Brain Teasers
Einstein's Riddle
Einstein's Riddle:
Einstein wrote the following riddle. He said that 98% of the world could not solve it. But several NIEHS scientists were able to solve it, and they said it's not all that hard if you pay attention and are very patient. Give it a try:
There are 5 houses in 5 different colors in a row. In each house lives a person with a different nationality. The 5 owners drink a certain type of beverage, smoke a certain brand of cigar, and keep a certain pet. No owners have the same pet, smoke the same brand of cigar, or drink the same beverage. Other facts:
1. The Brit lives in the red house.
2. The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
3. The Dane drinks tea.
4. The green house is on the immediate left of the white house.
5. The green house's owner drinks coffee.
6. The owner who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.
7. The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.
8. The owner living in the center house drinks milk.
9. The Norwegian lives in the first house.
10. The owner who smokes Blends lives next to the one who keeps cats.
11. The owner who keeps the horse lives next to the one who smokes Dunhill.
12. The owner who smokes Bluemasters drinks beer.
13. The German smokes Prince.
14. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
15. The owner who smokes Blends lives next to the one who drinks water.
The question is: WHO OWNS THE FISH?
Einstein wrote the following riddle. He said that 98% of the world could not solve it. But several NIEHS scientists were able to solve it, and they said it's not all that hard if you pay attention and are very patient. Give it a try:
There are 5 houses in 5 different colors in a row. In each house lives a person with a different nationality. The 5 owners drink a certain type of beverage, smoke a certain brand of cigar, and keep a certain pet. No owners have the same pet, smoke the same brand of cigar, or drink the same beverage. Other facts:
1. The Brit lives in the red house.
2. The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
3. The Dane drinks tea.
4. The green house is on the immediate left of the white house.
5. The green house's owner drinks coffee.
6. The owner who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.
7. The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.
8. The owner living in the center house drinks milk.
9. The Norwegian lives in the first house.
10. The owner who smokes Blends lives next to the one who keeps cats.
11. The owner who keeps the horse lives next to the one who smokes Dunhill.
12. The owner who smokes Bluemasters drinks beer.
13. The German smokes Prince.
14. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
15. The owner who smokes Blends lives next to the one who drinks water.
The question is: WHO OWNS THE FISH?
Hint
Just take your time. This one should take you some time and is probably one of the harder riddles you see.Answer
The German sits in his Green House, smoking his Prince cigars, drinking coffee, and watching his FISH.The rest go like this-
1st House: Yellow, Norwegian, Water, Cats, Dunhill
2nd House: Blue, Dane, Tea, Horse, Blends
3rd House: Red, Brit, Milk, Birds, Pall Malls
4th House: Green, German, Coffee, FISH, Prince
5th House: White, Swede, Beer, Dogs, Bluemasters
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Comments
Aug 02, 2001
I just completed Einsteins Riddle in about 20 minutes. Easy if you know how to do these sorts of logic puzzles.
It was one of those fun "elimination puzzles". Took me a couple hours, but I went after ALL of the information (found all houses, colors, animals, cigars, and drinks). A good submission, bravo!
It's extremely difficult when dealing with a two year old and a six month old at the same time while trying to solve this "Brain Teaser"
Completed it and loved it! Thanks for submitting the riddle.
Cool Man!!!!
Being a genius that was extremely easy!!!
Took about a half hour.. great puzzle, I got it
The interesting thing about this puzzle is how it can envoke a level of emotional tension as you get closer to the answer but then find it still has twists. It begins to physically affect you.
I got it but it was fun
It's been a while since I've done a logic puzzle and really enjoyed the challenge. When I got the "one" clue that lead to everything else I was ecstatic!
This was one of the toughest brain teasers i have encountered. It took me 16 mins to complete it.
Feb 21, 2002
I really loved this one. These types of logic puzzles have always been my favorites. I've found that the easiest way to solve them is to set up a chart to keep track of the information you have. That way, nothing gets "lost" in the transition.
I just finished the puzzle...It was really easy if you know how to work it!
That wuz VERY HARD but i could figure it out
i figured that out so easily. my school had the grade 8s do it. and me and like 5 other people figured it out.
John
John
YAHH.. im part of the 2% of people who figured it out...YAH
JAMES!!!!
TOKAR
JAMES!!!!
TOKAR
that was heavy
Are you supposed to do this mentally? I did it in a couple of minutes just writing it down
After taking in the given information and using my superior CIA intellect, I was able to arrive at the correct answer in 37 seconds . . . by taking a wild stab in the dark and exclaiming, "IT was the German dude!" hahaha
Cool riddle!
