# 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:** 180
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3581 "2025-06-27T23:12:43Z")
Are you on a slot machine?, or more generally some device that provides you money when you get the three objects represented by 4495? ---
**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:** [June 28, 2025, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3582 "2025-06-28T04:31:16Z")
Produce sold in grocery stores have a PLU called their “4 code” because they almost always start off with the digit 4; organics are 9 + the 4 code so bananas are 4011 and organic bananas are 94011 4045 = cherries 4053 = lemons 4012 = oranges 4490 = plums So I am playing an old-fashioned slot machine. Note: No, I was never a grocery worker. I learned about 4 codes when I worked on a UNIX system and one of the games was matching 4 codes with the produce. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3583 "2025-06-28T11:44:03Z")
After 40 years in the grocery business, the last thing I will remember after my brain turns to mush are those damned produce PLU numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3584 "2025-06-29T03:08:10Z")
When our HVAC system is running, we keep the temperature at 69 degrees F in the winter and 78 degrees F in the summer. I frequently shave after I shower, but in the summertime this is a bit more difficult because the mirror is generally fogged over more than in the winter time, despite the temperature being set almost 10 degrees warmer. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2025, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3585 "2025-06-29T03:28:33Z")
Do you leave the door open when you shower? Is the HVAC a home system? Is it a cold shower? ---
**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:** [June 29, 2025, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3586 "2025-06-29T16:33:05Z")
I was thinking of slot machines, but didn’t know about PLU codes (suppose Biotop knowing them could have been a clue). Also, I would think of cherries as usually being the lowest-value winning spin, but wouldn’t think of plums as being particularly good; on most machines I’ve seen the best thing is a 7. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3587 "2025-06-29T17:52:37Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Do you leave the door open when you shower? > Is the HVAC a home system? > Is it a cold shower? Yes. Yes. No. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3588 "2025-06-29T18:00:45Z")
Are the vents located so that the heated / air conditioned air blows directly onto the mirror? Is anything else about the layout of the bathroom relevant? ---
**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:** [June 29, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3589 "2025-06-29T18:07:58Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I’ve seen the best thing is a 7. And bars … but there are no 4 codes for those since they are not produce. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3590 "2025-06-29T21:35:01Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Are the vents located so that the heated / air conditioned air blows directly onto the mirror? > > Is anything else about the layout of the bathroom relevant? No. Not really. Though, it’s not very big, so steam can build up fairly quickly even with the fan running. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3591 "2025-06-30T18:38:49Z")
Is this based on warm ambient air holding more moisture than colder air? ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3592 "2025-06-30T19:04:56Z")
No. Strictly speaking, the air is probably a bit more humid in the summer with the AC running than it is in the winter with the heater running, but the AC does dry the air somewhat and the overall effect is negligible as to why the mirror fogs up more in the summer. ---
**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:** [June 30, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3593 "2025-06-30T19:09:04Z")
Anything else going on in the bathroom that is relevant? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3594 "2025-06-30T19:44:03Z")
Is it fogged over because of water vapor condensing on the mirror, or is there some other (non-water) material fogging up the mirror? ---
**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:** [June 30, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3595 "2025-06-30T21:33:48Z")
Is there something in the wall behind the mirror at play here? Like a cold water line or air duct. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2025, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3596 "2025-07-01T04:25:59Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Anything else going on in the bathroom that is relevant? No. > [@Sigene](#): > > Is it fogged over because of water vapor condensing on the mirror, or is there some other (non-water) material fogging up the mirror? Water vapor. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Is there something in the wall behind the mirror at play here? Like a cold water line or air duct. No. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2025, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3597 "2025-07-01T11:53:21Z")
Is the shower water the same temperature Winter vs Summer? Do you have a vent fan in the bathroom? How about one of those IR heating bulbs? Do you change how you use lighting Winter vs Summer? Is a pet involved in any way? ---
**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:** [July 1, 2025, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3598 "2025-07-01T11:56:46Z")
Is there a window in the bathroom? If so, is there a difference in being open or shut? ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3599 "2025-07-02T04:21:05Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Is the shower water the same temperature Winter vs Summer? > > Do you have a vent fan in the bathroom? > How about one of those IR heating bulbs? > Do you change how you use lighting Winter vs Summer? > > Is a pet involved in any way? Yes. Yes. (But the vent fan is not relevant to the puzzle.) No. No. No. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Is there a window in the bathroom? > If so, is there a difference in being open or shut? No. ---
**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:** [July 2, 2025, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3600 "2025-07-02T05:12:21Z")
Is the mirror attached to the wall? Is it a shaving mirror? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=179) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=181)