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B _ F _ R _ Clue
1. D 2. C 3. B 4. A THE EASIEST WAY TO SOLVE THIS PUZZLE IS TO SELECT AN ANSWER FROM Q1 TO CHECK IF THE ANSWERS TALLY. IF Q1'S ANSWER WAS A, THIS TELLS US THAT Q2'S ANSWER IS B, WHICH TELLS US Q3'S IS D, WHICH TELLS US Q4'S ANSWER IS B, WHICH TELLS US Q1'S ANSWER IS C - CONTRADICTION. IF Q1'S ANSWER WAS B, THIS TELLS US THAT Q2'S ANSWER IS A, WHICH TELLS US Q3'S IS C, WHICH TELLS US Q4'S ANSWER IS C, WHICH TELLS US Q1'S ANSWER IS A - CONTRADICTION. IF Q1'S ANSWER WAS C, THIS TELLS US THAT Q2'S ANSWER IS D, WHICH TELLS US Q3'S IS A, WHICH TELLS US Q4'S ANSWER IS D, WHICH TELLS US Q1'S ANSWER IS B - CONTRADICTION. IF Q1'S ANSWER WAS D, THIS TELLS US THAT Q2'S ANSWER IS C, WHICH TELLS US Q3'S IS B, WHICH TELLS US Q4'S ANSWER IS A, WHICH TELLS US Q1'S ANSWER IS D - CORRECT ANSWER THURSDAY. LET'S BREAK IT DOWN: "TODAY WILL BE AS FAR FROM WEDNESDAY AS TODAY WAS FROM WEDNESDAY" MEANS TODAY IS WEDNESDAY. "WHEN THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW IS YESTERDAY" REFERS TO FRIDAY AND TUESDAY RESPECTIVELY. "THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY WAS TOMORROW" REFERS TO MONDAY AND THURSDAY RESPECTIVELY. SO TOMORROW IS THURSDAY IF YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE PRICE OF THE APPLES ON THE FIRST DAY, IT IS $25 DIVIDED BY 60, OR 412⁄3 CENTS PER APPLE. WHEN THE WOMEN SELL THE APPLES AT 5 FOR $2 ON THE SECOND DAY, THEY ARE ONLY CHARGING 40 CENTS PER APPLE. THE DECREASE IN PRICE OF 12⁄3 CENTS PER APPLE FOR 60 APPLES ACCOUNTS FOR THE MISSING DOLLAR. HERE IS A ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS. ON THE SECOND DAY, EVERY TIME 5 APPLES ARE SOLD FOR $2, LET US ASSUME THAT THE FIRST WOMAN TAKES $1 AND GIVES 2 APPLES AND THE SECOND WOMAN TAKES $1 AND GIVES 3 APPLES. THIS WAY THE FIRST WOMAN SELLS 24 APPLES AND SECOND ONE SELLS 36 APPLES FOR $12 EACH. THIS MEANS THAT THE 6 APPLES OF THE FIRST WOMAN HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE SECOND WOMAN AT A LOSS OF $1. IF THE FIRST WOMAN SOLD THE 6 APPLES, SHE WOULD HAVE MADE $3. BUT SINCE THE SECOND WOMAN SOLD THE 6 APPLES, SHE WOULD HAVE ONLY MADE $2. $3 - $2 = $1, THE LOSS THEY INCURRED COMPARED TO BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE QUESTION IS CLEVERLY PHRASED TO CAUSE CONFUSION. THE BALANCE TOTAL DOES NOT NEED TO BE EQUAL TO THE WITHDRAWAL TOTAL. AND IN THIS CASE, THE BALANCE TOTAL WILL NOT ADD UP TO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL. LET'S SAY YOU HAVE $100 IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AND YOU MAKE 2 WITHDRAWALS OF $1 EACH. THE WITHDRAWAL TOTAL IS $2 ($1 + $1). BUT THE BALANCE TOTAL IS $197 ($99 + $98)