Brain Teasers
3+3=?
Fun: (2.35)
Difficulty: (1.73)
Puzzle ID: #36995
Submitted By: LegalMumboJumbo Corrected By: AndrewWalker
Submitted By: LegalMumboJumbo Corrected By: AndrewWalker
Science
Science brain teasers require understanding of the physical or biological world and the laws that govern it.Science
LegalMumboJumbo was entered into a game show. If he answered one question correctly he would win one million dollars. If he missed the question, a buzzer would sound and Legal would have to donate $50,000 dollars to a local charity. The question was "What does three fluid ounces of water plus three fluid ounces of alcohol equal?" and Legal immediately said "Six fluid ounces!"
Did LegalMumboJumbo win one million dollars?
Did LegalMumboJumbo win one million dollars?
Answer
No, he did not. This may seem odd, but when different liquids are mixed, the combined liquid becomes more dense. So, the liquid becomes more compact and takes up less volume in the container. It is a small but measurable difference.Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
hey nice teaser, but not sure if trick is the right category. congrats on your first teaser =D
Seems to me to be in the correct category! Though I have to say that for a million, I'd given a little thought to what looks to be a very simple gimme.
Thanks
Wow!!!! Legalmumbojumbo needs to catch up on his science!!!!
um...correct? lol
just kidding
the only thing I knew was that it wasnt 6
haha
yes congrats on first teaser it was pretty good and i think we can all learn al little something from this
Thanks, I like learning something new.
Are you talking about liquid ounces which are volume, or regular ounces which are weight?
I was going to say " a pretty stiff drink"
i didn't like it, sorry
just teasing, get it<
nice one! i learnt something of science, atleast! Thanks.
schould be in science or trivia category, could someone change it please?
Not really rep as it's a trick, cause 3+3 = 6
Interesting. Probably should have specified fluid ounces though. The volume may decrease when the liquids are mixed but the mass will not.
I have to add, I feel bad for LegalMumboJumbo as well, since to scientifically determine what you are asking to some degree of precision is probably quite involved, requiring such additional information as temperature of the liquids and atmospheric pressure.
How did this make it into Science? The key thing is that there is no definition between a fluid ounce (volume) and a "convenitional" ounce which is a weight.
Just because you put some science in there, it doesn't make it a science teaser.
Just because you put some science in there, it doesn't make it a science teaser.
It was originally under Trick, but someone changed it to science
I found it in trick...but then ... things xcan get tricky , that's why they're called puzzles K?
wow. very very very cool
i knew it wasnt 6, but i had no idea what it rele was.
i thought it was cause alcohol was lighter or something...i dunno...i have to catch up on my science too, i guess!
i knew it wasnt 6, but i had no idea what it rele was.
i thought it was cause alcohol was lighter or something...i dunno...i have to catch up on my science too, i guess!
Jul 05, 2007
I got the answer right, but for a different reason. Alcohol will evaporate water. Although I don't know the rate of evaporation nor how much time was allotted, after the alcohol was added, I know that alcohol Will evaporate water. The number of ounces would definitely be less than 6, although I don't know how MUCH less.
Well I thought ounces were used to measure mass, not volume, so I got it wrong. I've never really begun to understand imperial measurement systems.
Good Teaser. The science of this teaser is correct. The confusion comes only with the definition of ounce. We British and you Americans love using imperial measurements, but this can often lead to confusion. This is especially the case with the ounce as there are so many ounces and each can be of a different unit or have a different value. For example there is the ounce-force which is a unit of force, the UK fluid ounce and the US fluid ounce (1 US fluid ounce = 1.040842 UK fluid ounces = 29.57353 millilitres) both units of volume. Then when it comes to mass there is the troy ounce, the avoirdupois ounce, the roman ounce and even a metric ounce (which is used informally by the dutch).
So although I liked the teaser may, maybe in future, if anyone posts a teaser in the science section, however much we love our imperial measurements for everyday life, if we need to be clear what we are talking about I suggest that proper SI units should be used to avoid confusion. i.e. grams for mass, mol for amount of substance, and cubic metres for volume (or the derived unit 'litre' which is a special name for a cubic decimetre or 0.001 cubic metres).
So although I liked the teaser may, maybe in future, if anyone posts a teaser in the science section, however much we love our imperial measurements for everyday life, if we need to be clear what we are talking about I suggest that proper SI units should be used to avoid confusion. i.e. grams for mass, mol for amount of substance, and cubic metres for volume (or the derived unit 'litre' which is a special name for a cubic decimetre or 0.001 cubic metres).
I agree with RedPython. When I read the question, my first thought was "are we talking weight or volume?"
Was that ounce meant as 1/16 of a pound or as 1/16 or a pint? (In the US)
If the question had been given in metric measurements as either milliliters or grams, then there would be no ambiguity.
Was that ounce meant as 1/16 of a pound or as 1/16 or a pint? (In the US)
If the question had been given in metric measurements as either milliliters or grams, then there would be no ambiguity.
That's a really really really easy teaser, if you ask me. it's a good one... *looks over shoulder* omg my bro is watching the Hallmark channel... gtg
*phew* just needed to add, i like this teaser and especially it's simplicity
Just want to add my voice to the numerous people pointing out the imprecision of the question. I assumed it would have said fluid ounces if it meant volume, and so read it as weight, whereby 6 would be the correct answer. If this happened to me on a game show, I would sue until I got my million dollars.
Ha, I knew that from watching PBS. Thank you, Bill Nye the Science Guy!
This teaser is good, but it has a mistake An ounce is a unit of mass, which is distinct from the fluid ounce, which is a unit of volume. I think that fluid ounce is the unit to which you are referring.
I really agree with redpython. I usually use the british system for physical quantities. So to avoid confusion between different countries, its best to use the SI units!
so, you said when you add too liguids, its more dense taking up less vloume... but doesnt adding water and oil (which is a liquid) take up less volume also?
very cute though, i knew it wasnt 6 but not sure why
very cute though, i knew it wasnt 6 but not sure why
nah! too tough!!
Fun and interesting! But a bit too easy.
lots of fun and you should say koke for more effectiveness
Asside from the ambiguity(trick)..Interesting two different liquids = a denser liquid, yet alcohal does become solid so easily in lower temperature - confusied lil ol me - am off to research.
In the mean time I'm stumped!
In the mean time I'm stumped!
I'm not buying it. "Fluid ounces" is a measure of volume, and when you are talking about water, you often shorten it to ounces because it is the same amount. (That is, one fluid ounce of water weighs one ounce.) But if you just say ounces, you are really talking about a measure of weight, and the weight will be 6 ounces, as expected.
Why is his name Legal MumboJumbo?
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