Brainteaser Puzzle...

Here's a little brainteaser or lateral thinking type puzzle that I just came up with, see if you can work out the answer. It is nice and simple for a Sunday afternoon!

Johhny didn't win and Fred didn't lose in the three-man race. Fred overtook Johnny just before the finish line; what position was Johnny in when Fred overtook him?

Re : Brainteaser Puzzle

Sooooo....

Johnny came second or third
Fred came first or second

If Johnny was in First, then Fred would go to first and Johnny to second, which is fine. If Johnny was in second, then Fred would go second and Johnny last which isn't possible. So the answer is that Johnny was leading the race and was pipped at the post by Fred?

Re : Brainteaser Puzzle

Brainteaser puzzles, these are a great idea

I like lateral thinking ones too, here is an old classic but I still like it.

Bongo lived in a block of flats on a high floor. You would think he was a fitness fanatic, as he always took the stairs to the flat rather than the lift. But there was an exception to the rule - on days that it was raining outside he would change his behaviour and instead take the lift. Can you explain why this was the case?

If you've not seen it before it can be enjoyable to think of possible answers

Re : Brainteaser Puzzle

I really like lateral thinking puzzles so that's a great idea Stacey!

The answer to your one I have seen before so I won't spoil it in case anyone else wants to think about it.

Here is another lateral thinking puzzle.

John is 12 whilst Brenda is 18. Given that Bob is 9, what is Billy?

Enjoy

Re : Brainteaser Puzzle

I feel that the number '3' is important in answering your one Gemma

Re : Brainteaser Puzzle

Just to give the answer on the Bongo one, the reason is that Bongo is very short. And the high floor numbers on the lift are usually out of reach, therefore he has to take the stairs in order to reach his floor normally.

However on days when it is raining and he has his umbrella, he can use the umbrella to gain height and press the higher floors on the lift, including his own. Therefore he takes the lift when it is raining as he has his umbrella enabling him to push the button for his floor.

I'm sure there are several other answers, and it can be quite good fun with lateral thinking puzzles to see how many possible answers you can come up, however implausible they may or may not be!

Re : Brainteaser Puzzle

Yes you got my little teaser right... many people have been stumped by it but clearly you've got a very logical mind so weren't so easily fooled!

Re : Brainteaser Puzzle

Gosh apologies, just realised I never confirmed the answer!

It is indeed three as you say - each letter of the name is worth three.

So Bob is nine because it has three letters and 3 x 3 = 9 (am I labouring the point a little here?) and so on.

This means that Billy is 3+3+3+3+3 = 15.