Brain Teasers and Maths Puzzles

[eMTe]

I believe Zyx is busy writing program which solves lateral thinking puzzles.

I think I have a partial solution - the clean guy is clean as in "his body is clean", because he used uniform; the filthy guy is filthy, because he didnt use uniform and worked half-naked or naked (I dont know why he did so). So the guy who had the body clean showers nonetheless, because being clean doesnt mean being fresh and all. Still it doesnt explain why the other one doesnt work in uniform and returns home completely filthy. Maybe he showers at home?

[Chroelle]

So it seems that he isn't doing the same job, so he could be an overseer of the other miners work?
Perhaps the filthy one just got fired and is so depressed that he just goes home and lies in his bed?

[Zyx]

I'm surprised that Zyx hasn't weighed in on this puzzle yet; I'm sure he could come up with some good guesses.

I'm rarely good at lateral puzzles.

[eMTe]

so he could be an overseer of the other miners work?

Tormuse explained earlier that both do exactly the same job.

[Tormuse]

I think I have a partial solution - the clean guy is clean as in "his body is clean", because he used uniform; the filthy guy is filthy, because he didnt use uniform and worked half-naked or naked (I dont know why he did so). So the guy who had the body clean showers nonetheless, because being clean doesnt mean being fresh and all...

No, they both wore uniforms.

...Maybe he showers at home?

No, he didn't.

So it seems that he isn't doing the same job, so he could be an overseer of the other miners work?

No, eMTe already guessed that one.

Perhaps the filthy one just got fired and is so depressed that he just goes home and lies in his bed?

No, they're both still employed.



Okay, another hint: The clean guy showered because he believed that he was dirty and the dirty guy didn't shower because he believed he was clean.

[Chroelle]

They got coal in their eyes both of them?

They have different perception of cleanliness?

The clean one got hit by a waterpocket in the mine, which would clean him up but with stale water, so he would want to wash the water of him?

The dirty one is just a slob, and the clean one has OCD?

[Tormuse]

They got coal in their eyes both of them?

Nope.

They have different perception of cleanliness?

No.

The clean one got hit by a waterpocket in the mine, which would clean him up but with stale water, so he would want to wash the water of him?

Very creative, but no.

The dirty one is just a slob, and the clean one has OCD?

I'm tempted to jokingly say that you got it, but... nope.



Hint: One of our recently posted puzzles in this thread is a big clue for this one.

[eMTe]

I suppose it is the one about the fired guard.

[Tormuse]

I suppose it is the one about the fired guard.

Not that one.



It's similar to the Blue Eyes one.

[eMTe]

Why do I feel that with each hint this puzzle seems to get more complex?

[Tormuse]

Okay, I think this has gone on long enough, (6 days!) so here's the answer...



There are no mirrors is their workplace, so when the clean guy sees how dirty the other guy is, he assumes that he's just as dirty, so he cleans himself. The dirty guy, on the other hand, sees the clean guy and assumes that he must be clean too, so he doesn't bother cleaning himself.

[Zyx]

There are no mirrors is their workplace, so when the clean guy sees how dirty the other guy is, he assumes that he's just as dirty, so he cleans himself. The dirty guy, on the other hand, sees the clean guy and assumes that he must be clean too, so he doesn't bother cleaning himself.

I did ponder about this solution but then I thought that unlike the colour of my eyes, I can see my hands and most of of my body without any mirrors.

[Tormuse]

What a coincidence! When I was doing the Blue Eyes puzzle, I pondered the solution, but thought that it couldn't be right because everyone already knows there are blue-eyed people. Just like I said...

Well... I guess I use the word "logical" loosely here. I mean... I still think that blue eyes puzzle has questionable logic to it, but if the answer to it is considered logical, then this puzzle's answer can definitely be considered logical too!

[eMTe]

The problem with lateral puzzles is that they are sometimes too lateral. Nobody of us works in mines, but let's assume some of us play football with friends - do you have to look at the other guy after match to conclude that you're dirty and you stink? C'mon.

Anyway, here comes next one: (Id say it's Betrayal at Krondor-style, but I dont remember this one, so it might be not game-related)

First person crafted X and sold it to second person, second person bought X and donated it to third person, third person made use of X, but wasnt aware of that.

What is X?

[Chroelle]

A brain?

[eMTe]

Nope. Hint: there's nothing weird in this puzzle - X is an object, something that can be constructed and later sold.

[Chroelle]

Could it be some sort of Raise from the dead potion, or is that not an object?

[Pater Alf]

Maybe poison?

[eMTe]

I will reveal the answer, because it seems this riddle has more than one, so it's not that good after all. The answer I know is: coffin, but we can agree that poison is also logical.

Here's next one, more lateral. Officially it is an anecdote coming from Warsaw University Physics Department and it started to be popular sometime in the 60ies or 70ies, but it may not be true. Anyway.

Student takes a verbal exam. Professor, visibly bored as this is the last student this day, asks him a question.
-I will ask you only one, very simple, question. If your answer will be right you pass, if your answer will be wrong you fail. Do you agree?
Student, seeing his chance to avoid longer interrogation agrees.
-So, look, there's a glass of water standing at my desk, right? Also, there's beautiful weather outside, it's sunny and warm. Now touch the glass and tell me: why the side of the glass which is facing the window is colder than the other side. Don't hurry, take your time.
Student, a bit stunned, starts to answer after a long pause, but he visibly doesnt know the answer, because what he sees and feels is against laws of physics. But seeing his chance he starts to talk in an evasive manner, creating long sentences about sun rays, chemical characteristics of water, dispersion etc. hoping that professor will see that he's trying, even if he is telling bullshit. When he finishes, professor sighs and says:
-Unfortunately, my dear, you failed. I...

What did professor say to student?

[Pater Alf]

...turned the glass around?