Cool riddle!
Bloody well hard!
Very good!
Solved it with maths...
Solved it with maths...
I thought one of Einstein's riddles would be harder than that! Excellent submission though!
FRUSTRATING!!!!!
5 minutes
...name that tune.
Took me about an hour to get all the info. That had to have been one of the more fun puzzles I've ever done, it rules)
It toke me about 1 hour! I was really frastrated!
Got this right away... Einstein must have an idiot.
cool, did it in about 20 minutes, nice
Hmm is it just me or are many of you extremely self-centered?
can't get it so hard
Apr 18, 2002
nice riddle....i finished it...quite surprised, but for the big heads out there...intelligence shows it's face in many forms and where you exert yourself is where you shall be wise....i bet those who are awesome at logic problems spend no time figuring how their car works thus making them quite the "idiot" when they visit their local mechanic
Loved it!
This is one of my favorites. The easiest way to figure this out is making a chart.
Hey you guys!!! I did it!!! It took me 50 minutes but I solved it!!! yey!!!
This was fun! And now I am one of those 2% that are able to solve the riddle! I feel smart...
Thanks for submitting this phenomenal riddle, and please submit more!
Thanks for submitting this phenomenal riddle, and please submit more!
hey that was good fun! took about 5 minutes, but definitely some good mental exercise
very long and boring by the time you finish reading it you are to tired to even bother to solve it.sort it out
This is a standard logic problem format and easy but a bit time consuming. Not really a riddle at all.
Good but fairly standard logic problem - I took about a half hour. I guess the techniques available now for this kind of 'puzzle' weren't generally known when Einstein made his assessment of it's difficulty. I know absolutely that I am not in the top two percent of humanity!
I love puzzles such as this. I did however figure it out like many others, although i am willing to bet several of you how "figured it out" just guessed or lied when saying that. I took me around 25 or 30 minutes, but it was quite difficult. I am very impressed and please, submit more!
Einstein was a smart man, he once said, "The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax"
oh my god.u guys are sooooooo big-headed if u really r geniuses y r u wasting ur time on the internet????
any way i am pleased 2 say th@ i gave up in about a minute coz i couldn't be arsed 2 write anything down.
SCOTLAND RULZ!!!!!!
any way i am pleased 2 say th@ i gave up in about a minute coz i couldn't be arsed 2 write anything down.
SCOTLAND RULZ!!!!!!
I didnt get it
German, Green house, Prince Cigars, his Fish
my mom loves these dang things, took about 7 minutes, good one
my mom loves these dang things, took about 7 minutes, good one
Hi guy's nice work u all finishing it. Took me a while but I did finish it in about 30 min. NB 2% of all the human race is about 120 million so don´t be to suprised if a few more comments start rolling in
Yeah, it also took me about 20 mins, writing it down too. Too true, the clues are all there. Good fun!
It is really easy if you know how to solve it, I finish this riddle for 1 hour, The methode I Used is Matrix 5 x 5
it is really fun
it is really fun
I agree with Gill - it's easy if you know how to go about solving it!
i dont care what every body said in the above colum or below me but this was very hard.the man said 98% could solve not guess.
Wow, it's so great when you discover the clue that leads to all the other ones. But I don't think I'm in the top two percent of humanity.
Jul 04, 2002
Einstein was joking when he said 98% could not sole the riddle. 100% would fail if they were not given the riddle.
I went onto the NIEHS website and solved it easily.
I was gonna submitt it but you saved me a job thanks :p
I was gonna submitt it but you saved me a job thanks :p
took me all of 15 minutes to do first oneof these things i have done
FYI : isaw this one on another site that says apparently Einstin said that 98% of people in the world can't figure this one out. I guess I'm part of the other 2% since i figured it out in five minutes!
i got it in 3 min. and 17 sec.
I'm part of the 2% that got it!
Jul 29, 2002
How long exactly did it take you to get this dumb riddle that would literally take me hours to solve?
that was one of the hardest riddles i have ever seen. it took me 45 minutes to complete it. guess i'm not a logical person
Wow by the end of this logic puzzle. My head was to warn out to actually remeber when i started. Somewhere from 40-60 minutes. But none the less this one was worth the strain!:-)
Took me about ten minutes and my method involved the use of scissors.
I think Einstein thought it was more difficult than it is.
I think Einstein thought it was more difficult than it is.
this teaser is very easy it just takes a few minutes
took me about 45 mins but was real fun.
