Brain Teasers - Solving Riddles or Conundrums

The reason why solving riddles is so popular across countries, is because we can easily relate to the situations and nature of these brain teasers. John's father has three sons, A, B and...? Or simply stand in front of a wall and rotate either of your hands in the clockwise direction on that wall. At the same time, try to move the corresponding foot (right leg if right hand), on the ground in the anti-clockwise direction! Just try and see if it is possible? Well, brain teasers like these and many such types have been greatly relished in community gatherings, in many countries. It is one thing perhaps, that is very similar in different cultures. Brain teasers, as the term suggests, involves any constructive puzzle that requires or forces one to exercise one's mind excessively and think logically. These are assured and creative ways to sharpen one's IQ.

Decoding Brain Teasers

Most of these teasers are designed brain exercises, in fact all work on the principle of common human fallacy, lack of inquisition, negligence of the obvious facts or simply lack of attention to detail. The Rubik's cube or the Japanese number game SUDOKU, are the daily crosswords in newspaper dailies and the most popular versions of brain teasers. These conundrums happen to be the most fun-filled and easy ways of increasing sharpening your intelligence, gathering some of the most relevant and obvious knowledge, which proves helpful in many other endeavors. Moreover, in some educational institutions and also many conglomerates of repute, solving brain teasers is a part of the hiring processes and determining the worthiness of an individual's skills and capacities.

These conundrums bring forth the ability of a person to use the given facts and apply the best of his or her reasoning skills in deciphering the solution to problems. The reasons why solving riddles is a 'big deal' for many, is simply lack of practice or less attention. Quite often it happens that human inquisitiveness comes in the way of uncovering the simple leads based on simple facts, which are very clear, yet somehow overlooked by some sort of bias or presumed notions. For instance, in solving brain teasers like the case of John's father's third son, most of the people would go for the obvious answer 'C', since it logically follows A and B.

However, the correct answer, which is John (hoping many would have deduced it!) is extremely clear, if a little attention is given to what the question demands? The best way to master problem solving ability in any puzzle or real life situations is to use the available resources to the best of our knowledge and use. This is the single biggest learning, from the use of brain teasers. Word games, optical illusions, numbers tricks, tongue twisters are different versions of conundrums, when used in different contexts and formats.

The most important point to understand, which many fail, is that the brain teasers, at least the once in common use and discussed among friends, families, colleagues or classmates, are not a way to embarrass any individual or decide your brain power. One should never interpret inability to get the answers to riddles as a lack of intelligence, especially kids. These are 'teasers' and a fun activity, and should remain so. The very fact, that one is interested in solving a puzzle or getting to the crux of the problem, is enough as a proof that one has got good brain power. Of course, some might be able to use it more effectively, but the skill set for the same can be acquired by any normal individual.

So, the next time if somebody asks you, "what is heavier, 1 pound of feather or 1 pound of gold?"; before jumping on to the obvious answer, brain storm your existing database, the beautiful mind, and then reply!