Six Critical Thinking Practical Problems and Solutions

In real life, we do come across many practical problems where we have to think out of the box. Sometimes in these Critical Thinking Practical Problems, we have to think mathematically to reach the solution or the problem. Sometimes we have to play detective to solve the mystery. Sometimes these problems are related to our knowledge of science or other subjects and sometimes you got an imaginary situation given by your friends and you have to find the solution to this situation.

Critical Thinking Practical Problems

Here we are putting six such practical problems which you may come across in your daily life. Some of these problems may look difficult to solve and a few of these problems may look impossible to solve. To give your best to solve these problems and try to come up with your answer to each of these practical problems.

These problems have some remarkable solutions which are published at the end. So are you ready to solve these mind-blogging practical problems?

Let's start with an easy mathematical practical problem that a father comes across during the visit of his son.

Gold Chain Critical Thinking Practical Problem

I) Once a son is visiting his rich father. His father wanted to gift him gold. However, he doesn't want to fix the amount of gold to be given to his son. So he decides that he will gift his son as many grams of gold as the date of arrival of his son. It means if his son visits him on 1st day of the month, then he will be gifted 1gm of gold. Similarly, in case his son visits him on the 28th day of the month, he will be gifted 28 grams of gold. He is having a gold chain that is 31 gms in weight and has 31 parts joined as a long chain. He wanted to keep the gift ready and so wanted to cut the chain into 31 parts. However, his wise wife suggested that he doesn't need to cut the chain into 31 parts and still he can manage to get the number as required with very few cuts. Now the question is what are the minimum cuts required to break this chain into so that his desire of giving the number of gold coins is fulfilled?

Were you able to solve this Gold Chain practical problem? If not, give it one more try. If yes? Great and try out some Easy Mathematical Puzzles.

You can now move to the next problem in which you have to play detective and solve the murder mystery.

Sherlock Holmes Critical Thinking Mystery Puzzle

II) Detective Sherlock Homles reviewed the information they had on the case so far. A lady was found shot and they already had a list of suspects - Tom, Harry, Harsh, Aaron, and Robinson. Plus, there were five notes that were found that were from the killer.

The first was found at the harbor.

The second was found in an art studio.

The third was in a restroom.

The fourth is in a supply room. and

The fifth in a house.

All of the notes read the same thing, "The clues are where you find the notes." Yet, nothing was found at any place the notes were.

Taking one more look at all the clues, Detective Sherlock immediately solved the case.

Who did it?

Were you able to solve this Murder Mystery? If yes, do try some similar Murder Mystery Brain Teasers in which you have to play detective and solve the mysterious cases.

Let's move to our next practical problem. This problem is tough to get in today's life in which we have many devices like radio, smartphones, television, etc. However, assume this to be an imaginary problem, then try to find the solution to this brain teaser.

Famous Clock Time Critical Thinking Practical Problem

III) An absentminded philosopher forgot to wind up the only clock in his house. He had no radio, television, telephone, internet, or any other means of ascertaining the time. He, therefore, decided to travel on foot to his friend's house, a few miles down a straight desert road. He stayed there for the night and when he came back home the following morning, he was able to set his clock to the correct time. Assuming the philosopher always walks at the same speed, how did he know the exact time upon his return?

Note: this is not a trick question. The Philosopher did not bring anything to his friend's house, nor did he bring anything back with him on his trip home.

By the time you have solved this problem, you are not an expert in solving mathematical and logical practical problems. There are lots of Mathematical Brain Teasers and Logical Brain Teasers on this website. Do try to solve these puzzles to have fun and for sharpening your brain.

Now it's time to move to the next practical problem which you may come across during your high school projects. It's related to Physics. In case you are not very familiar with this subject, you can skip this puzzle and then move to the next one.

Two Iron Rods Critical Thinking Practical Problem

IV) You are in a room with no metal objects except for two iron rods. Only one of them is a magnet. How can you identify which one is a magnet?

If you are a high school student, then this problem may look very easy to you, and you may come up with many different solutions to such problems. Do post your solutions in the comments section. Do check out Brain Teasers for Students for solving many such puzzles and riddles.

