while traveling to a foreign country, you inadvertently break one fo that country's capital laws. you are brought before a judge who explains that you will be put to death. The law states that you have some choice in the manner of your death. You are asked to make a single statment. If that statement is true, you will be put in the electric chair. If that statement is false, you will have your head chopped off.
What can yo usay to avoid being executed altogether?
Monday, March 16, 2009
Eleven Guests In Ten Beds
A small hotel has ten beds. One evening, eleven broghrers show up at the hotel. Not wanting to turn any of them away, the hotel staff comes up witha brilliant solution. He asks the first two brother to lie in the same bed temporarily. he then puts the third brother in the second bed, the fourth brother in the third bed, the fifth brother in the fourth bed, and so on, until he puts the tenth brother in the ninth bed. that leaves the tenth bed free, soo he then goes to fetch the second brother from the first bed and allows him to sleep there.
Describe why this is or is not possible.
Describe why this is or is not possible.
Improvident Proverbs
For each of the following five pairs of proverbs, explain whter you think the apparent contradiction between them can be reconciled, and if so, how.
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder' vs. "Out of sight, out of mind"
"Look before you leap" vs. "He who hesitates is lost"
"You're never too old to learn" vs. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"
"It's better to be safe than sorry" vs. "Nothing venture, nothing gained"
"Many hands make light work" vs. "Too many cooks spoil the broth"
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder' vs. "Out of sight, out of mind"
"Look before you leap" vs. "He who hesitates is lost"
"You're never too old to learn" vs. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"
"It's better to be safe than sorry" vs. "Nothing venture, nothing gained"
"Many hands make light work" vs. "Too many cooks spoil the broth"
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A Flat Earth
You have a very stuborn friend who refuses to believe anything he's told, trusting only facts that he can observe or that are proven to him. He's been told since childhood that the earth is round, but he doesn't believe it because he's never seen any proof. What proof could you give him that the earth is round?
A Long, Strange Trip
Ronald plants a flag in the ground. He walks thirty miles due north, then thirty miles due west, then thirty miles due south. He finds himself back at the flag he planted. Where is he?
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Sorting out the Syllogisms
A syllogism is a three-part logical deduction. one of the simpler kinds of syllogisms called a categorical syllogism; runs as follows:
"All F's are G, x is an F; therefore, x is a G."
Major Premise: "ALL F's are G
Minor Premis: "x is an F"
Conclusion: "x is a G"
Think of an example of a categorical syllogism for each of the following:
1. The major premis is false, but the minor premise and conlcusion are both true.
Example: All (F) men are (G) selfish (FALSE), Mr. Horstman (X) is a man (True), Mr. Horstman is selfish (True)
2. The minor premise is false, but the major premise and conclusion are both true.
Example: All (F) lakes have (G) water (True), the (X) Pacific Ocean is a lake (FALSE), the Pacific Ocean has water. (True)
3. Both the major and minor premises are false, but the conclusion is true.
Example: All (F) reptiles are (G) mammals (False), A (X) Chicken is a reptile (FALSE), a chicken is a mammal (True).
"All F's are G, x is an F; therefore, x is a G."
Major Premise: "ALL F's are G
Minor Premis: "x is an F"
Conclusion: "x is a G"
Think of an example of a categorical syllogism for each of the following:
1. The major premis is false, but the minor premise and conlcusion are both true.
Example: All (F) men are (G) selfish (FALSE), Mr. Horstman (X) is a man (True), Mr. Horstman is selfish (True)
2. The minor premise is false, but the major premise and conclusion are both true.
Example: All (F) lakes have (G) water (True), the (X) Pacific Ocean is a lake (FALSE), the Pacific Ocean has water. (True)
3. Both the major and minor premises are false, but the conclusion is true.
Example: All (F) reptiles are (G) mammals (False), A (X) Chicken is a reptile (FALSE), a chicken is a mammal (True).
A Family Fishing Expedition
Two fathers and thier sons go fishing. Each person on the fishing trip catches a fish. In total they catch three fish. How is this possible?
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