This was a good teaser, but it was impossible not to get. The best teasers don't allow process of elimination. This one, you couldn't be that proud of getting.
A friend's teacher had given this to all the kids in the class. I had dropped out of school, but always loved this kind of thing. I remember solving it, but never knew the true answer. I tried it all over again this time, and did it in an hour. Made me happy to know I'm not a complete idiot, even having dropped out of high school after two freshman years. Took me an hour... I'm happy I got it at all!
That teaser actually made me think! A
Although it was rather easy, it was fun.
Although it was rather easy, it was fun.
Very nice. Took a bit of notes to do this but I got it finally.
Oct 05, 2002
The easiest way of solving this is to draw a grid. It's a teaser by a brilliant guy and one we should have more of-entertaining AND quizzical.
i did this before with some of my work mates. i found the teaser on the internet age's ago!!!!!!!!
The riddle wasn't as hard as einstein said it was. If you keep on guessing and checking you'll eventually find the answer. I got the answer in about 20 minutes by using a diagram.
Took me about 30 minutes to get it, but very good one.
Set a chart up and solved it rather
quickly. It feels great to be a part of
the 2%. These help keep the mind sharp.
Great teaser
quickly. It feels great to be a part of
the 2%. These help keep the mind sharp.
Great teaser
Nov 24, 2002
ALTERNATIVE ANSWER? Test it!
I figured out that the DANE owns the FISH.
There is a circular road with 5 properties like a pie chart.
The road goes along the outside of the circle of properties.
The first house is Yellow, with a Norwegian who drinks Water,
smokes Dunhill and owns Cats.
The second house is Blue, with a Dane who drinks Tea, smokes Blends and owns a Fish.
The centre house is Red, with a Brit who drinks Milk, smokes Pall Mall and owns Birds.
The fourth house is White, with a Swede who drinks Beer,
smokes Bluemasters and owns Dogs.
The last house is Green, with a German that drinks Coffee,
smokes Prince and owns a Horse.
Prove me wrong!
I figured out that the DANE owns the FISH.
There is a circular road with 5 properties like a pie chart.
The road goes along the outside of the circle of properties.
The first house is Yellow, with a Norwegian who drinks Water,
smokes Dunhill and owns Cats.
The second house is Blue, with a Dane who drinks Tea, smokes Blends and owns a Fish.
The centre house is Red, with a Brit who drinks Milk, smokes Pall Mall and owns Birds.
The fourth house is White, with a Swede who drinks Beer,
smokes Bluemasters and owns Dogs.
The last house is Green, with a German that drinks Coffee,
smokes Prince and owns a Horse.
Prove me wrong!
The Einstein-riddle is very simple to solve. Under "http://www.helary.de/logic/" you find heavier riddles. Also you find there the mostly unknown secret of the Einstein-riddle.
I got it in about a half hour. It was difficult! Are you sure that the 2% is an accurate calculation?
hey nice riddle! it took me 10 min. to get the answer. well goet to go. peace!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey nice riddle pretty tough but still got it after puttin it all together.
I think the bit about 98% of people not being able to solve it is rubbish. When I got this in an email about a year ago I forwarded it to 20 people on my address list. Ony 2 of those people couldn't do it.
I liked it. But isn't this more logic as opposed to riddle? It took me 10 mins. I am surprised that Einstein said that only 98% of people would solve this one. I think at least 20% can.
Feb 23, 2003
Actually, because FISH was never mentioned in the teaser, it is only assumed the "fifth" pet could be a fish. We are informed of a cat, dog, bird and horse. How could we possibly conclude the fifth pet is a fish. It could be any other animal. Therefore, the answer could be "No one" or "Insufficient data provided to correctly answer."
I had to do something very similiar for this in my math class about a month ago. This one took me about 10 minutes.
Do you really believe, Einstein is the creator of this riddle? And do you really believe, he said that nonsens about the 2%?
It was too easy. All of you who don't believe that Einstein came up with this riddle, try coming up with one this long and complex by yourself (warning: it must be able to be solved). I don't believe that only 2% of the population can figure this out because it was just too easy, however.
Agreed that this was an easy "logic" puzzle... did these kind of puzzles in grade 6. They are fun still tho!
its hard but got it and loved it
hey i can't get it cus i haven't that much time to figure it out.. can those people who got it in 5 minutes explain detailly the shortcut method? i must be one of those 2% who CAN'T get it right judging by so many who can so quickly
Nov 01, 2003
This riddle is nuts. Could drive a normal person to insanity. But those guys were right: it IS easy if you take your time and use reasoning to narrow down the possibilities. Took me 35 minutes to complete.
