So You Think You Are Clever?
Posted on November 6, 2011
Here is quiz that is likely to engross you mentally for some time. Ponder on each one of them very carefully. At the end of it you might realize, how clever you are (or you are not). If you can answer 5 or more than that correct, I consider you exceptional.
- If 3 cats kill 3 rats in 3 minutes, how long will it take 100 cats to kill 100 rats?
- Is it legal for a man to marry his widow’s sister?
- A monkey is at the bottom of a 30-foot well. Each day he jumps up 3 feet and slips back two. At that rate when will the monkey reach the top of the well?
- I have 2 minutes to catch a train and 2 Km to go. If I go the first Km at the rate of 30 Km per hour, at what rate must I go the second Km in order to catch the train?
- The number of eggs in a basket doubles every minute. The basket is full of eggs in an hour. When was the basket hall full?
- What is the smallest number of ducks that could swim in this formation: two ducks in front of a duck, two ducks behind a duck and a duck between two ducks?
- A boat will carry only 200 pounds. How a man weighing 200 pounds and his two sons, each of whom weighs 100 pounds, use it to cross a river?
Leave your answers below as a comment.
Online masters degree programs are available for those who want to learn advanced math skills.
You may also like:
Who is behind QuickerMaths?
I am Vineet Patawari - PGDM (IIM Indore), ACA, B.Com(H). My passion for Mathematics, specially Vedic Maths encouraged me to start QuickerMaths
I believe that if trained properly using powerful tools like Vedic Maths, the immense intellect of human mind can be ignited instantly - find out more
Get Maths Tricks by Email
Recent Comments
yes it is zero................. bcz 5 to any power gives u 5 nd 6 to... – 23May13
As the admin of this website is working, no question very soon it will be... – 21May13
I kept encountering so many tricks..but the problem with those tricks was umpteen divisions: 20-30,... – 21May13
Honey: Honey is the best natural skincare product that helps keep the skin soft and... – 20May13
m+3w+4b=96---------------------(1) 2m+8b=80--------------------------(2) or m+4b=160-----------------------(3) Since, the no of persons are decreasing, so no of hours... – 18May13
Most Popular
- 100% Finding Cube Root – Vedic Maths Way
- 71% You can make a difference
- 62% Shortcut to Find Square of a Number
- 59% Shortcut to find the Cube of a number
- 54% Base Method of Multiplication
- 53% Division in Vedic Mathematics
- 47% Shortcut Method for Multiplication
- 45% Divisibility Rule of 7, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43 and 47
- 45% Quicker Maths by M Tyra
- 43% Memory Tricks for Trigonometry
- 39% Herons Method of Finding Roots
- 38% Squaring any 2-digit number
- 38% Simplify Multiplication with the Lattice Method
- 37% Trick for Adding Time
- 37% Quickly Multiply by 21
October 6th, 2012 - 03:10
1. 3 minutes
2. the man is dead so it is not possible
3. 28 Days
4. He already missed the train
5. 59 minutes
6. 5 Ducks
7. Both sons sail across. One son returns with the boat and gets down. Father sails across with the boat. Other son returns with the boat. Both sons sail across again.
May 18th, 2012 - 19:13
1.3
2. yes
3.he could get out after 30 days if he would be alive
4.i don’t think so he could reach 6.three
7.first step- his both sons should be sailed across.
second step-the father should sail across.
May 3rd, 2012 - 02:15
1) 3 minutes
2) The guy is dead, so he can’t marry
3) The monkey will be dead after so much days without food and water. So It’ll never come out, unless someone takes out its dead body from the well, it’ll be there only.
4) He’s on time.
5) On the 59th minute.
6) 3 Ducks
7) 1st the two sons will go. One son comes back. The father goes to other side. The son on the other side comes with the boat. Both the sons reach the other side.
January 8th, 2012 - 03:16
Just saying, these are really easy.
1. 3 minutes
2. Can’t, he’s in hell.
3. 28 days
4.You’re already there. Get out your iPod or something to kill time.
