Solution:

17 mins

The initial solution most people will think of is to use the fastest person as an usher to guide everyone across. How long would that take? 10 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 2 = 21 mins. Is that it? No. That would make this question too simple even as a warm up question.

Let’s brainstorm a little further. To reduce the amount of time, we should find a way for 10 and 7 to go together. If they cross together, then we need one of them to come back to get the others. That would not be ideal. How do we get around that? Maybe we can have 1 waiting on the other side to bring the torch back. Ahaa, we are getting closer. The fastest way to get 1 across and be back is to use 2 to usher 1 across. So let’s put all this together.

1 and 2 go cross
2 comes back
7 and 10 go across
1 comes back
1 and 2 go across (done)

Total time = 2 + 2 + 10 + 1 + 2 = 17 mins

Solution:

Steps:
1) Light fire on first bar from both the ends and second bar from one end.

2) After 30 seconds(when first bar gets completely burned out) , burn the second bar from second end as well.

3) When second run completely gets burned , you know its 45 seconds.

Solution:

You must put labels on the tablets as A and B before using. In that case, if you pour tablets together, you will get 3A, 2A 1B, 1A 2B or 3B. If they are from the same bottles you can take one from another bottle and save the remaining two for another day. If you get two from same and one from other, you can draw one from another bottle and you will have two pairs of which you can eat one and save the other.

Solution:

8 liters jar: 8; 5 liters jar: 0; 3 liters jar: 0
Fill 5 liters jar entirely.
8 liters jar: 3; 5 liters jar: 5; 3 liters jar: 0
Fill 3 liters jar with 5 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 3; 5 liters jar: 2; 3 liters jar: 3
Pour entirely from 3 liters jar to 8 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 6; 5 liters jar: 2; 3 liters jar: 0
Pour entirely from 5 liters jar to 3 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 6; 5 liters jar: 0; 3 liters jar: 2
Fill 5 liters jar with water from 8 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 1; 5 liters jar: 5; 3 liters jar: 2
Fill the 3 liters jar with water from the 5 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 1; 5 liters jar: 4; 3 liters jar: 3
Empty 3 liters jar in 8 liters jar.
8 liters jar: 4; 5 liters jar: 4; 3 liters jar: 0

Now you have 4 liters of water in 8 liters jar as well as 5 liters jar.

Solution:

First fill the 8 liters jug complete - 4, 8, 0
Fill the 5 liters jug with 8 liters jug - 4, 3, 5
Pour back the beer from 5 liters jug to 12 liters jug - 9, 3, 0
Pour the 3 liters from 8 liters jug to 5 liters jug - 9, 0, 3
Fill the 8 liters jug completely from 12 liters jug - 1, 8, 3
Fill the 5 liters jug from the 8 liters jug - 1, 6, 5
Pour the entire 5 liters jug back in 12 liters jug - 6, 6, 0

You have successfully split the beer into two equal parts.

Solution:

David to play second

Explanation:
Let's suppose that David plays first and he picks 9. Then Albert will definitely pick 8. Now, David will have to pick 7 or Albert will pick 7 in his turn. But if David picks up 7, then he will score 16 that is beyond 15 and will lose. So one thing is for sure, no one will be willing to start with the highest digits.

Suppose David plays first and picks up 1, Albert will pick 2. Then David will pick 3 and Albert will pick 4. Now David will be forced to pick 9. The score is 6 to 13 and thus David will have no chance of winning.

If David Picks 9 after Albert has picked up 2, then Albert will pick 8 and the score will become 10 to 10. Thus David will pick 3 as picking 7 will send him past 15. Now Albert will pick 4 and David has nothing to pick for winning. Thus Albert wins.

Therefore, you should suggest David to play second.

Solution:

Let us assume that all of them are standing on the X shore and they have to travel to the Y shore.

X = mother, first daughter, second daughter, father, first son, second son, maid and dog
Y = None

Maid and dog go first and maid returns back
X = mother, first daughter, second daughter, father, first son, second son and maid
Y = dog

Maid and first son go and maid returns with dog
X = mother, first daughter, second daughter, father, second son, maid and dog
Y = first son

Father and second son go and father returns back
X = mother, first daughter, second daughter, father, maid and dog
Y = first son and second son

Mother and father go and mother comes back
X = mother, first daughter, second daughter, maid and dog
Y = father, first son and second son

Maid and Dog go and Father returns back
X = mother, first daughter, second daughter and father
Y = first son, second son, maid and dog

Father and Mother go and mother comes back
X = mother, first daughter and second daughter
Y = father, first son, second son, maid and dog

Mother and first daughter go and maid comes back with dog
X = second daughter, maid and dog
Y = mother, first daughter, father, first son and second son

Maid and second daughter go and maid comes back
X = Maid and dog
Y = mother, first daughter, second daughter, father, first son and second son

Maid and dog go
X= none
Y = mother, first daughter, second daughter, father, first son, second son, maid and dog

Thus everyone has reached the other end.

Solution:

2 degree below zero

Solution:

Fifteen minutes can easily be measure using these two hour glasses.

Step 1: He will start both the hourglass.

Step 2: The moment the eleven minute hourglass is empty, he will invert it.

Step 3: When the thirteen minutes hourglass is empty, he will invert the eleven minute hourglass.
In step 3, we will have counted thirteen minutes. Since we inverted the eleven minute hourglass in step 2, it started from fresh and was inverted just for two minutes (13-11=2). In this manner when it is reversed when the thirteen minute hourglass is finished, it will have two minutes of sand left. This time when the sand finishes, he will have measured fifteen minutes. (13+2=15)

Solution:

Put one red marble in one box and all other marbles in the 2nd box.

Probability :
50 + 24/49