The Riddle Thread

[Reach]

130 is the 89th percentile. You scored higher than 89% of the population.


Let's not turn this into a 'I got such and such' score thread, though :P Don't post your scores here.

But if you want some information on your score...


100 - 50th percentile
115 - 73rd percentile
130 - 89th percentile
145 - 97th percentile
160 - 99.4th percentile
175 - 99.9th percentile

Keep in mind the actual test is timed. You have to move very quickly, and as such most people score higher on this because they can relax and take their time.


edit: http://nicologic.free.fr/

Tons of tests here. These tests use a standard deviation of 15 to report scores. (130 on one is equal to about 150 on the other test.). Make sure to run the time limits.

[DiscoBobbyPARANOiA]

I got 160, in approximately 15 minutes (during class).

I wish there was a way to see why certain questions were wrong/see the pattern for the answer. I'm really stumped on the three I missed.

Edit: If someone could explain 11, 12, and 15 to me that would be awesome.

[hisue]

[quote=Reach;1126847]



3) Extreme

Using only two 2's and any combination of mathematical signs, symbols and functions can you make 5?



omg 2 over 2 added to 2times 2 dur my brain hurts

[FoJaR]

(2+2+2+2+2) / 2

2 + 2 + 2/2

2*2 +2/2 (hisue)

[MetsPenguin31]

Read the question

Using only two 2's

Plus it was answered a bunch of pages back.

[EI_Tizzy]

Bored, so I scanned for some unsolved riddles:

Originally Posted by Reach

8) Impossible?

121211 121131 123111 ?
222331 221331 211111
123233 121233 111233
221132 222132 221132
323133 321133 111133
112111 111111 111111

Sorry, I know people gave up awhile ago, but...

I think I actually have an idea, but I'm not sure I'm setting it up right. Could you post the actual diagram so I could see a little more clearly please? If having the diagram really gives away too much, I'll try without it.

[flipsta_lombax]

Eh, that numerical riddle below needs a little bit of organization. Does that question mark mean what comes between 123111 and 222331, or is it a new column? I'll try to figure it out later.

Anyway while we progress, this is proclaimed as the hardest riddle, as proved by statistics. 97% of Harvard could not figure it out, yet 84% of kindergarden students figured it out in 5 minutes or less. I was shocked as well. Here you are:

I turn polar bears white
and I will make you cry.
I make guys have to pee
and girls comb their hair.
I make celebrities look stupid
and normal people look like celebrities.
I turn pancakes brown
and make your champagne bubble.
If you squeeze me, I'll pop.
If you look at me, you'll pop.
Can you guess the riddle?

[EI_Tizzy]

I am so sick of this riddle. I do believe those statistics are there to make us feel stupid too. I don't believe that for a second.

Too many answers have been thrown around, all seem correct, but the one I still like the best is:

TIME

This riddle is based off a poem:

The time has come,
winter is here
and those yellow bears disappear.

The time has past
as man looks back with a sigh
and a tear in his eye.

As time is held
boys cross their legs
but of course the toilet begs

As time marches on
Girls loose their blush
and swap a comb for their brush

As time passes
For those held high
their end is nigh

As time catches up
Everyone is equal
when we get to the final sequel

As time turns
Without it we have flour and water
With it we have breakfast for my daughter

As time revolves
How does one turn water and wine
into something so fine

As time runs out
The more in a minute you try and squeeze
the less you can do with ease.

As time ticks
All the time that has past
man cannot comprehend something so vast.

Many people also say "pressure", but some of their contrived reasoning is a little off.

[flipsta_lombax]

I have heard that answer quite alot, though I just don't know how it makes celebs look stupid. >>

I never knew it coming from that poem. Facinating.

[Reach]

Originally Posted by DiscoBobbyPARANOiA

I got 160, in approximately 15 minutes (during class).

I wish there was a way to see why certain questions were wrong/see the pattern for the answer. I'm really stumped on the three I missed.

Edit: If someone could explain 11, 12, and 15 to me that would be awesome.

No idea why people find 11 and 12 hard but get the last few. I think this test is too easy in that you can inflate your score by using some process of elimation to figure out what the most likely answer is. The real test has 8 answers for each question, which also makes it harder.

For 11, look at the first row. There are 3 different shapes. Each of these shapes are in each row.

12 is slightly more complex. Take the shape on the left, rotate it 90 degrees. Now place this ontop of the second shape. Whichever shape from the first item is 'ontop' of the other cancels out the shape in the same direction in the second column to give you the third column. The answer is #4 because the square on 'bottom' in the bottom row gets canceled out.

I got 15 wrong so I'm not sure. The answer is C or D. The shape always moves to the left, so you have the blue cross in the bottom left. I don't see enough evidence in the problem itself though to say for sure which answer is correct, though =/



21 23 25 26 29 29 33 32 ? ?

5 18 46 128 348 ?

