Brain Teasers
A Short Trip
Let's say that you start at a point, for naming's sake, we will call it A'ville. You walk a total of 5 metres forward and have a rest. You then walk 3 metres backwards (ie. back towards A'ville) and have another rest. You set out again and walk a further 10 metres forward and take a much longer rest after such a long journey. You then take another walk of 5 metres backwards and take your final rest, before completing your very strange journey walking a final 3 metres forward and reach your destination of B'ville.
The question is: How far have you travelled since departing A'ville?
The question is: How far have you travelled since departing A'ville?
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I was tricked! well done.
ok now how about we learn how to type. durr ur only on a computer surely you should know how to type.
Yes, I spotted that typo after this was posted pballa and was very annoyed at myself as I am usually very pedantic over such things. You are talking of the 'talk a much longer rest' instead of 'take a much longer rest' I am assuming. Thanks for pointing it out.
I LIKE THAT. VERY WELL DONE, AND YOU EVEN SEEM LIKE TOLD IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
nice, very nice
I loved it!
Good 1 but way 2 easy
Jun 10, 2003
it was good but "how far have you traveled?" in some problems means you add up the positive(how far you walked forward) AND the negative(how far you walked backward) which would tell you how far you accually went
I got it--but I was ready for it. Remember the 20 item questionairre. It started saying "This is a timed test, but read everything before you answer any questions." Most people ignore that and start quickly answering questions. Only to discover that at the end it says "Don't answer any of the questions."
So, most of us make the same mistake by adding and substracting, instead of carefully reading the question.
So, most of us make the same mistake by adding and substracting, instead of carefully reading the question.
You're right Flynn, this sort of reading situation is often the basis for many trick teasers and hence the basis for people being tricked. It plays on the ways our minds are conditioned in terms of acting upon instructions etc. I'm pleased you got it and that hopefully you enjoyed it ;) .
What I don't get is why did he walk 2 meters past B'ville before his final rest stop only to walk 5 more meters back and another 3 meters forward? Why wouldn't he cut out those 10 final meters by just walking to B'ville instead of walking past it twice before going there?
clark, the names of the locations were merely for a little context and sillyness/fun. The distances were the key. Sorry if it confused.
I loved it too many times to count! I got it almost immediatly, but it is still a great teaser!! 
Thanks Dakini... you're too kind. Creating such a teaser appealed to my 'pedantic exploration of the english language' side. I'm pleased you enjoyed it.
Got it easily, but maybe cuz I was looking for it since it's under Trick... should list it under another to stump people!
easy
Why does 'How far has he travelled' necessarily imply distance rather than displacement? His displacement is only 10 metres.
This wasn't much a trick to me.
this is math 
i thought it was great 
... i wouldnt have gotten it if not for the hint...
... i wouldnt have gotten it if not for the hint...
I did get it... not much of a trick to me. Pretty straightforward question. 
It has just the BEST misdirection, but it's also easy and simple. I like it!
it kinda sounded like displacement to me . how far has he from "a ville"
no you are right . it is how far have you travelled since departing a ville 
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