Nov 11, 2003
link2440
From where did you get this riddles, please? How could it be written by Einstein? When?
I am asking because others are asking. Thanks.
From where did you get this riddles, please? How could it be written by Einstein? When?
I am asking because others are asking. Thanks.
I dindn't even get all the way through working it out, and I had to see the answer! Very good one, but a little too long! LOL
5 minutes i'm wondering how u guys skipped all the matching and was able to get the answer
5 minutes!!!
it took me more than five minutes to make the grid for this
5 minutes!!!
it took me more than five minutes to make the grid for this
i have something to say to all of you "genii" out there. first, when Einstein made this riddle, 98% of the people could not solve it. today people are alot smarter then they were when he lived (1879-1955). second, many of you are not 2% who can solve it, but 25% who can guess it. and finally, most of the people who are out of 98% that cannot solve it will not be on this site.
first, i thought i wasn't going to get it because i thought that Einstein actually wrote it, but after sitting there for about 30 minutes, i came to the answer and realized that it just takes time to answer
Simple, but time consuming...
Wicked awesome! Took me like 45 minutes, give or take, and consumed me at work, but I got it! Yay!
Wow, thats the longest i've ever spent on a teaser, i usually give up & look at the answer but i just had 2 try this one. I got it eventually, after several pieces of paper later, kept thinking i'd solved it & then finding a bit that didnt add up. All the people saying they got it quickly probably didnt, u all just guessed the answer or you would have taken longer. Well done to all you who actually got it! top 2% people!!!
One of the Best Teasers Ive done. Just when your almost done something is wrong it took my 30 minutes and a lot of paper to figure it out but I got it.....
This one's going on my list!
I saw this on another site, and i absolutly LOVE these problems. It took me a while to do it, but i eventualy got it right! Its great!
Aug 09, 2004
Einstein would be proud
Great teaser! Took me about 25 mins to solve
AHHH!!!! all this kind of question takes is a little concetration......einstiens genius wasnt about norwiegins and germans it was about thinking outside the box........
i think the reason he said only 2% could solve it, is because not many people have the patience to actaully work it out, its not so much the difficulty which he was talkin about, by including so many objects as distractions, he discouraged many people from even attempting it.
Hence, the 98% of people who couldnt solve it!
im 13 by the way
Hence, the 98% of people who couldnt solve it!
im 13 by the way
Umm, are you all on crack, there is not nearly enough information in this page for this riddle, therefore you're all liars and never solved the riddle...
How do i know anybody had a fish?
Not a single bit of information in the riddle says anything about a fish. The correct answer to anybody paying attention is:
NONE, the german had a pet rock
Etc...
There is no info of a fish existing and therefore a fish does not exist.
How do i know anybody had a fish?
Not a single bit of information in the riddle says anything about a fish. The correct answer to anybody paying attention is:
NONE, the german had a pet rock
Etc...
There is no info of a fish existing and therefore a fish does not exist.
I got it, excellent riddle.
I gave up in like 10 seconds. Oh, and mankatozx, Einstein was not an idiot!!!!!!!!! Thanks for subbmitting!
You can't say that there isn't enough information because the question is who owns the fish... The fish is owned by the person who last doesn't have a pet... Which in common sense can be found out without using a grid, all you need is 5 minutes of hard mind-boggling thinking... The rest of the information besides who owns the fish is of no purpose, and the reason only 2% of people get the answer, is because they lack attention to detailed questions... If you solved it and found out each person's things, then your answer is wrong... In summary... Read, it helps! :-D
I'm sorry but that was no fun at all. Very frustrating 2. Man...my brain hurts...
I looked at it. Knew I wouldn't get it. Guessed the right answer!
I first encountered this problem around 1966 and have loved this type of problem ever since.
Did this a while ago... took me about a half hour... but then, i'm the most unorganized person ever.
Einstein was wrong, or this is a myth.. because probably closer to 50% of people could do it.
Really, though, I knew it was the German from the start. Why? Well, he was German, wasn't he?
Einstein was wrong, or this is a myth.. because probably closer to 50% of people could do it.
Really, though, I knew it was the German from the start. Why? Well, he was German, wasn't he?
