# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 157
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3121 "2025-04-17T00:29:17Z")
Is the desired specific number required because he has to do some arithmetic function with that number of tomatoes. Example: he has to split his tomatoes equally amongst 10 people and 93 isn’t divisible by 10 evenly. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3122 "2025-04-17T14:40:10Z")
From Mr. Deming’s point of view, is there an obvious reason why he doesn’t have enough tomatoes? **Yes** Did he previously have more tomatoes, and having 93 now means he’s lost some (due to theft, being disorganized or careless, or whatever)? **No** Are the tomatoes for himself, or to give/feed to other people? **For himself AND another person** Is Mr. Deming responsible for completing a menu or food for a fixed group of people? **No** Is that specific number of tomatoes: over 100? **yes** over 1000? **No** divisible by some specific number? **Not relevant** And while we’re at it: is he intending to re-sell the tomatoes to somebody else? **no** Is the desired specific number required because he has to do some arithmetic function with that number of tomatoes. **no** Example: he has to split his tomatoes equally amongst 10 people and 93 isn’t divisible by 10 evenly. **no** ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3123 "2025-04-17T15:50:11Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Are the tomatoes poisoned/poisonous? I think you missed mine ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3124 "2025-04-17T15:59:17Z")
Does he need to have some exact number of tomatoes in order to do whatever he wants to do with them? IOW, could he make do if he were only one or two short? Repeating: Are these tomatoes going to be used as food for humans? Clarifying: the tomatoes are intended for use by Mr. Deming and exactly one other person? Are they expected to be eaten at one sitting, or over a longer period of time? (as if, for example, he was going to make a year’s supply of ketchup) Is the problem that he bought the tomatoes by weight, but they were bigger than he expected, so he got fewer tomatoes? Was he in any way deceived or ripped off by the person who sold him the tomatoes? Was he unable to buy the required number of tomatoes, because the tomato seller only had the 93? Or because he didn’t have enough money to buy more? Is he worried because he thinks someone else now has more tomatoes than him? Is he worried about his physical safety? His financial security? Disappointing a loved one? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3125 "2025-04-17T16:07:35Z")
Is the number 93 itself important to the puzzle? Is his worry in any way related to Killer Tomatoes? ( _They’ll beat you, bash you , Squish you, mash you, Chew you up for brunch_.) ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3126 "2025-04-17T16:10:04Z")
“Sacramento fell today, they’re marching on toward San Jose, TOMAAATOOES will have their day!” ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3127 "2025-04-17T16:10:12Z")
Are the tomatoes poisoned/poisonous? **No** Does he need to have some exact number of tomatoes in order to do whatever he wants to do with them? IOW, could he make do if he were only one or two short? **The exact number was assumed by him.** Are these tomatoes going to be used as food for humans? **Yes** Clarifying: the tomatoes are intended for use by Mr. Deming and exactly one other person? **Yes** Are they expected to be eaten at one sitting, or over a longer period of time? (as if, for example, he was going to make a year’s supply of ketchup) **Usage unknown** Is the problem that he bought the tomatoes by weight, but they were bigger than he expected, so he got fewer tomatoes? **No, but you’re getting warmer** Was he in any way deceived or ripped off by the person who sold him the tomatoes? **No** Was he unable to buy the required number of tomatoes, because the tomato seller only had the 93? **Yes** Or because he didn’t have enough money to buy more? **No** Is he worried because he thinks someone else now has more tomatoes than him? **No** Is he worried about his physical safety? **No**. His financial security? **No.** Disappointing a loved one? **YES!** Is the number 93 itself important to the puzzle? **Not really** Is his worry in any way related to Killer Tomatoes? ( They’ll beat you, bash you , Squish you, mash you, Chew you up for brunch.) **LOL! Nope.** ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3128 "2025-04-17T16:11:52Z")
Is the loved one he is concerned about the same party who he intends to share the tomatoes with? Is the exact method he plans to use to prepare the tomatoes relevant? Will the tomatoes be prepared in the same way for both Mr. Deming and the other party? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3129 "2025-04-17T16:58:50Z")
Are these cherry tomatoes or smaller? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3130 "2025-04-17T18:17:25Z")
Are they trying to set some kind of tomato eating record? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3131 "2025-04-17T18:41:41Z")
Is the exact number he needs relevant to solving the puzzle? Is it a pun or wordplay? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3132 "2025-04-18T14:31:57Z")
Is the loved one he is concerned about the same party who he intends to share the tomatoes with? **Yes (he assumes so)** Is the exact method he plans to use to prepare the tomatoes relevant? **nope** Will the tomatoes be prepared in the same way for both Mr. Deming and the other party? **Not relevant** Are these cherry tomatoes or smaller? **He assumes regular size** Are they trying to set some kind of tomato eating record? **No** Is the exact number he needs relevant to solving the puzzle? **yes** Is it a pun or wordplay? **Kind of… you’re quite warm here!** ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3133 "2025-04-18T14:38:44Z")
Is there wordplay (or something similar to it) on the word “tomato” itself? Are differing pronunciations of the word “tomato” relevant (like in the song)? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3134 "2025-04-18T14:39:28Z")
> [@Rebo](#): > > Is that specific number of tomatoes: > > over 100? **yes** > > over 1000? **No** > [@Rebo](#): > > Is the exact number he needs relevant to solving the puzzle? **yes** OK, that’s solvable; though it may take a while. Over 100 and under 500? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3135 "2025-04-18T15:02:51Z")
Is the exact desired number part of the wordplay/pun? If we knew the exact number would it be obvious about the solution? Is the wordplay associated with tomatoes being called “love apples?” ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3136 "2025-04-18T15:36:15Z")
Does the wordplay relate to a song? ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3137 "2025-04-18T22:46:57Z")
Is it to do with “tomatoes” sounding a bit like “two eight oh”? Like the mnemonic for how many feet are in a mile (“five tomatoes”=5280) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3138 "2025-04-18T22:50:34Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Is the exact desired number part of the wordplay/pun? Does the wordplay have to do with ketchup = catch up? is the exact number of tomatoes 101? 102? 103? … 999? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3139 "2025-04-19T01:32:19Z")
Would having the right number of tomatoes actually help Mr. D in the way he imagines? Or does he misunderstand something? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2025, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3140 "2025-04-19T12:20:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Is there wordplay (or something similar to it) on the word “tomato” itself? **NO** > Are differing pronunciations of the word “tomato” relevant (like in the song)? **NO** **Over 100 and under 500.** [quote=“Sigene, post:3135, topic:987214, full:true”] Is the exact desired number part of the wordplay/pun? **yes** If we knew the exact number would it be obvious about the solution? **yes** Is the wordplay associated with tomatoes being called “love apples?” **no** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=156) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=158)