Now it is time to move to the next practical problem in which you and your family have to cross the river. Let's see if you can successfully cross the river with your family.

River Crossing Critical Thinking Brain Teaser

V) Parents with two children - a son and a daughter - came to a wide river. There was no bridge there. The only way to get to the other side was to ask a fisherman if he could lend them his boat. However, the boat could carry only one adult or two children.

How does the family get to the other side and return the boat to the fisherman?

Were you able to cross the river along with your family? There are other River Crossing Brain Teasers that you should try to solve for fun and to give the challenge to your brain :). Now it's time for the last practical problem in which you have to save your life from the forest fire. Let's see if you can escape from the island covered in forest.

Burning Island Critical Thinking Brain Teaser

VI) Suppose you are stranded on an island covered in forest. One day, when the wind is blowing from the West, lightning strikes the west end of the island and sets fire to the forest. The fire is very violent, burning everything in its path, and without intervention the fire will burn the whole island, killing you in the process. There are cliffs around the island, so you cannot jump off. How can you survive the fire? (There are no buckets or any other means to put out the fire)

This Island Brain Teaser was not very much tough if you think out of the box. If you solved it you should try more out-of-the-box thinking brain teasers to twist your mind.

How many of these practical problems were you able to solve?  If there is any problem that you have to solve yet, try to give it a try again and come up with your solution to this problem. In the end, you can compare your solutions with our answers. If you think that you have come up with a better solution, do post your comments. Also, do post your comments and let us know which problem you were able to solve without looking at the answers?

Answers to Six Critical Thinking Practical Problems

Gold Chain Critical Thinking Practical Problem Solution

I) This problem can be solved by binary mathematics. He can divide the chain into binary numbers e.g. 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 which can be achieved with four cuts only. Any number can be formed from 1 to 31 with the combinations of these numbers e.g. 28 can be formed with 15+8+4+1 and 17 can be formed with 16+1 and so on.

Sherlock Holmes Critical Thinking Mystery Puzzle Solution

II)The notes read "The clues are where you find the notes". It gives clues about the places. Take the first letter of each of the places to find the name of the murderer. It is Harsh.

Famous Clock Time Critical Thinking Practical Problem Solution

III) This is simple, he knows the time at which he left his house. Then when he reached his friend's house, he notes down the time to reach his friend's home. As he always walks at the same speed, he will take the same time for returning home from his friend's house. So he notes down the time at his friend's house before leaving his friend's house. After reaching his house he adds his time of travel to his noted time and then fixes his clock.

Two Iron Rods Critical Thinking Practical Problem Solution

IV) You can try to bring one end of the rod (say A) towards the middle of another rod (say B). If they stick then rod B is Magnet and rod A is iron. In case they don't stick then rod A is the magnet and rod B is an iron rod.

River Crossing Critical Thinking Brain Teaser Solution

V) The family will cross the river in the below-mentioned steps

1. Both children go to the other end.

2. One child comes back

3. One of the parents goes to the other end.

4. Another child comes back.

With this now one adult is transported to the other end of the river.

Repeat steps 1 to 4 to transport another adult to the other end of the river.

Now both the parents are on the other side of the river.

Repeat steps 1 to 4 again to transport the fisherman also to the other end.

Now all 3 adults have crossed the river and the children are on the other side.

In the last step, both children cross the river and hand over the boat to the fisherman. The fisherman now rows it back to the other side. With this full family crossed the river.

Burning Island Critical Thinking Brain Teaser Solution

VI) In this to survive you have to see that wind is blowing from the West. So run to the Westside where the lighting has stuck. Take a burning wood from there and run back to the other end. Now put on fire the other end. As the wind is blowing from the West, this fire will burn the small area. Now by the time another big fire reaches here, this small area will cool down and hence that time you can be in this area to save your life from the fire.

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Here is the answer to the "Dead Wife Murder Crime Detective Mystery Puzzle". I have hidden this answer to avoid any spoilers. Do select the text below to read the answer. 

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This is very obvious. The detective said come here quickly but he did not say where. so how did her husband know where the crime scene was? it means he killed her.
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