5. At 59 minutes.
6. Three
7. I got 2 different ways. First one, you start off with the 2 sons rowing across. Then, have one of them row it back. Next. have the fat dad go across. Then, have the son that is on the same side of the dad row back. Finally, have both sons row back. I have an explanation. S= son D=dad ~~~~~~~=river B=Boat
SSD~B~~~~~~~
D~~~~~~~B~SS
SD~B~~~~~~~S
S~~~~~~~B~DS
SS~B~~~~~~~D
~~~~~~~B~SSD
Second way: They started on opposite sides.
Hope you like it!
January 26th, 2012 - 22:36
5-how 59 mins?
January 6th, 2012 - 17:19
1. 3min
2. in case of legality, its legal to marry wife’s sister but he is dead so he can’t marry.
4. for next 1 km speed = 60km/hr
5. 30 min
6. 5 ducks
7. first both sons will sail then the father.
January 6th, 2012 - 15:44
5. I dont think. there is not mention that how much eggs are in basket? the question is number of eggs……?
1. 3 mins,
2. He is dead already,,
3. 28 days,,,
4, all the time he has (2 mins) , will be consumed 2 reach the first km,,,,
6. 3ducks,
7. 1st son come back with boat to the man.
Step3- 1st Son will leave the boat and man goes in the boat.
Step4- There the man will leave the boat and 2nd son goes back to his brother with the boat.
Step5- Both son cross the river in the boat and reach their father on the other end.
December 30th, 2011 - 12:23
1. 3minutes
3. 30 days
4.90km/hr
5. 59 minutes
6. 3ducks
7. both sons will cross the river & one him will return to his father, then his father will cross the river in the boat. then his another son will return to the shore & he will came with his sibling
December 16th, 2011 - 08:14
the correct answer for ques 7 is
let sons be like son1,son2
1.) both the sons will sit in boat and cross the river.
2.)son2 will come back with the boat .And the father will seat all alone in the boat and leave whereas the son2 who come with the boat will be there.
3.)when the father crosses river then the son1 will sit in the boat and again comeback with the boat.Son2 will sit with him and cross the river.
Hence all three reached their Destination.
December 10th, 2011 - 10:34
1. 3 mins,
2. He is dead already,,
3. 28 days,,,
4, all the time he has (2 mins) , will be consumed 2 reach the first km,,,,
5. 59 mins,,,,,
6. 3ducks,
7. 1st son come back with boat to the man.
Step3- 1st Son will leave the boat and man goes in the boat.
Step4- There the man will leave the boat and 2nd son goes back to his brother with the boat.
Step5- Both son cross the river in the boat and reach their father on the other end.
December 1st, 2011 - 21:18
6. three
sorry for my mistake(s)
December 1st, 2011 - 21:15
1. 3 mins,
2. He is dead already,,
3. 28 days,,,
4, all the time he has (2 mins) , will be consumed 2 reach the first km,,,,
5. 59 mins,,,,,
6. 4 ducks, because they have 2 move in formation,,,,,,
7. same as Sandeep Baheti,,,,,,,
December 1st, 2011 - 21:12
7. same as Sandeep Baheti
December 1st, 2011 - 21:11
1. 3 mins,
2. He is dead already,,
3. 28 days,,;
4, all the time he has (2 mins) , will be consumed 2 reach the first km,,,,
5. 59 mins,,,,,
6. 4 ducks, because they have 2 move in formation,,,,,,
7. same as above,,,,,,,
November 24th, 2011 - 20:38
1.3 mins,
2. He is already dead,
3. 28 days.
4. Already 2mins are over in 1km.
5. 59mins.
6. three.
7, Two sons sail first, then one son comes back and gets down, now father sails across and sends one son back and two sons sail together and cross.
November 23rd, 2011 - 17:02
1] 3 mins
answer is cannot. time over
2] Cannot, as he is already dead
3] 27 days
4] I dont think this is possible on indian roads
5] 59
6] 2
7] The question is some wat confusing. Is that the boat can carry only 200 pounds? then in that case, answer is no.