[slipstrike0159]

Originally Posted by flipsta_lombax

I have heard that answer quite alot, though I just don't know how it makes celebs look stupid. >>

I never knew it coming from that poem. Facinating.

If the answer is time then i understand the celeb one because you gotta think that once they become famous the media is always watching you and eventually you are going to screw up (like everyone does) and you will look stupid. In contrast, not all that many people see a regular person screw up but when they do something great and a lot of people notice then they look like a celeb, if that makes any kind of sense.

If it is time, i just dont get the "if you squeeze me then ill pop and if you look at me youll pop"

[flipsta_lombax]

Originally Posted by slipstrike0159

If the answer is time then i understand the celeb one because you gotta think that once they become famous the media is always watching you and eventually you are going to screw up (like everyone does) and you will look stupid. In contrast, not all that many people see a regular person screw up but when they do something great and a lot of people notice then they look like a celeb, if that makes any kind of sense.

If it is time, i just dont get the "if you squeeze me then ill pop and if you look at me youll pop"

Ahh, yes. People these days. Thanks for the clarification.

And as with the popping thing, thanks to EI_Tizzy's poem, it's quite clear.

The first pop deals with cramming and procrastination I believe, that when you run out of time because of procrastinating, you cram whatever you're doing (or something like this; quite hard to explain...)

The second pop deals with how extraordinary time is, that man finds it most interesting.

[EI_Tizzy]

Yes, indeed. I'm glad I could clear everyone's confusions about the riddle and answer. Here's an idea:

HOW ABOUT WE DO RIDDLES NOW!

[xjohnieboyx]

Originally Posted by Reach

No idea why people find 11 and 12 hard but get the last few. I think this test is too easy in that you can inflate your score by using some process of elimation to figure out what the most likely answer is. The real test has 8 answers for each question, which also makes it harder.

For 11, look at the first row. There are 3 different shapes. Each of these shapes are in each row.

12 is slightly more complex. Take the shape on the left, rotate it 90 degrees. Now place this ontop of the second shape. Whichever shape from the first item is 'ontop' of the other cancels out the shape in the same direction in the second column to give you the third column. The answer is #4 because the square on 'bottom' in the bottom row gets canceled out.

I got 15 wrong so I'm not sure. The answer is C or D. The shape always moves to the left, so you have the blue cross in the bottom left. I don't see enough evidence in the problem itself though to say for sure which answer is correct, though =/



21 23 25 26 29 29 33 32 37 35

5 18 46 128 348 ?

the next one i'm thinking about.

[dntgotheregf2]

Originally Posted by flipsta_lombax

Eh, that numerical riddle below needs a little bit of organization. Does that question mark mean what comes between 123111 and 222331, or is it a new column? I'll try to figure it out later.

Anyway while we progress, this is proclaimed as the hardest riddle, as proved by statistics. 97% of Harvard could not figure it out, yet 84% of kindergarden students figured it out in 5 minutes or less. I was shocked as well. Here you are:

I turn polar bears white
and I will make you cry.
I make guys have to pee
and girls comb their hair.
I make celebrities look stupid
and normal people look like celebrities.
I turn pancakes brown
and make your champagne bubble.
If you squeeze me, I'll pop.
If you look at me, you'll pop.
Can you guess the riddle?

the answer to this riddle is "NO"


the last question being "can you guess the riddle"?

ther average kindergardner would just say no i can' guess it, however a harvard student would think for days and days.

[EI_Tizzy]

another popular answer, but I still feel "time" is correct, as it so perfectly matches the poem I posted in my answer.

[flipsta_lombax]

Originally Posted by dntgotheregf2

the answer to this riddle is "NO"


the last question being "can you guess the riddle"?

ther average kindergardner would just say no i can' guess it, however a harvard student would think for days and days.

Well, going with what Tizzy has proven, it can no longer be "No." Anyone who backs their answer with fact becomes law.

Time seems to be the relative answer to it.

[trumaestro]

Originally Posted by flipsta_lombax

Anyway while we progress, this is proclaimed as the hardest riddle, as proved by statistics. 97% of Harvard could not figure it out, yet 84% of kindergarden students figured it out in 5 minutes or less. I was shocked as well. Here you are:

I turn polar bears white
and I will make you cry.
I make guys have to pee
and girls comb their hair.
I make celebrities look stupid
and normal people look like celebrities.
I turn pancakes brown
and make your champagne bubble.
If you squeeze me, I'll pop.
If you look at me, you'll pop.
Can you guess the riddle?

lulz.
Teh answer is flipsta_lombax.
Aside from the fact that I've seen that riddle before, I suppose it warents a touch of explanation...
Note the I's. They should suggest that whoever is telling the riddle can do those things, and nowhere in it does it say that they can't.

Though I'm sure he can make some mean pancakes... ;D

[Vishnal]

I am so fragile that saying my name causes me to break.

What am I?

[Reach]

Brain pain:

If a cube and a tetrahedron interpenetrate, what is the maximum possible number of solid pieces (i.e., completely bounded volumes)?