06

Oct2023

Mental Floss 319

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is: Q: If seven people meet each other and each shakes hands only once with each of the others, how many handshakes will there have been? A: 21 handshakes. This week’s thinking challenge is … Q: ... Read More
October 6, 2023admin

15

Sep2023

Mental Floss 316

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is: Q: You start with 1,000 then add 40. Add another 1,000, then add 30. Add another 1,000 then add 20. Add one more 1,000, then add 10. What is your answer? A: 4,100 This week’s ... Read More
September 15, 2023admin

06

Jul2023

Mental Floss 306

0  
88 69 11 The answer to last week’s challenge is: Q: What do the numbers 11, 69, 88 all have in common? A: They read the same right side up and upside down. This week’s thinking challenge is … Q: An iron horse with a flaxen tail. The ... Read More
July 6, 2023admin

27

Jan2023

Mental Floss 286

1  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: There are two plastic jugs filled with water. How could you put all of the water from the jugs into a barrel, without using any jugs or dividers, and still tell which water came from ... Read More
January 27, 2023admin

14

Jan2022

Mental Floss 230

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: I am a word of six; my first three letters refer to an automobile; my last three letters refer to a household animal; my first four letters is a fish; my whole is found in ... Read More
January 14, 2022admin

05

Nov2021

Mental Floss 220

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: Another real life challenge: During the 1930's, how did some Japanese manufacturers overcome the USA's mistrust of goods made in Japan? A: A number of Japanese exporters relocated their factories to a small Japanese ... Read More
November 5, 2021admin

01

Oct2021

Mental Floss 215

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: An American, who had never been to any  country other than his own, was standing upon solid ground one day when he saw the great barrier reef with his own eyes. How did he manage ... Read More
October 1, 2021admin

03

Sep2021

Mental Floss 211

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: Over the past 100 years many men have dedicated significant portions of their lives in the quest for burnt wood. Although they have been occasionally successful, they have never managed to move the wood. Why ... Read More
September 3, 2021admin

27

Aug2021

Mental Floss 210

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: A large mail order company undertook an analysis of it's customer base. They were surprised to see that a there was an unusually high number of people who were born on November 11. How could ... Read More
August 27, 2021admin

20

Aug2021

Mental Floss 209

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: What is it that goes on 4 legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon and 3 legs in the evening? This is the famous riddle of the Sphinx which was asked of Oedipus ... Read More
August 20, 2021admin

06

Aug2021

Mental Floss 207

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: Fabio is guilty of no crime, yet he is surrounded by professional people, one of which hits him until he cries. Why? A: Fabio is a newborn baby and the Dr slaps him to ... Read More
August 6, 2021admin

16

Jul2021

Mental Floss 204

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: Imagine you have three identical bricks and want to find the common length of their main diagonals. What is the easiest way to do this using just a measuring tape? A: Place the ... Read More
July 16, 2021admin

09

Jul2021

Mental Floss 203

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: What four-letter word can be written forward, backward or upside down, and can still be read from left to right? A: NOON This week’s challenge is: Q: Imagine you have three identical bricks and ... Read More
July 9, 2021admin

02

Jul2021

Mental Floss 202

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: Nautious Maximus was born on the 314th day of year 20B.C. and died on the 271st day of year 20A.D. How old was he when he died? A: Nautious Maximus was 38 years old. ... Read More
July 2, 2021admin

25

Jun2021

Mental Floss 201

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: Which die completes this sequence? A: If you look at dots in the topmost diagram, you will see that they are put together into groups of ... Read More
June 25, 2021admin

18

Jun2021

Mental Floss 200

0  
A-R-E The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: What single word can be used to complete all of the following words: DE - - - ST,  C - - - ER,  ST - - - ,  P - - - NT? A: The word "are". This week’s challenge is: Q: Which ... Read More
June 18, 2021admin

11

Jun2021

Mental Floss 199

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: I had 6 eggs. Broke two, cooked two, ate two. How many do I have left? A: I have 4 eggs left. I had an omelet with the first 2; that’s why I broke ... Read More
June 11, 2021admin

04

Jun2021

Mental Floss 198

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: Draw two squares in the schoolyard below that will separate all the students from each other. A: See diagram above.  This week’s challenge is: Q: I had 6 eggs. Broke two, cooked two, ate ... Read More
June 4, 2021admin

28

May2021

Mental Floss 197

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: A mother was carrying a basket with 4 apples inside. She went to her 4 children and gave each of them an apple. Yet, there was still one apple left in the basket. How come?... Read More
May 28, 2021admin

21

May2021

Mental Floss 196

0  
The answer to last week’s challenge is, Q: Many underground tube stations have two escalators going up, but just one going down. Why? A: This is because when people leave the train, they pack into groups, whereas when they go to ... Read More
May 21, 2021admin