Barry R. Clarke, creator of the best-selling puzzle book Mensa, is the author of today’s three puzzles.
For those who rank in the top two percent on intelligence tests, Mensa is a society of exceptional achievement.
If you can solve these puzzles quickly, you should consider yourself a smartass!
1. On
Three bulbs are controlled by three switches, that is, one switch controls one bulb and one switch controls one bulb. Only one of the following statements is correct.
First switch: “Manages bulb B”
Switch 2: “Manages either bulb A or C!”
Switch 3: “Manages either bulb A or B”
Are switches and bulbs compatible?
2. Online Education
Jogger Jane runs from her house (left) to school (right) every day. The length of four straights and four turns is 1 km and 1.5 km. He never runs the same route twice and always covers a distance of more than 3 km. He can run near his house and finish his route at school, so he doesn’t have to run all the routes in one run.
How many route options does it have?
(Hint: there are more than ten.)
3. Chairs with music
For a game of musical chairs, six chairs numbered 1 to 6 are placed in a circle in order. Once the music stops, the six bottoms settle into six seats, one person per chair. The player whose birthday it is can sit on chair 1 while the other players sit facing inwards. Following are the positions in the circle.
(1) Sally, who is not sitting opposite the birthday boy, is sitting right next to Malcolm, who does not have a birthday.
(2) Uri is not sitting next to Jennifer.
(3) Nat sits down first.
(4) Victor sits two places to the right of Jennifer.
(5) Uri sits at least two places away from the birthday boy.
Who’s birthday is it?
As well as writing puzzles for Mensa, veteran puzzle writer Barry R. Clarke has written thousands of puzzles for national newspapers and magazines across the UK over the past forty years. These excerpts are taken from his recently published book Mathematical Conundrums.
Ten hours after I posted the questions, at 5 p.m. Great Britain, I usually give the answers to the puzzle.
But starting today, I’m experimenting with a new approach where solutions are released simultaneously. Click this link to read the solution.
I post a puzzle here every two weeks on Mondays.
I’m always looking for interesting puzzles. If you’d like to recommend one, drop me a line.
Mathematical and puzzle lectures in schools in person and virtually. If your school is interested in this, please contact us.
Barry R. Clarke, famous for his Mensa puzzles, has created three interesting challenges for enthusiasts. From determining the switch-light bulb connection, and calculating the running options, to solving the musical chairs puzzle, puzzles test various aspects of logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. Each puzzle offers a unique challenge that can be both stimulating and rewarding to solve.
In particular, puzzles emphasize the diverse nature of logical challenges, from practical applications in everyday scenarios to abstract problem-solving. Whether you’re figuring out which switch controls which light bulb, calculating possible running routes based on specific constraints, or solving the mystery of seating arrangements, each puzzle requires careful analysis and creative thinking.
For those looking to test their skills, the answers to these puzzles will be available later in the day. Clarke puzzles are a great way to engage with logic and math in a fun and stimulating way.
If you have suggestions for future puzzles or are interested in giving talks related to puzzles, Clarke welcomes your contributions and questions.