Puzzle

Neil · Post by **Neil** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:19 pm

Doh! Anyone got any more of them - they're good

grateful pink · Post by **grateful pink** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:19 pm

i cannot take credit for that. Saw it on a show on TV!

Post by **Keith Jordan** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:25 pm

Here is one I learnt whilst working on the British Census project failure!!!

There is a man in a room with dirt on the floor and it is morning time. There is no ceiling and he can see the sky if he looks up!! The walls are solid brick and he cannot smash them down. It is also impossible for him to climb or jump up over the wall and he has no tools. Jush him in the room. Later that day, in the evening, he was standing outside the wall looking rather pleased with himself!!! How did he get outside the wall?

Notice the floyd relevance here!!

Neil · Post by **Neil** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:29 pm

Was there only 3 walls ?

Post by **Keith Jordan** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:31 pm

Not Now Neil wrote:Was there only 3 walls ?

Hahaha. No. 4 of them and they are all touching. Completely surrounded.

grateful pink · Post by **grateful pink** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:32 pm

The dirt on the floor (I believe) is the clue to work on. I can't figure it out.
Mind ripping...must stop....

Post by **Keith Jordan** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:34 pm

grateful pink wrote:The dirt on the floor (I believe) is the clue to work on. I can't figure it out.
Mind ripping...must stop....

All i will say is that not all information you have about a problem is relevant. Build the problem up logically. Say what you wouuld like to do, how you are constrained - specifically and with respect to the preceding information of what you would like to do and how you are most likely to do it - and then come up with a lateral solution around the constraints to your objective!!

grateful pink · Post by **grateful pink** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:45 pm

Actually, I did think the dirt floor was a red herring (I did go to law school and all--not sure ow i graduated!

). I will have to look at it later again without looking at any answers and see if i can figure it out without looking at other people's responses.

David Smith · Post by **David Smith** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:46 pm

This is probably very wrong, but the dirt on the floor suggests he'd dug himself in already, and although there is no mention of the hole he previously made entering the dirt suggests a point of entry.

It's just as much in what isn't said as what is.

Post by **Keith Jordan** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 2:53 pm

He didn't dig himself in. The dirt on the floor is just the earth: the soil on the gound like outdoors!! Remember, he has no tools. Just him, the walls and the dirt on the floor where he may well be sitting looking at that glorious sky above!!

Neil · Post by **Neil** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 4:31 pm

Awe - this is scrambling my brain! Any chance of a hint?

Post by **Keith Jordan** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 4:46 pm

Objective - to get out of the room to the outside

Info - he can see the sky so there is no roof
Info - there is dirt on the ground

Constraints - the walls are high, to high to jump or climb up

Solution - ??????

Feeling Very Pink · Post by **Feeling Very Pink** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 4:57 pm

grateful pink wrote:They picked him up in one of those giant water scoops that scoop ocean water and then bring it to a forest fire and let it drop. The scuba diver drops in there with the water.

CSI fan?

Feeling Very Pink · Post by **Feeling Very Pink** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 4:59 pm

Does he pile the dirt up to make a platform? Or something? Argh.

Neil · Post by **Neil** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 5:00 pm

Well the info suggests the only way the dirt could have got on the floor is if it had been dropped from above.. so, er is there somebody above shoveling in dirt. I mean could the room be under ground and at the top where the walls end is sea level? So when this person keeps shoveling in dirt, there is eventually a big enough pile for him to stand on to get out?

Or could it be that he picks up the dirt in his hand and throws it up over the walls in order to get someones attention?

Am I even remotely close on either of these?