3  Perspective and Perception: Puzzles that challenge your perspective and perception of situations.

⚠️ This book is generated by AI, the content may not be 100% accurate.

3.1 Reframing

📖 Seeing a situation from a different perspective or changing the way it is framed.

3.1.1 Problem

You are in a dark room with a box of matches. There is a candle, an oil lamp, and a wood-burning stove in the room. Which do you light first?

• Hint:
  • Think about the order in which you need to use the items.
• Answer:
  • The match

3.1.2 Problem

A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at the man. The man says, “Thank you” and walks out. Why?

• Hint:
  • Consider the man’s perspective and the possible reasons he might have for his actions.
• Answer:
  • The man had the hiccups and the bartender’s action scared him, curing his hiccups.

3.1.3 Problem

What has a neck without a head, a back without a spine, and four legs without feet?

• Hint:
  • Think about the different meanings of the words “neck”, “back”, and “legs”.
• Answer:
  • A shirt

3.1.4 Problem

You have two coins that add up to 30 cents. One of them is not a quarter. What are the two coins?

• Hint:
  • Consider the different combinations of coins that add up to 30 cents.
• Answer:
  • A quarter and a nickel

3.1.5 Problem

A farmer has 12 sheep. All but 9 die. How many sheep does the farmer have left?

• Hint:
  • Think about the meaning of “all but” and how it affects the number of sheep that remain.
• Answer:
  • 9

3.2 Assumption Challenging

📖 Questioning the assumptions that underlie a situation or problem.

3.2.1 Problem

A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at him. The man says “Thank you” and walks out. Why?

• Hint:
  • The assumption that the bartender’s action is hostile is incorrect.
• Answer:
  • The man had the hiccups and the bartender’s action cured them.

3.2.2 Problem

A woman is found dead in her apartment. Police find no signs of a break in or a struggle, and nothing seems to be missing. The only unusual thing is a glass of water on her nightstand. How was she murdered?

• Hint:
  • The assumption that the glass of water is ordinary is incorrect.
• Answer:
  • The glass of water was poisoned.

3.2.3 Problem

A man is driving down a one-way street the wrong way. He passes four police officers, but none of them stop him. Why?

• Hint:
  • The assumption that the man is breaking the law is incorrect.
• Answer:
  • The man was walking, not driving.

3.2.4 Problem

A man goes to the doctor and says “Doctor, it hurts when I touch my elbow.” The doctor says “Don’t touch your elbow.”. Why is the doctor wrong?

• Hint:
  • The assumption that the man’s elbow is the source of his pain is incorrect.
• Answer:
  • The man had a broken arm.

3.2.5 Problem

A woman enters a room and there are three babies on the floor. She walks over to one of the babies and says “Hello, my son.” Then she walks over to the other two babies and says “Hello, my grandsons.”. How is this possible?

• Hint:
  • The assumption that the babies are all related to each other is incorrect.
• Answer:
  • The woman is a grandmother. The three babies are her son, her son’s child, and her daughter’s child.

3.3 Multiple Perspectives

📖 Considering a situation from multiple angles or viewpoints.

3.3.1 Problem

You enter a dark room with a single door and no windows. There is a candle, kerosene lamp, and firewood. Which do you light first?

• Hint:
  • Think about the logistics of the situation.
• Answer:
  • The match

3.3.2 Problem

A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at the man. The man says “thank you” and leaves. Why?

• Hint:
  • Consider the context and what the man might have been experiencing.
• Answer:
  • The man had the hiccups and the bartender’s action cured them.

3.3.3 Problem

There is a one-story house where everything is yellow. The walls are yellow, the doors are yellow, the furniture is yellow. What color is the staircase?

• Hint:
  • Think beyond the literal meaning of the statement.
• Answer:
  • There is no staircase, it’s a one-story house.

3.3.4 Problem

You have two coins that add up to 30 cents. One of them is not a nickel. What are the two coins?

