Linear Thinking Riddle

There are four people in a house. A fireman, an athlete, an old woman, and a drunk guy. The house catches fire and before the fact is known, it is too late. All they know is that the entire house is in flames and it will collapse exactly after twelve minutes. Now they can move out of the house but for that, they will have to pass the hallway which is entirely blazing with flames. Thus to move, one must carry a fire extinguisher to keep the flames away. Seeking the burnt wooden floor, only two people can run through that hallway at one time. But for others to go, one must return back with the fire extinguisher. The fireman is trained for such tasks and can run through the hallway in a minute. The athlete can make it in a couple of minutes. The old woman can run slowly and will cover the hallway in four minutes. The drunk guy will take five minutes to run through it. If all of them can make it through the hallway in twelve minutes, all of them will be saved. When two move together, they will run at the speed of the slower ones.

How will all four of them manage to run to safety?




Similar Riddles

In a chess board, the queen piece can move horizontally, vertically and diagonally freely. The picture represents the same.Can you place 8 queens on the board in a manner that none of the queens can attack each other?

Chess Board Puzzle

Asked by Neha on 10 Oct 2025


You have two rectangular wires.

Both of them have property that when you light the fire from one end , it will take 60 minutes to get completely burn.

However, they do not burn at consistent speed (i.e it might be possible 1st 20% burn in 50 minutes and 80% can burn in 10 minutes).

So how could you measure 45 minutes ?

Asked by Neha on 21 Feb 2021

There are 2 cops parked along a one-way street looking for traffic violations. They spot a taxi driver going in the wrong direction, yet they do nothing.

Why?

Asked by Neha on 17 May 2021


John's five friends Rachel, Jacob, Phoebe, Joey and Chandler live on the same road.

Rachel lives in the house: A, Jacob lives in the house: B, Phoebe lives in the house: C, Joey lives in the house:D, Chandler lives in the house: E

Mathematically
B*C*D = 1260
B + C + D = 2E
2A = E

The road numbers run from 2 to 222.

Can you tell me the house number of each of John's friends?

Asked by Neha on 10 Sep 2024

Use only one mathematical symbol and all numbers (0-9) to get a sum of 99

Asked by Neha on 07 Feb 2025

Which tank will fill first?

Tank Fill Riddle

Asked by Neha on 07 Mar 2026


What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps?

Asked by Neha on 17 Mar 2025

Prove that the below maths equation is true.

8 + 8 = 91

Asked by Neha on 16 Aug 2021

Replace the 'X' with any mathematical symbol to make the expression equal to 111.

18 X 12 X 2 X 3 = 111

Asked by Neha on 27 Jul 2024


The Little ant seems to be always confused. Do you know why?

Asked by Neha on 26 May 2024

Hot Articles

Amazing Facts

Rubik’s Cube

The inventor of the Rubik’s Cube didn’t realize he’d built a puzzle until he scrambled it the first time and tried to restore it.