Jan 04, 2005
That took quite a bit of paper! I don't remember when I started, but I took all the information down and curled up on the couch. I wish there were more of these riddles on the site. They are my absolute favorite...
haha, ya, i used ALOT of paper too. It took me awhile to solve, but I did it!!!!!! I feel smart. lol. anybody know of others like this??
took me just over 20 minutes but i found it pretty good....ready for the next one now
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! You submitted the first riddle that I was able to solve. Great teaser!
I attempted this riddle a while ago and couldn\'t solve it. Now, however, after trying it again, I found it fairly simple. Overall its an incredibly entertaining riddle. Probably my favorite...
Wow! I think I may have given myself an aneurysm with this one! I did get it, but I kept having to go back and re-evaluate. I also made a chart. This would be a great one to put in the Logic-grid section. Then you could just point and click as you figured things out. It was very fun. I'll send it along to see how many of my friends and relatives will hate me. I'm thinking of making them beg me for the answer...we'll see.
comment too long...
wow for being hard that was eaasy took me less than 10 minutes
it is cool ...
Hard...
Eye bogglingly Amazing!
Hard...
Eye bogglingly Amazing!
GREAT teaser. got it in about 15 min. right to the favorites!
Shouldn't this one be in the logic-grid category?
Mar 03, 2005
I saw this teaser referenced in the Logic-Grid section. It took me almost as long to build my grid as it did to solve. The real genius is the one who first developed the grid system. I'm just the chimp with a banana! Yummmm.....!
Wow!!!! I got it in like 15 minutes! I'm so proud of my self!
cool one
i was confused at first but after i gpt the first clue, wow every thing went easy
i was confused at first but after i gpt the first clue, wow every thing went easy
Yep the 5X5 grid is the only way I could organize and track the facts. Anyone doing this in their head should be out making money somewhere and not playing games .. or maybe making up games like Einstein did .. Of course all those guys are dead now from smoking and their pets have died and one of those TV guys bought up the houses and made a million dollars instead of doing grid problems in their head! ha ha liked it!.. back to the zone ..
That was great...YAAAAYYY!!!
I am the ghost of Einstein,
You are all wrong.
The answer is...
I am not Einstein.
I'm bored.
You are all wrong.
The answer is...
I am not Einstein.
I'm bored.
The hint is right, all you have to do is remain patient and you will get it. Perhaps Einstein was making a coment on the character of 98% of the people in the world, and what real intellegence is.
... one of the "more harder" puzzles. Somebody's definitely not Einstein.
to much for me... I'm not that patient...
Gave up in 45 minutes.But then right when i clicked the answer link i said"i bet it was the German".lol
same here not really that patient.
same here not really that patient.
still confused
It took me about 45 minutes scattered throughout the day to solve this using a logic grid. It was pretty simple, though took a straining effort. I had guessed all along, however , that it was the German because of Einstein's nationality. As I solved it, I gained insight into how to use logic grids. I was very worried about whether the houses were numbered from left to right or the opposite, and I wondered if that was a trick. THIS TEASER NEEDS TO BE IN THE LOGIC GRID CATEGORY!!!
I thought about 2% of the world could solve this?! About half of everybody who wrote a comment solved it!
well I guess I', the loser of the bunch I got it wrong after I racked me nrain for 30 minutes
(It hurts!! It hurts!!)
(It hurts!! It hurts!!)
I am in 6th grade and i got it in 15 min. It was easy if you used a diagram.
YES! I man doh, i didn't get it. Almost though.
Ah good stuff i loved it! Keep em comming, Does a brain good =)
Very good and challenging.
Jul 18, 2006
well, we did it in maths - im in year 8 and a friend and i did it in 15 minutes and it was so easy!!! i dont get what all the fuss is about!!! cos i mean we did it quite quick but after half an hour about half the class had solved it!!! so either were a load off boffins which i doubt cos its a pretty normal state school, or the fuss is about nothing!! lmao
did it in about 35 minutes
Yay! I am thirteen and I got this one not a very long time period!!!
It's not very hard, when I first did it it took about 15 minutes. If you know how to do logic grids, then it is fairly easy
This didint take very long. The key to do this teaser very quick and easy is to use a logic-grid.
Overall,
long,ez,and fun!
Overall,
long,ez,and fun!
Jan 07, 2007
This is all BS... everyone is so proud of themselves because they think their the top 2%... Einstein never wrote this... u are all full of yourselves
Feb 15, 2007
Take a more Einsteinian view of the riddle...
The answer to the question is that the German owns the fish. However, you can't tell which house he lives in because of clue #4.
4. The green house is on the immediate left of the white house.
Left is a relative term. Left from the street looking towards the houses, or left from the house's perspective?
It's all relative.
