think you're pretty smart?

Monday 1 March, 2004 at 11:27AM (Nereus) :: permalink :: comments (5)

Think you're pretty smart? Well try this out then. Following are four questions. You have to answer them instantly. You can't take your time and don't look at the answer following it, just answer all of them immediately. OK? Let's find out just how clever you really are. Ready? GO!!

First Question:
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?

Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person, you take his place, therefore YOU are now second! Try not to mess up in the next question.

Second Question:
To answer this second question, don't take as much time as you took for the first question. Here it is: If you are in a race and you overtake the last person, then you are...?

Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can YOU overtake the LAST person if you ARE the last person?! You're not very good at this are you?

Third Question:
Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
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?

Answer: Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100. Don't believe it? Check with your calculator! Today is definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last question right. Maybe.

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

Answer: Nunu? NO! Of course not. Her name is Mary. Read the question again, you'll figure it out.

Thanks Barbs & Dave for emailing this one to me.

comments (5)

Colleen
March 4, 2004 11:07 PM [link]

I got them all right except for #3. I see if I add them in order i did get 5000, but when I added the small numbers first then the 1000's i got 4100. weird!

Colleen
March 4, 2004 11:08 PM [link]

i forgot to hit remember me!

Kiria
March 8, 2004 12:03 PM [link]

The fourth question is possibly erroneous. Who says that Mary HAS to be a daughter?

*grin* And yes, I know that it actually specifies this, but I thought of it immediately:

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/1999/top1000of00s.html

Dave H
December 1, 2004 12:50 PM [link]

Question 2 is obviously wrong! Don't you love the attitude of someone cocky and still wrong? If you are in a race and you come up to overtake (or pass) the last place competitor you are most likely in the lead (or a frontrunner) and have lapped that hapless soul.

Nereus
December 1, 2004 5:17 PM [link]

That works too, but presumes the race is being run on a track and consists of more than one lap. Those are variables that are not stated therefore cannot be assumed as fact, one must only formulate as answer based on the information given, so #2 is correct imho. :)