Brain Teaser

[simon c]

Not really a quiz in the full sense of the word as I'm going to give the answers, but still pretty good.

There are a series of questions in each post with the answer in the next post so give each one a go before moving on.

1. You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?

[simon c]

Answer 1: If you answered that you are first, then you are wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second.

Question 2. If you overtake the last person, then you are...?

[simon c]

Answer 2: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. How can you overtake the last person?

Question3: This must be done in your head only. Do notuse paper and pencil or a calculator. Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10. What is the total?

[simon c]

Answer 3: Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100.

Question 4: Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?

[simon c]

Answer 4: Nunu? No, her name is Mary. Read the question again.

Hope you enjoyed them.

[hexbaz]

Very good - I even got 4100 (honestly!)... I do take small issue with Answer number 2:

If you overtake the last person, then you are first?, second?, third?... Any position except last in fact (in lessening degrees of probability) - this of course means that it is possible (though unlikely) that you are in penultimate place. I answered first place initially; then realised that anyone could overtake the last place person.

This happens in F1 in every race - it's called lapping!