The answer to the question is that the German owns the fish. However, you can't tell which house he lives in because of clue #4.
4. The green house is on the immediate left of the white house.
Left is a relative term. Left from the street looking towards the houses, or left from the house's perspective?
It's all relative.
I did this in math class
damn.
i couldn't get it...
I obviously not in the 2 percent.
Of course, when Einstein said only 98 percent of people could figure it out he was talking about the people of his time. Also, 2 percent is actually a considerably large amount of people, considering there's about 7 billion people in the world.
i couldn't get it...
I obviously not in the 2 percent.
Of course, when Einstein said only 98 percent of people could figure it out he was talking about the people of his time. Also, 2 percent is actually a considerably large amount of people, considering there's about 7 billion people in the world.
May 16, 2007
Actually, everyone is both wrong and right. No where in the problem does it specifically state there was a fish, only in the question "Who has the Fish?". The problem only said there were five pets and that four of them were the dogs, birds, cats, and horses. The fifth pet could be fish or it could be turtles, or any other pet because NOWHERE IN THE CLUES DOES IT ECPLAIN A FISH BEING THERE. So it either could or could not be a fish meaning that everyone who said fish were right and wrong at the same time. That's Einstein's real answer.
I am one of the two percent took me about a half-hour
I am also take part in the 2% of the population who could figure it out. It took me about 45 mins but I finally got it. Very good Riddle. Looking foreward to more. Thank you
I also take part in the 2% of the population who could figure it out. It took me about 45 mins but I finally got it. Very good Riddle. Looking foreward to more. Thank you
BraLucky...it said in the riddle that they were in a row. These 5 houses couldn't have possibly been both in a circle and in a row. Also, If it was circular street, you would never know which house was the first one...not that it quite matters in a circle. And if you would check with your answer and the clues, it won't make sense. I found this riddle pretty easy and solved it in about 10 minutes. it was pretty fun...
Sep 07, 2007
it took me 20 mins ...
Oct 02, 2007
The alternative Dane answer is incorrect, because the problem specifies that the houses are "in a row". houses in a circle do not qualify as "in a row" in the standard definition of that idiomatic expression.
I imagine that Einstein meant that only 2% of the population could get the answer if it were asked of them verbally and they did not have pen and paper. After all, that would have been the context of a riddle in his time, a party trick. Einstein would've listed out all the clues in some party, and someone would've had to have thought real hard and got it... I imagine 30 minutes would not have been given; at the most 5 or 10.
If you could get it by reading the question only once and then thinking it out, you're one of the 2% of the population Einstein was talking about.
I imagine that Einstein meant that only 2% of the population could get the answer if it were asked of them verbally and they did not have pen and paper. After all, that would have been the context of a riddle in his time, a party trick. Einstein would've listed out all the clues in some party, and someone would've had to have thought real hard and got it... I imagine 30 minutes would not have been given; at the most 5 or 10.
If you could get it by reading the question only once and then thinking it out, you're one of the 2% of the population Einstein was talking about.
I guess I'm in the 98%.
Difficult but fun!
Difficult but fun!
i think people misunderstood Einstein,the correct statement is we only need 2% of our brain to solve this riddle.and the 2% is only for fingers and eyes functions!!no need to think at all!!
It is often called "Einstein's Puzzle" or "Einstein's Riddle" because it is said to have been invented by Albert Einstein as a boy. Some claim that Einstein said "only 2 percent of the world's population can solve it". It is also sometimes attributed to Lewis Carroll. However, there is no known evidence for Einstein's or Carroll's authorship.
Incidentally, we can all get good at doing logic puzzles, doesn't make you a genius, it means you've practised. Having a high IQ doesn't make you clever, it makes you good at IQ tests although IQ tests are relatively comprehensive so more often than not the two will correlate, if you've done lots of logic puzzles before, you're going to know how to approach them and how to think it through, if you haven't, the likelyhood is that this will be much trickier for you. This took me just under half an hour, very enjoyable.
