Puzzle No. 015
Picarats: 10


Ten candles stand burning in a dining room. A strong breeze blows in through an open window and extinguishes two of them. Checking back in on the candles later, you see that one more candle has gone out. To make sure no more flames go out, you shut the window. Assuming the wind doesn't extinguish any more candles, how many candles do you have left in the end?














Hint One: It may seem straightforward, but it wouldn't be a puzzle if there wasn't a trick to it. Read the problem over again. The problem wants to know how many candles you "have left in the end."

Hint Two: The wind blows out two candles, and then shortly afterward blows out one more. So how many candles are extinguished?

The candles that aren't extinguished by the wind continue to burn. What will happen to these candles if they are allowed to keep burning?

Hint Three: Think critically about what "have left in the end" really means. It means that and item continues to exist, doesn't it? So, what becomes of a burning candle when it's left alone?

Solution:














That's correct! The seven candles that manage to stay lit will melt down completely. The only candles that will remain in the endare the three that are extinguised by the wind and therefore stay intact.