1 back so they paid $9 apeice $27 for the room, right. The clerk has $1 and the bellhop has $1. Thats only $29. We started with $30.

clever [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img]

but

they paid $27.00 for the room. the two dollars from the clerc and the hotel worker are already included in that 27 dollars. you cannot add 2 to 27. :D

Your to good for me 250. I really didn't think anyone would get it that fast. I'm duly impressed. ALL HAIL THE WISE ONE!! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Well done.

The secret behind the trick is the way it's worded--making you add and subtract at the same time. Here, I'll give a simpler example: Lay your hands on your desk, fingers spread. How many fingers do you have? Ten. Let's count them to make sure; going from your left pinky to your right pinky we'll number your fingers in order from 1 to 10. Now this is the tricky part, adding and subtracting at the same time: Let's count your fingers backwards, from your right pinky down to your right thumb: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6. But we know that your left hand has 5 fingers, so we can simply add that to the 6 we got for the right hand, giving a total of 11 fingers.

The salesmen did indeed give up $27 for the room: The $25 that are rightfully in the till, and 1 each for the clerk & the bellboy, just as 250 said. You don't add $27+clerk+bellboy to get $29, you add $27+salesman+salesman+salesman to get $30.

Here's another one:

A spy is captured by the enemy, and dragged to their prison camp. The enemy commandant doesn't want to interrogate the spy right now, as he's just about to go to bed. To ensure that the spy will stay up all night worrying (and be easier to interrogate the next morning), he tells the spy:
"I'm going to play a game with you. We're going to put you in a room with a door that has no lock. There's a guard in the hall, though, so you can't get out. The only things of interest in the room are 4 light switches--each switch controls 1 light bulb in the room across the hall. Now, if you can figure out which switch controls which bulb by daybreak, we'll let you go and give you a full hour before we come after you. The catch is that as SOON as you enter the room with the light bulbs, or even to peek inside, you will have to give your answer, then and there."
"Pleasant dreams."

What's a spy to do?

go to bed

then get up in mid night, sneak out and backstab the guard, then go back to sleep

Since we're into riddles anyway,here's another one:

What is:

-greater than God
-more evil than the devil
-rich people need it
-poor people have it
-and if you eat it,you die?

(c)a belgian player from another forum

Hey Campino, whats up? Could the answer possibley be <font color="red">NOTHING</font>

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Campino:
Since we're into riddles anyway,here's another one:

What is:

-greater than God
-more evil than the devil
-rich people need it
-poor people have it
-and if you eat it,you die?

(c)a belgian player from another forum<hr></blockquote>

Nada. [img]smile.gif[/img]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dresdan:
The salesmen each got $1 back so they paid $9 apeice $27 for the room, right. The clerk has $1 and the bellhop has $1. Thats only $29. We started with $30.<hr></blockquote>

It's a trick question. That's not the way you figure it out. The story problem presented here is flawed in it's application. The $27 paid INCLUDES the 2$ that were kept as tips by the bellhop and innkeeper. Therefore in order to reach the original price of $30 you would add the $3 which was refunded, not the $2 in tips that is already included in the total paid price of $27.

Does this answer your question?

Not flawed. It's a riddle not a story problem. Yes that's the right answer, you just have to disregard the bell hop and clerk, it's an irrelevent line thrown in to confuse. Thus creating the riddle.

you two are too smart for me,Dresdan and Lioness [img]smile.gif[/img]
I'll think of another one.......

*sigh*

Umm, I'm with Grand Ranger on this one---the answer was immediately, glaringly apparent! I don't understand what the problem was with figuring it out....

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by SixOfSpades:
Here's another one:

A spy is captured by the enemy, and dragged to their prison camp. The enemy commandant doesn't want to interrogate the spy right now, as he's just about to go to bed. To ensure that the spy will stay up all night worrying (and be easier to interrogate the next morning), he tells the spy:
"I'm going to play a game with you. We're going to put you in a room with a door that has no lock. There's a guard in the hall, though, so you can't get out. The only things of interest in the room are 4 light switches--each switch controls 1 light bulb in the room across the hall. Now, if you can figure out which switch controls which bulb by daybreak, we'll let you go and give you a full hour before we come after you. The catch is that as SOON as you enter the room with the light bulbs, or even to peek inside, you will have to give your answer, then and there."
"Pleasant dreams."

What's a spy to do?<hr></blockquote>

Since it's night, he can see if there's a light burning in the other room by looking at the floor near the door [img]tongue.gif[/img]

This reminds me of a similar one. Let's use the same situation where there are four switches, but only a single lamp. Naturally, only one of the switches is connected to the light bulb.
This time, as soon as the spy exits the room with the lamp, he has to say which of the four switches is the right one.
He has no tools and he cannot see the other room, nor if there's a light burning there until he enteres the room with the lamp. So he's got one single shot, and four switches to choose from. How will he do this?

(It's pretty obvious once you figure it out ;) )

Legolas: he chooses the switch which is the other way around to the others (ie. if 3 switches are down, then he hits the one that's up or vice versa [img]smile.gif[/img] ), Right?

