#21. Brain teaser to challenge your brain: The Blind Beggar
Exercise multiple areas of your brain by trying to answer this riddle…fast!
A blind beggar had a brother who died. What relation was the blind beggar to the brother who died?
Important: “Brother” is not the answer.
Now, your brain’s turn. What is the answer to this teaser?
Tick tick tick tick…
still working on it? …
Explanation:
This brain teaser IS clearly stated and yet stumps many who have not heard it before, because often the listener tends to make an assumption about gender — that a blind beggar is a man, and always so.
The cognitive puzzle touches on analytical functions like abstract reasoning, hypothesis testing, and implicit assumptions residing in your frontal lobes, as well as your creativity in finding novel solutions to problems and emotional memory.
Answer:
The blind beggar was the sister of her brother who sadly died.
Next in SharpBrains’ top 25 series of brain teasers for adults of any age:
- #22. Find the the Really, Really, Really Big Number
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wow, assumption is a powerful thing. we all do it and as a result many bias, discriminations and prejudices are formed.
The beggar is obviously the sister
good job-and welcome!
There is a similar riddle that I heard a number of years ago that reminded me of and helped me with this one: A man and his son are in a car accident and both rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. The doctor who is about to operate on the son says, “I can’t operate on this boy; he is my son.” How is this possible?
Hello Rhiannon, that’s a good one. I’ll post it on its own-and we can post the answer, say, by Monday.
THIS RIDDLE REALLY HAD ME THINKING LOL
Just found this great page! I am at my first year as a math teacher (grade 1–6) and have found a lot of interesting information and things to try out! Thanks very much for all your work
:) Lisbeth, Denmark
Glad to hear, Lisbeth! Feel free to share with us good teasers and exercises you may find.
rhannon
i know that one the answer is.….….…..
the doctor was his mother
i like this type of teaser, and I’m looking forward in seeing more of this!
It’s actually my first time to visit and I instantly got hooked. great blog!
well… i thought for about 10 secs… and then i got it :D
I’m 16..
hmm…I don’t really get this. Why couldn’t the begger be a man? If he was a man, he could still have a Brother..?
Sister
sister
The correct answer should be — sibling.
There is no evidence of gender.