Solution:

Let us denote the number of boys as 'p' and the number of girls as 'q'.

The first statement says that each boy has equal numbers of brothers and sisters
(p - 1) = q
=> p - q = 1 ------- (a)

The second statement says that every girl has twice as many brothers as that of sisters
2 (q - 1) = p
=> 2q - p = 2 ------- (b)

By solving (a) and (b)
We get q as 3 and p as 4.

Therefore, there are 4 boys and 3 girls in the family.

Solution:

Yes, you should switch the envelope. In the beginning when you picked up the envelope, you had a 1/3 probability of finding an offer letter in the envelope. There was 2/3 chance that the letter was there in the two envelopes on the table.

If you keep your selected envelope, you still have a 1/3 chance of finding an offer letter in that. However, since the interviewer has removed one empty envelope from the table, if you switch, you have a probability of 2/3 that the offer letter is inside that.

Solution:

A
D
C
A
B

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:

25 Fruits

Remember we told you that Birbal is a witty trader. So his sole motive is to get rid of the sacks as fast as he can.

For the first sack:
He must be able to fill fruits from one sack to other two sacks. Assume that he is able to do that after M check points. Now to find M,

(Space in first sack) M + (Space in second sack) M = (Remaining fruits in Third Sack) 30 – M
M = 10

Thus after 10 checkpoints, Birbal will be left with only 2 sacks containing 30 fruits each.

Now he must get rid of the second sack.
For that, he must fill the fruits from second sack to the first sack. Assume that he manages to do that after N checkpoints.

(Space in First Sack) N = (Remaining fruits in second sack) 30 – N
N = 15

Thus after he has crossed 25 checkpoints, he will be left be one sack with 30 fruits in it. He has to pass five more checkpoints where he will have to give five fruits and he will be left with twenty five fruits once he has crossed all thirty check points.

Solution:

It was only a trick

I borrowed my parents (Pound 50 + Pound 50 = Pound 100).
I bought the book for Pound 97 and i had Pound 3 change.
So, the money that i borrowed and bought the book are Pound 100 (borrowing money)
and the change Pound 3 also the borrowing money the book is Pound 97
Total: Pound 97 + Pound 3(the change) = Pound 100
The money that i used to buy the book all i borrowed.
Pound 97 is the borrowing money, change: Pound 3 also the borrowing money. Pound 97 + Pound 3 = Pound 100

Solution:

A cigar stuck in the wall

Solution:

zero

I had 3 green socks and 1 Pink sock.

=> chances of pair of green socks = 1/2
chances of pair of mixed socks = 1/2
chances of pair of green socks = NULL

Solution:

The guard and the prisoner cross the river
The guard comes back
The guard and the girl cross the river.
The guard and the prisoner comes back.
The mother and the girl cross the river.
Mother comes back
The mother and the father cross the river
Father comes back
The guard and the prisoner cross the river
Mother comes back
The father and the mother cross the river
Father comes back
The father and the boy cross the river
The guard and the prisoner comes back
The guard and the boy cross the river
The guard comes back
The guard and the prisoner cross the river.

Solution:

Upon reaching each room, he found out that the window facing the dead body was closed. He had to open the window himself. This tells that there was somebody else with him who closed the window. If he would have committed suicide, at least one window would have been open.

Solution:

Just 2

Day One: You make your first cut at the 1/7th mark and give that to the worker.
Day Two: You cut 2/7ths and pay that to the worker and receive the original 1/7th in change.
Day three: You give the worker the 1/7th you received as change on the previous day.
Day four: You give the worker 4/7ths and he returns his 1/7th cut and his 2/7th cut as change.
Day Five: You give the worker back the 1/7th cut of gold.
Day Six: You give the worker the 2/7th cut and receive the 1/7th cut back in change.
Day Seven: You pay the worker his final 1/7th.