easymath

Illustration for riddle: There are two planes. One is going from New York to London at a speed of 600 MPH. The other is trave — Can you figure out this riddle?

There are two planes. One is going from New York to London at a speed of 600 MPH. The other is travelling from London to New York at a speed of 500 MPH. When the planes meet which one will be closer to London?

They will be the same distance away when they meet.

Why this works

This riddle plays with the assumption that the two planes are at different distances from London when they meet, but that isn’t the case. When the planes meet, they are at the same point in space, meaning they are equally distant from London at that moment. The clever twist here is in realizing that the question is about their position when they intersect, rather than their speeds or starting points. It’s a fun reminder that sometimes the simplest answer is the most logical one!

Common Wrong Answers

“The plane from New York”

At the moment the planes meet, they are at the same point in space, so both planes are equally distant from London.

“The plane from London”

Similar to the previous guess, when the planes meet, they occupy the same location, making them both the same distance from London.

“The faster plane”

Speed does not affect the distance from a location when two objects meet. They are both at the same point, regardless of their speeds.

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