People are doubting their intelligence as trickly riddle leaves them baffled

27 December 2023 , 15:00

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This riddle has left people baffled (Stock Image) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Riddles can be really difficult, and people have been left scratching their heads over one particularly stressful one.

Riddles are designed to make you think along the wrong lines, and they'll make you think you've cracked it, when you most certainly have not. They help your cognitive abilities, and they also help you to think outside of the box, so that when you are faced with a tricky riddle, you're more clued into what it's actually asking of you.

In this riddle from Brightside, which will "put your intelligence to the test", people are asked a tough question that is guaranteed to baffle even the brightest of brains.

The question is seriously tough

The riddle asks: "John is carrying a barrel of water that weighs 60 pounds. What can he add to it to make it weigh 40 pounds?" People will likely be seriously confused at this, and will be left embarrassed that they can't answer it, and will likely come to the completely wrong conclusion.

If you're struggling, why not read it again and try to think deeper about what the question could really be asking. Don't just take it at face value.

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Are you ready for the answer? Well, of course, the answer has to be 'a hole', because it's the only thing that's going to make the barrel of water lighter than it already was. If you add anything that has any amount of weight, it will of course add to the 60-pound load, rather than taking anything away from it.

Did you enjoy this one? If so, why not try similar? You have a 'highly intelligent mind' if you can work out next number in baffling maths sequence, and you're a 'really smart person' if you can work out how to boil egg in baffling riddle.

Danielle Kate Wroe