• Hint:
  • Challenge your assumptions about the coins.
• Answer:
  • A quarter and a nickel.

3.3.5 Problem

A farmer has 12 sheep. All but 9 die. How many sheep does the farmer have left?

• Hint:
  • Consider the wording of the statement carefully.
• Answer:
  • 9

3.4 Contextual Thinking

📖 Understanding the context in which a situation or problem exists.

3.4.1 Problem

There is a one-story house where everything is yellow. The walls are yellow, the doors are yellow, the furniture is yellow. What color are the stairs?

• Hint:
  • Consider the context of the house.
• Answer:
  • There are no stairs in a one-story house.

3.4.2 Problem

You have two coins that add up to 30 cents, but one of them is not a dime. What are the coins?

• Hint:
  • Examine the possibilities based on the given information.
• Answer:
  • A quarter and a nickel.

3.4.3 Problem

A farmer has 12 sheep, all in a row. How can he put them into 4 pens with 3 sheep in each pen?

• Hint:
  • Think outside the usual boundaries.
• Answer:
  • Put 3 sheep in each of the first 3 pens and put the last 3 sheep in the first pen with the first 3 sheep.

3.4.4 Problem

What has four wheels and flies, but has neither wings nor a motor?

• Hint:
  • Consider different meanings of the word “flies”.
• Answer:
  • A garbage truck.

3.4.5 Problem

Two fathers and two sons are fishing on a boat. Yet there are only three people in the boat. Explain.

• Hint:
  • Consider the relationship between the three people.
• Answer:
  • They are a grandfather, his son, and his grandson.

3.5 Visualizing

📖 Using mental imagery to understand or solve a problem.

3.5.1 Problem

You come to a fork in the road, and notice two signs. One sign reads “Paris 60 miles”, and the other reads “Rome 60 miles”. Which way should you go?

• Hint:
  • Think about the signs literally.
• Answer:
  • Straight ahead.

3.5.2 Problem

A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at the man. The man says “Thank you” and walks out. Why?

• Hint:
  • Consider the man’s perspective.
• Answer:
  • The man had the hiccups, and the bartender’s action scared him enough to cure them.

3.5.3 Problem

A farmer has 12 sheep. All but 9 die. How many sheep does the farmer have left?

• Hint:
  • Focus on the wording of the question.
• Answer:
  • 9

3.5.4 Problem

A woman is sitting on a bench when a man walks up to her and says, “Do you mind if I sit here?” The woman replies, “No, go ahead.” The man sits down, and they both remain silent for a few minutes. Finally, the man says, “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” The woman nods in agreement. They continue to sit in silence for a while longer, and the man says, “You know, it’s a beautiful day to go for a walk. Would you like to join me?” The woman thinks for a moment and replies, “I would love to.” They stand up and start walking down the street. After a few minutes, the woman says, “I’m really enjoying this walk. Thank you for inviting me.” The man smiles and says, “You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re having a good time.” They continue to walk, and the woman begins to feel like she’s known the man for much longer than just a few minutes. They talk and laugh, and the woman feels like she can tell the man anything. Finally, they reach a park, and they decide to sit down on a bench. They sit in silence for a while, and the woman looks at the man and says, “I have to ask you something.” The man looks at her and says, “What is it?” The woman takes a deep breath and says, “Why are you following me?” The man looks at her in surprise and says, “I’m not following you. I’ve been sitting here on this bench for the past hour, waiting for my wife to come back from the store.” What is going on in this situation?

• Hint:
  • Consider the perspectives of both characters.
• Answer:
  • The man and the woman are both deaf. They are using sign language to communicate, and they are both misinterpreting each other’s gestures.

3.5.5 Problem

A man is found dead in a field. Next to him is a package of unopened crackers. How did he die?

• Hint:
  • Think about the man’s actions.
• Answer:
  • He stepped on a landmine, and the shockwave caused him to choke on the crackers.