November 23rd, 2011 - 16:21
1. 3 mins
2. The man is already dead
3. 28 days
4. 90 km/Hour
5. At 59th min
6. 3
7. Both sons sail across, then 1 son come back, then father sails across alone with the boat, other son return with the boat, then both the sons sail across again happily
November 15th, 2011 - 00:46
1) 3 minutes
2) no dead men
3) 14
4) 1 & 1/2 hour
5) 59 minutes
6) 3
7)first two sons will go then one will come back get down , father will cross then other son will go back then two sons will cross together
November 10th, 2011 - 21:45
1. 3 mins
2. man is dead
3. 27 days
4. 2mins are over
5.at 59 minutes
6.three
two sons will go. one son will come back.father will go and other son will bring the boat and two sons will go
November 10th, 2011 - 15:14
1. 3 mins
2. The man is already dead
3. 28 days
4. He has already consumed 2 mins for the 1st 1 km
5. At 59 mins
6. 3
7. Both sons sail across, then 1 son come back, then father sails across alone with the boat, other son return with the boat, then both the sons sail across again happily
November 9th, 2011 - 19:40
1.3 mins
2.no.he is dead
3.after a month
4.90 km/hr
5.59 mins
6.3
7.Both sons sail across. One son returns with the boat and gets down. Father sails across with the boat. Other son returns with the boat. Both sons sail across again.
November 7th, 2011 - 19:25
1. 3 minutes
2. the man is dead hence it is not possible
3. 28 Days
4. He already missed the train
5. 59 minutes
6. 3 Ducks
7. Both sons sail across. One son returns with the boat and gets down. Father sails across with the boat. Other son returns with the boat. Both sons sail across again.
November 7th, 2011 - 18:55
7. The boatman was the father…… and he took his sons weighing 200 pounds in total across the river.
November 7th, 2011 - 16:59
1).in 3mins.
2).NO because she was his sister who is widow.
3).it will take a month
4).NO matter at what speed you go, 2 min are already over
5).At 59 min
6).3
November 7th, 2011 - 16:30
1– 3Minutes.
2– The man must have died as his wife is widow. so he can not marry her sister.
3– 28 days.
4– Can not catch the train as 2 minutes were already been taken for the first kilometer.
5– After 59 minutes.
6– 3 Ducks.
7– Step1- Both son will go.
Step2- 1st son come back with boat to the man.
Step3- 1st Son will leave the boat and man goes in the boat.
Step4- There the man will leave the boat and 2nd son goes back to his brother with the boat.
Step5- Both son cross the river in the boat and reach their father on the other end.
November 7th, 2011 - 13:18
1. 3 minutes
2. the man is dead hence it is not possible
3. 28 Days
4. He already missed the train
5. 59 minutes
6. 3 Ducks
7. Both sons sail across. One son returns with the boat and gets down. Father sails across with the boat. Other son returns with the boat. Both sons sail across again.
November 7th, 2011 - 12:34
1. 3 minutes
2. the man is dead hence it is not possible
3. 28 Days
4. He already missed the train
5. 59 minutes
6. 3 Ducks
7. Both sons sail across. One son returns with the boat and gets down. Father sails across with the boat. Other son returns with the boat. Both sons sail across again.
November 7th, 2011 - 11:07
a) 3 Minutes
b) No . Dead men cannot marry
c) 28th Day
d) For crossing 1st k.m. you have already consumed 2 min.You will never be able to catch the train
e) At 59 Minutes
f) Minimum – 3
g) First of all both his sons will sail across. One of them must get down and the other one goes back. The father then sails across. The other son comes back to pick his brother and both sail across .
November 7th, 2011 - 11:06
a) 3 Minutes
b) No . Dead men cannot marry
c) 27th Day
d) For crossing 1st k.m. you have already consumed 2 min.You will never be able to catch the train
e) At 59 Minutes
f) Minimum – 3
g) First of all both his sons will sail across. One of them must get down and the other one goes back. The father then sails across. The other son comes back to pick his brother and both sail across .
November 7th, 2011 - 10:17
a) 3 Minutes
b) No . He is dead
c) 28 Days
d) He will never be able to catch
e) At 59 Minutes the basket will be half full
f) Minimum – 3
g) First of all both his sons will sail across. One of them must get down and the other one goes back. The father then sails across. The other son comes back to pick his brother and both sail across .
November 6th, 2011 - 16:18
1. 3 mins
2. No. Dead men cannot marry.
3. 28 days
4. No matter at what speed you go, 2 minutes are already over
5. At 59 mins
6. Three
7. Both sons sail across. One son returns with the boat and gets down. Father sails across with the boat. Other son returns with the boat. Both sons sail across again.