Brain Teasers
Centuries Old
I met a woman in a store. She said that she lived through 3 centuries, but that she was slightly more than 100 years old. She wasn't lying, but how can this be?
Answer
She was born at the end of one century, lived through a full one, and was currently living in the beginning of the 3rd. (Example: Born in 1899, lived 1900-1999, living in 2000-2003.)Hide Answer Show Answer
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Please comment on my teaser! I need feedback so I can improve future teasers! Thanks!
Not bad. The comment about her being slightly
more than 100 years old may make it
a little too obvious, given the current
year, but maybe others found this helpful.
more than 100 years old may make it
a little too obvious, given the current
year, but maybe others found this helpful.
I understand what you mean by your teaser, and I guessed the answer correctly but I think that you're stretching the meaning of "lived through". If I wait for my dentist appointment from 9:59 to 102, I haven't waited for two hours.
Pretty cool. I don't find any major flaw in your teaser. Thanks for this one.
No problem! Thanks for positive feedback!
I'd have to agree with Skellum. The woman didn't live "through" 3 centuries, she lived "in" 3 centuries, "through" only 1.
I agree with the bending of the meaning of "through". The mother of the present British monarch, the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, was born on 4 Aug 1900 and died on 20 Mar 2002, thus living "in" three centuries as the 20th century began on 1 Jan 1901, not, as some believe, on 1 Jan 1900, as our calendar began with the year 1, not 0. (A mistake perpetuated in this teaser)
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