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by demus:
Legolas: he chooses the switch which is the other way around to the others (ie. if 3 switches are down, then he hits the one that's up or vice versa [img]smile.gif[/img] ), Right?<hr></blockquote>

nah uh, it is up to you to find out which switch controls the light. basically, you have to choose one out of four. the switch is not already flipped. even if you flip one, that one might not be the control

You and I are basically asking the same riddle, Legolas: Your problem is which of 4 switches controls THE light bulb, and my problem is which of 4 switches controls WHICH of 4 light bulbs. The two problems are essentially the same (if you know the answer to one, you can figure out the other), with the main difference that looking under the door makes solving the 1-bulb problem a no-brainer, but is no help at all with the 4-bulb problem. So let's assume that you're not allowed to look under the door, at least in the 1-bulb problem.

Any real answers yet? Come on, we're intelligent gamers here. ;)

P.S. Oh, let's also assume that 'down' equals 'off,' for all the switches.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Legolas:


This reminds me of a similar one. Let's use the same situation where there are four switches, but only a single lamp. Naturally, only one of the switches is connected to the light bulb.
This time, as soon as the spy exits the room with the lamp, he has to say which of the four switches is the right one.
He has no tools and he cannot see the other room, nor if there's a light burning there until he enteres the room with the lamp. So he's got one single shot, and four switches to choose from. How will he do this?

(It's pretty obvious once you figure it out ;) )<hr></blockquote>

That's quite easy Legolas,must be the one on the right [img]smile.gif[/img]

I'm stumped so far, but i'm still working on it(and a headache) I know when I do figure this out, I'll probably kick myself in the a** for not getting it sooner. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I could tell you if it was the one on the right, but if I did you'd eiter say "I told you" or reduce the problem to three [img]smile.gif[/img]
Could have worked with someone else though ;)

And if there are three useless switches, they can be in any position without it making a difference. So you could have all in the same position, or one in a different position, or two. But you'd never know which one was the real one.


SixofSpades, they're not exactly the same for one simple detail. Which is why I couldn't come up with the answer to your question right away. But mine works with four bulbs as well, that's true. In that way, it's quite similar.

The detail is


*hint* *hint* *hint*
The spy doesn't have to give the answer the moment he/she steps into the room

BTW, this hint is only useful if you're clever enough to figure out the riddle without it. Ehr...

the one to the right is the right one

I'll explain Legolas,

You asked,which one is the right one.
Now right can mean correct,or a direction.
I think you mean direction,so if you ask,which one is the right one,i say the one on the right.That's what i meant.

In that case, I can't beat your logic. But it won't help the spy find out which of the four switches activates the lamp ;)

Give me some more time,i'll eventually come up with the answer.Thought i had it ,really.Ah well,can't sleep anyway.

Why did Dresdan start this topic,to keep people from sleeping?

j/k [img]smile.gif[/img]

I dont freaking undertsand your questions at all, elf, maybe you should go study common some more before adventure to Faerun any furthur

any hows, I have guesses

I cannot figure out which one, but I can increase the chances to 50%

just divide the four switchs into two groups. the correct one must be in either group. pick a group, then flip one switch. if that one doesnt work, then must be the other one. 50% chance, better than randomly choose in four.

this solution doesnt work for four light bulbs... so I suppose it is incorrect. but heck, what did you mean by "as soon as he >>>>exist<<< the room with lamp" ? and what did you mean by "he doesnt have to give the answer immediately" that helps

I thought he MUST give the answer?

Sorry Campino, my version of insomniac theater [img]smile.gif[/img] And these two riddles have given me a three Motrin headache and I am no closer to solving them. But I will, sooner or later(hopefully sooner as I may run out of motrin)

Ok,got it!!(i think)Must be the switch in the same room as the lamp.

(the other 3 are in the other room)

Ehr... no. The answer lies not in tricks caused by the lack of information in the 'riddle'. All the switches are in the same room.


With 'when he exits' I mean he has time to walk around in the other room (which is empty but for the lightbulb)and do whatever he likes.

Well, another hint then. *pointer* Let's say the spy only has thirty minutes to figure out the answer. *pointer*

EDIT: LOL, came up with another hint from the Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind [img]smile.gif[/img]

*Wise advice* Think of the solution, not the problem *Wise advice*


The problem with wise advice is it's sometimes quite useless [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img]

Since the door is not locked just kill the guard and escape who gives a damn about the lights.

Okay. Do you want me to spell it out or to guide you in the right direction so you'll think it was you who though of the answer?

What does a lightbulb do?

I can't think of anything else,just tell me.
I know i wouldn't have figured out something else,so i'm not going to think i would have found the solution myself.

Ok, the lights, lamp are in another room, right? And no matter what switchs I turn on or off I can see no reaction, such as illumination from the other room, right? If the door is not locked can I leave my room?

Legolas,

Perhaps a PM to prevent the spoil for Dresdan??
Can't come up with something else :confused:

Really tried though...

That's all correct. Leaving the room won't gain you anything at all, unless you decide to enter the room with the light bulb. In which case you cannot go back to the switches.

A PM? Read it here tomorrow (or today, depending on your timezone [img]smile.gif[/img] )

The working switch will have electricity running through it - if you turn light switches slowly they will often spark. This would only work for the one bulb though...is that it?

Hm, there's an original approach. But it's not the answer I was after. Who knows, maybe the other three switches are for the dishwasher, microwave and refridgerator in the commander's tent [img]tongue.gif[/img]

No, the answer lies within the lamp.

It has to be something else, Leonis. Legolas said the riddles were the same in principle so clicking one switch may work any of the four lights. Or his lamp.