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#1 2003-01-31 12:01:02

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Here is an old word puzzle I learned of long ago:

A man lying dead,
next to a puddle of red,
with a stick beside his head.

How did the man die?

The idea of the game is that you ask yes or no questions to figure out how the man died.

Example: Is the man alive? Answer: No.

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#2 2003-01-31 12:51:35

Josh Cryer
Moderator
Registered: 2001-09-29
Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Does the stick have blood on it?

Was the stick involved in his death?

Was the stick used for defense?

Was the stick used for offense?

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

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#3 2003-01-31 12:57:50

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Josh Asked:

Does the stick have blood on it?
NO.

Was the stick involved in his death?
YES.

Was the stick used for defense?
NO.

Was the stick used for offense?
NO.

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#4 2003-01-31 12:58:10

soph
Member
Registered: 2002-11-24
Posts: 1,492

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

was the red puddle his blood?

was it someone elses blood?

was the stick a walking stick?

was the man elderly?

did the man have a walking handicap?

was there any obstacles or other objects in the area which might have caused him to fall?

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#5 2003-01-31 13:01:56

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Soph Asked:
was the red puddle his blood?
NO.
was it someone elses blood?
NO.
was the stick a walking stick?
NO.
was the man elderly?
NO.
did the man have a walking handicap?
NO.
was there any obstacles or other objects in the area which might have caused him to fall?
NO.

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#6 2003-01-31 13:44:41

Josh Cryer
Moderator
Registered: 2001-09-29
Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Is the puddle of red blood?

Is the puddle of red paint?

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

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#7 2003-01-31 13:54:03

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Josh asked:

Is the puddle of red blood?
NO.
Is the puddle of red paint?
NO.

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#8 2003-01-31 14:07:28

Josh Cryer
Moderator
Registered: 2001-09-29
Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Is the puddle drinkable (ie, won't kill you if you drink it, like strawberry punch or something)?

Is the stick small?

Is the stick big?

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

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#9 2003-01-31 14:29:24

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Josh asked:

Is the puddle drinkable (ie, won't kill you if you drink it, like strawberry punch or something)?
NO, the puddle will not kill you if you drink it.

Is the stick small?
Compared to what?

Is the stick big?
Compared to what?

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#10 2003-01-31 14:43:39

Josh Cryer
Moderator
Registered: 2001-09-29
Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Oops, sorry. Those last two weren't yes/no, really.

Hmm, so the puddle is drinkable?

Did the man slip on the puddle?

Does the puddle have a taste?

If so, is it sweet? Is it sour?

Does the puddle have a smell?

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

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#11 2003-01-31 14:50:54

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Josh asked:

Hmm, so the puddle is drinkable?
YES.
Did the man slip on the puddle?
NO.
Does the puddle have a taste?
YES.
If so, is it sweet? Is it sour?
Compared to what?
Does the puddle have a smell?
YES.

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#12 2003-01-31 14:54:45

soph
Member
Registered: 2002-11-24
Posts: 1,492

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

is the puddle toxic, in terms of its fumes or other properties?

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#13 2003-01-31 14:58:04

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Soph asked:

is the puddle toxic, in terms of its fumes or other properties?

NO.

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#14 2003-01-31 15:12:33

Josh Cryer
Moderator
Registered: 2001-09-29
Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Is it sweet compared to a lemon?

Is it sour compared to a strawberry?

tongue

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

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#15 2003-01-31 15:21:26

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Josh asked:

Is it sweet compared to a lemon?
YES.
Is it sour compared to a strawberry?
NO.

Point taken. tongue
More sweet, than sour.

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#16 2003-01-31 15:25:21

Josh Cryer
Moderator
Registered: 2001-09-29
Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Is the puddle alcoholic?

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

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#17 2003-01-31 15:34:43

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Josh asked:

Is the puddle alcoholic?
NO.

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#18 2003-01-31 15:45:37

soph
Member
Registered: 2002-11-24
Posts: 1,492

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

was the man allergic to sweet foods?

was he diabetic?

did he have any other sweet-related diseases?

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#19 2003-01-31 15:46:57

Josh Cryer
Moderator
Registered: 2001-09-29
Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Hmm.

This is a tough one. I wish I knew this one already. smile

Did the liquid in the puddle come from a fruit?

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

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#20 2003-01-31 15:48:16

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Soph asked:

was the man allergic to sweet foods?
NO.
was he diabetic?
NO.
did he have any other sweet-related diseases?
NO.

Josh asked:

Did the liquid in the puddle come from a fruit?
NO.

PS- I will try to reply this weekend.

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#21 2003-01-31 19:44:55

Palomar
Member
From: USA
Registered: 2002-05-30
Posts: 9,734

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Was he married?

Did he have a deformity?

Was he wearing mis-matched clothing at the time of death?

Was his IQ below 110?

--Cindy

We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

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#22 2003-02-04 11:16:05

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Cindy asked:

Was he married?
NO.
Did he have a deformity?
NO.
Was he wearing mis-matched clothing at the time of death?
NO.
Was his IQ below 110?
NO.

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#23 2003-02-04 11:59:03

Josh Cryer
Moderator
Registered: 2001-09-29
Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Was Cindy being silly just then?

Are you going to tell us the answer if we get to page 3 without any yes's?

Was the liquid in the puddle from a vegetable?

Did the stick fall from a tree?

Was there a container which held the liquid?

Was the liquid involved in the mans death?

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

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#24 2003-02-04 12:16:18

clark
Member
Registered: 2001-09-20
Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Josh asked:

Was Cindy being silly just then?
Compared to what? tongue
Are you going to tell us the answer if we get to page 3 without any yes's?
NO.
Was the liquid in the puddle from a vegetable?
NO.
Did the stick fall from a tree?
NO.
Was there a container which held the liquid?
NO.
Was the liquid involved in the mans death?
YES.

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#25 2003-02-04 14:51:31

Josh Cryer
Moderator
Registered: 2001-09-29
Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Did the liquid CAUSE the mans death?

Did the stick CAUSE the mans death?

Did the man CAUSE his own death?

Did the main faint before dying?

Did the stick touch the man at any momment before his death?

Did the stick touch the man with force (enough force to cause injury)?

Did the man know he was about to die?

Did the man try to prevent his death?

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

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