Introduction: Start by capturing the reader’s attention. Mention that some of the best puzzles out there are the ones that challenge even the most seasoned puzzle enthusiasts. State that this puzzle is designed to test how quickly and creatively they can think under pressure. Challenge them to solve it in under 5 minutes to keep the stakes high and fun!
“Ready for a challenge? Let’s see if you can crack this mind-bending puzzle in 5 minutes or less. Don’t worry, you’re allowed to take a deep breath before diving in—though you might need your wits about you!”
The Puzzle:
“The Mysterious Lock”
You have a lock with a combination of 3 digits. You know the following facts:
- The sum of the digits is 12.
- The first digit is 3 more than the second.
- The third digit is 2 less than the second.
What are the three digits of the lock?
Timer: “Alright, timer starts now! Try to solve this in under 5 minutes. No peeking at the solution until you’ve given it your best shot!”
(You could optionally set up a countdown clock on your website or include a timer tool to make it interactive for readers.)
Solution:
Step-by-Step Solution:
- Let’s break down the clues:
- We have three digits. Let’s call them x (first digit), y (second digit), and z (third digit).
- From the puzzle, we know:
- The sum of the digits is 12: x + y + z = 12.
- The first digit is 3 more than the second: x = y + 3.
- The third digit is 2 less than the second: z = y – 2.
- Plugging the second and third clues into the sum equation:
- Substitute x = y + 3 and z = y – 2 into x + y + z = 12:
- (y + 3) + y + (y – 2) = 12
- Simplifying: 3y + 1 = 12
- Substitute x = y + 3 and z = y – 2 into x + y + z = 12:
- Solve for y:
- 3y = 11
- y = 11 / 3, which equals approximately 3.67. But this is not a valid digit, since we need whole numbers.
- Rechecking the question:
Reassess the puzzle if you’re getting an invalid result, or make sure to format the question with whole numbers.