hardlogic

Illustration for riddle: We travelled the sea far and wide. At one time, two of my sailors were standing on opposite sides of — Can you figure out this riddle?

We travelled the sea far and wide. At one time, two of my sailors were standing on opposite sides of the ship. One was looking west and the other one east. And at the same time, they could see each other clearly. How can that be possible?

The sailors had their backs against either ends of the ship

Why this works

This riddle plays with the spatial arrangement of the sailors on the ship. When one sailor is looking west and the other is looking east, they can see each other clearly if they are positioned at opposite ends of the ship, facing outward. This clever setup highlights how two people can look in opposite directions and still maintain a direct line of sight, turning what seems like a tricky scenario into a simple matter of orientation!

Common Wrong Answers

“The ship is circular”

A circular ship would not allow for the sailors to stand on opposite sides and see each other clearly, as they would be facing away from each other.

“They are using mirrors”

While mirrors can reflect images, the riddle specifies that the sailors can see each other clearly without any additional tools, suggesting a simple positional arrangement.

“The ship is in a whirlpool”

A whirlpool would not provide a stable platform for the sailors to see each other, and the riddle implies a steady situation where both can see each other without obstruction.

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