Solution:

You must be aware of the fact that the standard weighing system is Imperial system. This is how we weigh things or ourselves and thus the warning must be for 130 pounds according to the Imperial system.

But gold is weighed in the Troy system. In Troy system, 12 ounces makes one pound whereas in Imperial system, 16 ounces make one pound.

Thus 40 pounds (20+20) of gold bars will be 30 pounds in imperial system. The weight of thief is 100 pounds. Thus, the total is 130 pounds which can be accommodated on the rope and thus he was able to cross safely.

Solution:

It can be down as shown below.

Solution:

The mules is moving in circular path and hence outside legs travels more distance than inner legs.

Solution:

The stranger said that he thought the room was his. If so, he must have had the keys to the room and thus he must not have knocked.

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:

It is best if the person sits on the back of the train. After the stop, the train will be accelerating as it goes into the tunnel. Thus the train will be much master when the back of the train enters the tunnel. In this way, he will have to spend much less time in the tunnel.

Solution:

Step one: First you will have to make 3 trips of 1,000 apples 333 miles. Then you will be left with 2,001 apples and 667 miles to go.

Step two: Next you will have to take 2 trips of 1,000 apples 500 miles. In this manner you will be left with 1,000 apples and 167 miles to go (you have to leave an apple behind).

Step three: At last, you will have to travel the last 167 miles with one load of 1,000 apples and you will be left with 833 apples when you reach the town

Solution:

   9567
+ 1085
======
 10652

Solution:

You better switch!

Your first choice has a 1/3 chance of having the car, and that does not change.<br>The other two doors HAD a combined chance of 2/3, but now a Goat has ben revealed behind one, all the 2/3 chance is with the other door.

Solution:

To do it, the marbles must be arranged as the vertices of an octahedron. If you are unsure, check the image below.

Solution:

She is near the trunk of the tree as shown below.