# Gota Riddle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 1999, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416 "1999-07-16T06:00:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 1999, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/121 "1999-08-03T20:57:00Z")
Didn’t any one see Die Hard II. Q. that may work but, 1. Fill the 5 G. drum. 2. Pour out 3 G. into the 3 G. drum. 3. This leaves 2 G. in the 5 G. drum. Empty the 3 G. drum, and pour the 2 G. from the 5 G. into the 3 G. drum. 4. Fill the 5 G. drum. 5. Pour 1 G. out into the 3 G. drum leaving you with 4 Gallons!!! You just deactivated the bomb. Now run. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 1999, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/122 "1999-08-03T21:39:00Z")
A man kisses his wife at the door as he leaves for work. About 15 minutes later he turns around, comes back to the house and shoots his wife dead! What’s the whole story? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 1999, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/123 "1999-08-03T23:28:00Z")
Auraseer you’re right I stated the puzzle incorrectly, sorry. Anyway Kat had the answer the women was a travel agent. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 1999, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/124 "1999-08-04T14:13:00Z")
Restating Enright3’s puzzle: You have a chessboard with 2 opposite corners removed. It consists of 62 smaller squares, like so. \ * * * _|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_|_|_|_|_|_|\_| \ You also have 31 rectangular dominos, each of which covers 2 squares. Can you fill the modified chessboard with them? The answer, I think, is no, although I haven’t been able to prove it yet. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 1999, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/125 "1999-08-04T15:05:00Z")
I’ve seen the chessboard problem. You get a hint to an easy solution by staring at an actual chessboard. The cherry riddle is from ‘The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin’ by Beatrix Potter. Here’s another math one: A proof that every positive integer can be named in 12 English words or less. Take the set of positive integers that can’t be named in 12 English words or less; then take the least element of that set. We can call it ‘the least positive integer not nameable in twelve or fewer English words.’ Whoa, we just named it in 12 words; a contradiction. Therefore, every positive integer can be named in 12 English words or less. Or is there a flaw in this logic? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 1999, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/126 "1999-08-04T15:56:00Z")
\ That’s fantastic, Daniel. No flaw at all. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 1999, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/127 "1999-08-04T16:55:00Z")
Boy, this just reminds me how much of my math I’ve forgotten. What you’re doing Daniel is a proof by induction. The general idea, is to prove the premise for a set case, then show that if it is true for a random case n then it is also true for case n+1. The flaw is that when you go from case n to n+1 in this problem, your name “the least integer …” is no longer valid for n, because it now applies to n+1. The premise ceases to hold for case n. I’m sure I could have explained this much more convincingly back when I was a math major, but then it’s natural to embellish one’s prowess when thinking back to one’s college days. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 1999, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/128 "1999-08-04T18:22:00Z")
This is really bugging me. I can’t figure out a simple, geometric proof for Enright3’s chessboard. I’m sure the answer is no. And I’m sure there’s a neat little easily-demonstable proof of it that I just can’t see. Anyone? Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 1999, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/129 "1999-08-04T19:29:00Z")
Greg, actually this is a proof by contradiction. You start by assuming that the set of all positive integers that can’t be named in 12 English words of fewer is non-empty. Then, it leads to a contradiction. Quadell, a suggestion. Draw a black & white chessboard on a piece of paper, and cut out 2 opposite corners. If you look at what you’ve got, I guarantee you’ll figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 1999, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/130 "1999-08-04T19:32:00Z")
Oh yeah… That’s he one. thanks, Daniel. Your Quadell ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 1999, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/131 "1999-08-04T21:24:00Z")
The puzzle regarding naming positive integers is from: [http://www.math.toronto.edu/mathnet/falseProofs/fallacies.html](http://www.math.toronto.edu/mathnet/falseProofs/fallacies.html) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 1999, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/132 "1999-08-05T13:00:00Z")
Here’s one suitable for all ages: Name 10 parts of your body that are 3-letter words. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 1999, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/133 "1999-08-05T13:30:00Z")
I’m assuming you can’t use a body part name more than once (i.e. list “toe” ten times)? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 1999, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/134 "1999-08-05T14:55:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Name 10 parts of your body that are 3-letter words. Eye, ear, leg, hip, toe, arm, lip, gum, gut, rib. I posted this earlier, but no one responded, so I’ll try it again. It comes from Games magazine. Name a common English word that the first half is the opposite of the whole word, and the last half is a synonym for the whole word. Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 1999, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/135 "1999-08-05T19:20:00Z")
I posted this earlier, but no one responded, so I’ll try it again. It comes from Games magazine. Name a common English word that the first half is the opposite of the whole word, and the last half is a synonym for the whole word. Is the word “Heroine”? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 1999, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/136 "1999-08-05T19:27:00Z")
Back to the chessboard, any domino placed must cover one white square and one black square. But you have eliminated either two black or two white squares from an otherwise balanced board. You must cut at least one domino in half to make it work. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 1999, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/137 "1999-08-05T21:29:00Z")
golgo13: > [@](#): > > Is the word “Heroine”? No, but I’m curious as to how that word fits the criteria. Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![golgo13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@golgo13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/golgo13)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 1999, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/138 "1999-08-05T22:27:00Z")
You’re saying that hero \ is not the opposite of heroine \? I thought by definition male and female are opposites. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 1999, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/139 "1999-08-06T00:54:00Z")
Wow, a lot of these puzzles I’ve run across in GAMES magazine long long ago! It’s great to see so many fellow readers here. Perhaps some of you remember this one? You’re given a three- or four-letter sequence that occurs in a commonly-used English word and you have to guess what word that is. There are no letters in between the letters given. My fave examples: ewr wsp And for a nifty little riddle, a tip o’ th’ pen to Richard Powers: There is a room with ten doors. When one is open, nine are closed. When nine are open, one is closed. Name me. * * * Cave Diem! Carpe Canem! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 1999, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gota-riddle/2416/140 "1999-08-06T02:23:00Z")
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