Richard Wiseman's Blog, page 54

It’s the Friday Puzzle!

As ever, please do NOT post your answers, but do say if you think you have solved the puzzle and how long it took. Solution on Monday.

An odd one this week…..

There is a small town in California called Yreka. There is a little bakery in town that opens everyday at 8.30am and closes at 5.30pm. The bakery is world famous. Why?

I have produced an ebook containing 101 of the previous Friday Puzzles! It is called PUZZLED and is available for the Kindle (UK here and USA here) and on the iBookstore (UK here in the USA here). You can try 101 of the puzzles for free here.

Amazing new illusion video

Everyone and their dog have sent me a link to this video.  It is splendid – enjoy!

What would you do?

Here is a question that I posed on Twitter yesterday…..

Imagine that companies had 2 prices for all products – a lower price that was the result of them avoiding paying tax and a higher price that included their tax contribution – which product would you choose to buy?

Vote now and feel free to discuss.

Take Our Poll

NWS – Sooooooooo rude

It is always important to get the right perspective on any situation (via @alaingeenrits)…..

Answer to the Friday Puzzle….

On Friday I set this puzzle….

I am thinking of four numbers. The mode is 1, the median is 2 and the mean is 3. What are the numbers?

If you have not tried to solve it, have a go now. For everyone else the answer is after the break….

The numbers are 1,1, 3 and 7. That way, the mode (most common) =1, the mean (average) is 3 and the median (the middle number when ordered) = 2. Did you solve it? Any other answers?

I have produced an ebook containing 101 of the previous Friday Puzzles! It is called PUZZLED and is available for the Kindle (UK here and USA here) and on the iBookstore (UK here in the USA here). You can try 101 of the puzzles for free here.

It’s the Friday Puzzle!

As ever, please do NOT post your answers, but do say if you think you have solved the puzzle and how long it took. Solution on Monday.

I am thinking of four numbers.  The mode is 1, the median is 2 and the mean is 3.  What are the numbers?

I have produced an ebook containing 101 of the previous Friday Puzzles! It is called PUZZLED and is available for the Kindle (UK here and USA here) and on the iBookstore (UK here in the USA here). You can try 101 of the puzzles for free here.

You will never trust your eyes again…..

The other day I put together 10 of my favourite optical illusions.  Hope that you enjoy the collection!

Which is your favourite?

Best Christmas Lights Ever?

On 3rd December I shall be joining the lovely folks at Cognitive Media to discuss animation and learning at the RSA in London.  Details here.

I am a big fan of Christmas lights, and it doesn’t get any better than this….

Even more bets you will always win…..

My two bets videos on YouTube have now had over 10 million views each, so I thought it might be good to complete the trilogy.  Hope you enjoy it……..

Answer to the Friday Puzzle……

On Friday I posted this puzzle….

Into codes?  Yesterday a friend handed me this piece of paper and said that the numbers (15122 1116 96011621) contained a hidden message…. can you work it out?

If you have not tried to solve it, have a go now.  For everyone else the answer is after the break.

It is nothing to do with numbers (sorry about that)!  Instead, when you hold the paper upside down and in front of a mirror, you will see…..

Did you solve it?

I have produced an ebook containing 101 of the previous Friday Puzzles! It is called PUZZLED and is available for the Kindle (UK here and USA here) and on the iBookstore (UK here in the USA here). You can try 101 of the puzzles for free here.