Incidentally, we can all get good at doing logic puzzles, doesn't make you a genius, it means you've practised. Having a high IQ doesn't make you clever, it makes you good at IQ tests although IQ tests are relatively comprehensive so more often than not the two will correlate, if you've done lots of logic puzzles before, you're going to know how to approach them and how to think it through, if you haven't, the likelyhood is that this will be much trickier for you. This took me just under half an hour, very enjoyable.
sorry but i've just noticed alaois' comment and it really annoyed me. Einstein, even as a boy, wouldn't have been stupid enough as to think one in 50 people were clever enough to work that out in their head. Everyone who's done it on here obviously enjoys brainteasers and has had the practise to make it easier. But as a general population, the majority wouldn't be able to solve the puzzle full stop. The idea that out of the 6 000 000 000 people on the planet, call it 3 000 000 000 adults (on a very bad day), 60 000 000 could solve this thing in their head!? is plainly just stupid... do you not realise how large a percentage that actually is when we're dealing with something like this. 2% of people in Britain go on to study further maths at AS level, 1% continue to A2, of that 1% 25% get an A, so 0.25% of people get an A in further maths, i recently received my A. As i've said above, that took me about half an hour with a pen and paper, so how could possibly make such a stupid claim... there are probably a ridiculously small handful of people who could solve that in their head with a confident answer, unfortunately it's impossible to find out how many because you've got a 20% chance of getting the right answer anyway.
well it couldnt be a circular road because he said in a row. a row is a line straight across. but anyway i loved the teaser. it was very easy. that two percent stuff is kinda wrong
I don't know why but during the middle of my solving i thought it was going to be the german....and it was....hmmmm
I got a different answer
The question never told us that the fifth guy(i.e. the German guy) has the fish. The fact that given by the question only said that they have 5 different kinds of pets, they never said anything about the fish. Therefore the answer is not the German guy but could be anyone else because the German can have a tiger or crocodile or anything for a pet(Although he could have a fish but we can't be certain about that).
The question never told us that the fifth guy(i.e. the German guy) has the fish. The fact that given by the question only said that they have 5 different kinds of pets, they never said anything about the fish. Therefore the answer is not the German guy but could be anyone else because the German can have a tiger or crocodile or anything for a pet(Although he could have a fish but we can't be certain about that).
May 09, 2009
Great riddle, It took me almost a couple of hours to solve it. It may be quicker if Im not hungry.. XD:
One great hint is to disregard the hints with pets . They should be taken last.
One great hint is to disregard the hints with pets . They should be taken last.
Me, my mom, and my brother all sat down and did it in about 20 min, but it was hard.
Very good riddle, took about 30 minutes for me. Keep them coming. I have 4 gripes which involve comments not the riddle itself.
1. Everyone who is stating that the German could own any pet because it is not specifically stating that one of the five people own a fish, need to learn what the word "infer" means. If you actually figured out the puzzle and everyone owned the other four pets, then the German had to own the fish, because thats what the riddle is asking. Stop trying to sound smart because you have a problem with the wording. I do not believe you even solved the riddle or else you would just be happy you figured it out.
2. As far as the whole 98% of the population not figuring this out, no one (not even einstein himself) could know the exact number. He could only know a percentage of a sample group, which still wouldn't be accurate to the rest of the world. I also believe everyone overestimates the intellect of people in this world... I would still say there is a large percentage who either couldn't figure it out or do not have the attention span to do so.
3. If you solved this in under 5 minutes, you are either lying or incredibly smart. To just read and re-read clues then write down your work would take way over 5 minutes.
4. Why is it spelled "practise" in some countries and "practice" in the United States? Maybe thats a riddle in itself!
Thanks if you've listen to my complaining/reasoning!
1. Everyone who is stating that the German could own any pet because it is not specifically stating that one of the five people own a fish, need to learn what the word "infer" means. If you actually figured out the puzzle and everyone owned the other four pets, then the German had to own the fish, because thats what the riddle is asking. Stop trying to sound smart because you have a problem with the wording. I do not believe you even solved the riddle or else you would just be happy you figured it out.
2. As far as the whole 98% of the population not figuring this out, no one (not even einstein himself) could know the exact number. He could only know a percentage of a sample group, which still wouldn't be accurate to the rest of the world. I also believe everyone overestimates the intellect of people in this world... I would still say there is a large percentage who either couldn't figure it out or do not have the attention span to do so.
3. If you solved this in under 5 minutes, you are either lying or incredibly smart. To just read and re-read clues then write down your work would take way over 5 minutes.
4. Why is it spelled "practise" in some countries and "practice" in the United States? Maybe thats a riddle in itself!
Thanks if you've listen to my complaining/reasoning!
It took me three hours, but i finally proved that i was in the top 2% of the people who can figure this puzzle out.
The hardest part of this puzzle is making sure you keep your train of thought.
The hardest part of this puzzle is making sure you keep your train of thought.
