The Riddle That Stumped Social Media
A puzzling riddle recently went viral:
“A woman was born in 1975 and died in 1975. She was 22 years old when she died. How is this possible?”
At first glance, it seems impossible—but the answer lies in the wording.
The confusion comes from assuming that “1975” refers to a year. In reality, it does not. The number 1975 actually refers to a hospital room number, not a calendar year. The woman was indeed 22 years old at the time of her death—but she passed away in Room 1975, not in the year 1975.
This riddle is a clever example of how small shifts in perspective completely change meaning. Our brains naturally fill in details based on assumptions, even when those assumptions are wrong.
Takeaway
What seems like a contradiction is really a lesson in careful reading and open-mindedness. One subtle twist in language can turn an impossible scenario into something perfectly logical.