Super Hard Brain Teaser

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:52 pm

Warning: This may be the single hardest brain teaser of all time.

Stinky, Loof, and Qookie are in a room that contains a box with five hats in it- three blue, two red. Someone flicks off the lights so it is completely dark. Each of the three Stinkers takes a hat from the box and puts it on. When the lights are turned back on, each Stinker can see the other Stinkers' hats but not their own or the ones left in the box. Stinky says he can't work out what color his hat is, and Qookie says she can't work hers out either, at which point Loof says, "I know!" What color is Loof's hat, and how does he know? And by the way- Loof is blindfolded.

This is not a trick question. Can you figure it out?

Qloof234 · Post by **Qloof234** » Tue May 12, 2009 11:11 pm

Stinky's hat is blue, and Qookie's hat is red. Loof knows this because he's friends with both of them.

Okay, I honestly have no clue, but I couldn't help it.

cbloopy · Post by **cbloopy** » Tue May 12, 2009 11:44 pm

I'm thinking a question like that must have already appeared in some Newletter issue's Peegue's Puzzle Page. These types of puzzles are called induction puzzles and are not uncommon.

jdl · Post by **jdl** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:04 am

Loof knows because Loof is shorter and thinner than Stinky. The hat Loof is wearing is Stinky's and he knows it because it goes over his eyes and makes him blindfolded.

I think I got that one!

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:33 am

@cbloopy: I checked. It was not in the newsletter, but in a puzzle book I got as a gift.
I did change the wording a bit- Stinky, Loof, and Qookie were actually Janet, Jules, and Jim in the original problem.

@jdl: Did I mention something about it not being a trick question?

But seriously, there's a perfectly logical explanation for this. You just need to think really hard.

mqdar · Post by **mqdar** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:38 am

Ok, I think I've got the answer!

Loof is wearing a blue hat.

This is solved by induction (highlight to read).

If Loof was wearing a red hat, then Stinky could conclude that he must be wearing a blue hat, because if he was wearing a red hat, Qookie would know the colour of her hat. Same with Qookie. Therefore, Loof must be wearing a blue hat!

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:43 am

BRILLIANT, MQDAR!

I wasn't counting on anybody solving that one for, oh, two weeks at least.

mqdar · Post by **mqdar** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:45 am

Emerald141 wrote:BRILLIANT, MQDAR!
I wasn't counting on anybody solving that one for, oh, two weeks at least.

Yeah!

I edited my post a little. I'ts not indirect logic, it's induction!

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:47 am

Could you edit it again so that you need to highlight the answer to read it?
EDIT: Thanks!

jdl · Post by **jdl** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:49 am

You know, if you would have submitted that puzzle to Patrick instead of posting it here, I would bet that it might've made it in the next Peegue's Puzzle Page!

But now that it's been posted, I dunno.

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:50 am

Dang. I should have thought of that before.

Good idea, though... I'll see what I can find and submit it to him!

mqdar · Post by **mqdar** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:52 am

Emerald141 wrote:Dang. I should have thought of that before.
Good idea, though... I'll see what I can find and submit it to him!

Oh well. I liked figuring out though! It's not as if I'm trying to ruin it for everyone else.

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Wed May 13, 2009 12:55 am

I'm gonna hunt around and see what brain teasers I can find.
If I submit one and Patrick doesn't like it, I'll just post it here.

AJQZC · Post by **AJQZC** » Wed May 13, 2009 11:24 am

Good idea.

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Wed May 13, 2009 8:27 pm

Okay, I found another one.
Someone needs to test it first, though... who is willing to?

jdl · Post by **jdl** » Wed May 13, 2009 8:33 pm

Emerald141 wrote:Okay, I found another one.
Someone needs to test it first, though... who is willing to?

I'm up for it!

billy bob · Post by **billy bob** » Wed May 13, 2009 8:37 pm

Whoops to late

I am going to see it soon anyway so it doesn't matter.
I not good at having my own opinion anyway.

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Wed May 13, 2009 8:45 pm

Got it, Jdl. I'm working on PMing it to you.
EDIT: I've sent the PM. Awaiting your response.

AJQZC · Post by **AJQZC** » Thu May 14, 2009 12:38 pm

Can I try it out too?

Nobody · Post by **Nobody** » Thu May 14, 2009 2:22 pm

AJQZC wrote:Can I try it out too?

ugh,

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:09 pm

AJQZC wrote:Can I try it out too?

I don't want to ruin the suprise for more people than I have to if it gets posted here.

Jdl gave me a thumbs-up, so I'm PMing the riddle to Patrick after I finish typing this message.

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Thu May 14, 2009 8:14 pm

PM sent!

If he doesn't like it, I'll just post it here.

ben-09 · Post by **ben-09** » Fri May 15, 2009 4:53 am

I have that book that you got the question from! It's called Fantastic Brain Games, right?

AJQZC · Post by **AJQZC** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:34 pm

Well, there are dozens of puzzle books that feature such a question - in many different editions and languages.
It's almost impossible to find the source of it...

ben-09 · Post by **ben-09** » Fri May 15, 2009 6:53 pm

I thought it might be the source because the characters were Janet, Jules and Jim.

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:58 pm

Actually, it's 365 Brain Games.

I got a response from Patrick saying:

Midnight Synergy wrote: An oldie, but a goodie!
Thanks for the suggestion.

I don't know if that means I'm in or not.

jdl · Post by **jdl** » Fri May 15, 2009 8:13 pm

It most likely means that he may or may not use it. After all, he used the word suggestion.

Sammy_Bro · Post by **Sammy_Bro** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:15 pm

Ugh, im just..going to make a topic called Ask a Stupid Question, Get a Stupid Answer and Very Hard questions, I guess?

Emerald141 · Post by **Emerald141** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:41 pm

How is that related?

I hope it isn't spam.

billy bob · Post by **billy bob** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:37 pm

Emerald141 wrote:Actually, it's 365 Brain Games.

I got a response from Patrick saying:
Midnight Synergy wrote: An oldie, but a goodie!
Thanks for the suggestion.
I don't know if that means I'm in or not.

Hmm, patrick didn't use it in this issue.