Sep 13, 2009
Ok girl1962. . cut the bullsh** no woman could ever do this. Womens brains are a half the size of mens. it's science
Sep 13, 2009
Awishfulthinker: U may be one of the biggest douche bags I've ever encountered in my life. I am literally baffled at how someone could write that much garbage about a riddle. You make me cry for all of mankind, and you probably have no testicles. Here's a riddle you'll never figure out. . . how to lose your virginity
Took me about 30mins to solve!
Not nearly as difficult as it looks. You just have to write your clues out clearly.
Not nearly as difficult as it looks. You just have to write your clues out clearly.
Mar 23, 2010
This was Sooooo fun. Yes you can use algebraic arrays to solve, but drawing pictures of houses , using the obvious to fill in first then puzzling over the more obscure clues later made this the most fun so far!!
Mar 23, 2010
This was Sooooo fun. Yes you can use algebraic arrays to solve, but drawing pictures of houses , using the obvious to fill in first then puzzling over the more obscure clues later made this the most fun so far!!
Jun 07, 2010
Its cool!!! It took me about 30 minutes to solve. Study the clues carefully and fill in a table - you will find the answer easily
Nov 20, 2010
15 minutes..GOOD ONE
there are so many in 2 % ..even am in one of them... took some time..bat that was relly very gud..
Jun 28, 2011
It took me like 3 minutes and I just went with what felt right..... And I was right! Riddles usually have the same kind of system built into them that makes solving them a lot easier.
Aug 16, 2011
i'm sorry to break this to ya BUT...the 2% were for the people that can solve this riddle MENTALLY, with NO WRITTING DOWN. sorry, not all of you are in the 2% i guess.
My brother in 5th grade can solved this in an hour, writing them down. Doing this mentally is the REAL challenge. LOL
I know, it made me feel disappointed too, thinking i was in the 2% of the world's population. guess not
My brother in 5th grade can solved this in an hour, writing them down. Doing this mentally is the REAL challenge. LOL
I know, it made me feel disappointed too, thinking i was in the 2% of the world's population. guess not
I'm usually rubbish at these but I got it in about 15mins, veryy happy with myself right now! Great teaser
This was the teaser that got me interested in puzzles about seven years ago. It was so hard then, and it took me forever! I decided to revisit it and knocked it out in like 15 minutes.
I don't think I'm any smarter than I was then...I'm just better at making charts. ;)
I don't think I'm any smarter than I was then...I'm just better at making charts. ;)
Easy easy, did it before.
Feb 25, 2013
I am 16 and I figured out this riddle in 42 minutes I got the answer that the German owns the green house with a fish,smokes prince and drinks coffee
15 minutes is all I needed..hahaha
SO NICE!!!!
so proud to be part of the 2%!!!
SO NICE!!!!
so proud to be part of the 2%!!!
For those who thinks the Dane owns the fish...
Here's a solution:
http:// patentednews.com /einstein / einsteins -riddle - solution - explained/
NO SPACE!
Here's a solution:
http:// patentednews.com /einstein / einsteins -riddle - solution - explained/
NO SPACE!
I thought the riddle was quite easy, I solved it and i timed it 8 mins give or take a few seconds. I even made an account to post this, but I get why some people don't get it. You just have to think in that way I guess. I also know that just because you can solve this, it doesn't make you a Genius. I guess someone that solved it in a matter of seconds (with little to no knowledge of riddles) could be classified as the top 2 %, but only because people of today are much more intelligent then in Einsteins time.
This should be transferred to logic-grid
SUPER FUN!!!! luved it! it tuke me ubout 10 minutes two due it. i finished it and then shared it with all my stretch friends and only half of them got it right THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS
I saw this one on YouTube. Ted Ed Riddles showcased this.
I saw this one on YouTube. Ted Ed Riddles showcased this.
1. Oops 🙊 accidentally duplicated the entire comment 2. I don't think it's nice to say that kind of stuff Awishfulthinker.
You are insulting women.
when you say norweigian is the first. is it first from left to right or from right to left
Wanna have your mind blown?
A much harder variation was published once with the positions of the fourth and fifth houses reversed and the fifteenth clue ommitted!!! The beer was replaced with orange juice, and the cigarettes were all replaced with sports. Strange how the harder version is the more child friendly one!!!
A much harder variation was published once with the positions of the fourth and fifth houses reversed and the fifteenth clue ommitted!!! The beer was replaced with orange juice, and the cigarettes were all replaced with sports. Strange how the harder version is the more child friendly one!!!
For this puzzle, I had to assume that the order in which the houses are placed is from left to right. There is no other direction indicator.
this was very hard but fun
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