[Setekh]

Well, not really week, but more like half a week. I have just acquired several lateral thinking books from an antique book store that was closing down so I thought I'd share 'em all with you. I'll post one question every few days, more or less depending on the time it takes to solve one. Discussion (even the stuff you think is pointless, as it often can lead to new lines of thinking and hence the answer) is welcome, and probably necessary to solve some of the harder ones. If you know the answer, don't yell it out straight away, though feel free to put everyone out of their misery if people aren't getting anywhere.  

Here's the blurb from the first page of one of the books:

 

Edward de Bono first coined the phrase 'lateral thinking' to refer to a process of thinking that is different from the normal linear, or forward thinking to which we are accustomed. In traditional reasoning, we progress logically from one step to the next. However, in lateral thinking, you must deliberately abandon this process in order to eliminate inhibitions. You then try to solve problems in different, random, or lateral ways.

Now, onto the question... an easy one to start.

The Man in the Elevator

A man lives on the tenth floor of a building. EWvery day, he takes the elevator to the first floor to go to work or to go shopping. When he returns, he always takes the elevator to the seventh floor and then walks the remaining flights of stairs to his apartment on the tenth floor. Why does he do this?

[Anduril]

Lateral thinking drives me crazy- I think about as lateral as a freight train. Sounds like fun.  

[Bobboau]

becase he's a health nut, but sort of lasy so he doesn't walk all the way up to his floor

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[Shrike]

Because the elevator only goes to the seventh floor, perhaps?

[Setekh]

No, the elevator goes to all floors - otherwise how would he get on it on the tenth floor in the first place?  

[jonskowitz]

Naaahh, that couldn't be it.  It was already stated that he took the elevator DOWN to the first floor every day...

I've heard this one before (I think), but I can't for the life of me remember how it was solved...

(great, thanks a lot Steaks, now I'll be awake all night trying to figure it out!   )

[Shrike]

Ok, fine... I'll let someone else do it.

[This message has been edited by Shrike (edited 09-23-2001).]

[Setekh]

   

Originally posted by Setekh:
If you know the answer, don't yell it out straight away, though feel free to put everyone out of their misery if people aren't getting anywhere.      

C'mon, give it at least a few hours     He got it, people. Have a new one...

Bombs Away!

One night during the Second World War, an allied bomber was on a mission over Germany. The plane was in perfect condition and everything on it worked properly. When it had reached its target, the pilot ordered the bomb doors opened. They opened. He then ordered the bombers released. They were released. But the bombs did not fall from the plane. Why should this be so?

That's better... I'll leave this question here so I don't have to type it out again.    

[This message has been edited by Setekh (edited 09-24-2001).]

[Top Gun]

I've got it but I'll it quiet

[Jabu]

That is, like, so old  

[Top Gun]

Here's a load more to keep anyone who's done the above two busy.   I can solve most of them but there's still a few I'm unsure about.

[This message has been edited by Top Gun (edited 09-23-2001).]

[Sandwich]

I got the second one, but not the first... yet!  

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Creator of the Sandvich Bar, the CapShip Turret Upgrade, the Complete FS2 Ship List and the System Backgrounds List (all available from the site)

[Bobboau]

Gremlins

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Bobboau, bringing you products that work.............. in theory

[Jabu]

Didn't notice the second one  

But I've got them both. The first one is such a classic, and the second one is just easy.

[DragonClaw]

*Gets brain cramp*

First one is hard  
I'll take a guess:
The man has a errand to run on the 7th floor after he goes on the 1st floor to shop. Walking the remaining stairs is faster than waiting for the elevator,.

or

After he's done his errand on the 7th floor the stairs are closest to his apartment.

Crappy guesses!  

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    -Director of the staff of Hidden Terror.
    -WebMaster of Imperial Productions

   

The fear always controls our attitude, let us fear no more!

[Pez]

I have actually heard the first problem Setekh wrote before. So here is the solution (hidden, just mark below)


The man is a dwarf. He is so short that he just can reach and hit the button that goes to the 7th floor.

Pez

[This message has been edited by Pez (edited 09-23-2001).]

[^Graff]

For #2:

Did they forget to load the bombs?  Was the plane inverted?

[Anduril]

Dive bomber?

[delta_7890]

I'd pay to see an inverted bombing run

[Setekh]

You guys are too smart...   I haven't even 'published' the second one and you guys already have it! Fine, here are the official answers... though most of you already have 'em.  

The Man in the Elevator

The man is a dwarf. He can reach the button in the elevator for the first floor, but he cannot reach the button for the tenth floor. The seventh floor button is the highest he can reach.

Bombs Away!

The bomber was, yes, flying upside-down.

Fine, I'll just dish them out faster then. Condition: three people must have solved it already (post your answers in black) for me to reveal the answer and bring on the next question. Similarly, if three people are stumped and post about it, I'll put in a clue... Now, here's the next one. I know it's easy, but to worry, they get harder (eventually...).

The Coal, Carrot and Scarf

Five pieces of coal, a carrot, and a scarf are lying on the lawn. Nobody put them on the lawn, but there is a perfectly logical reason for their being there. What is it?