Riddles have a way of making us second-guess even the most basic logic, and this one is no exception. At first glance, it seems straightforward, but the tricky wording can easily mislead you. Let’s break it down and find the correct answer.
The Riddle:
“If a farmer has 3 horses, 2 ducks, and 1 pig, how many feet are on his farm?”
Most people immediately start adding up the legs of each animal. But if you rush, you might overlook a critical detail hidden in the question.
Understanding the Trick in the Riddle
The key to solving this puzzle lies in the word “feet.” In English, “feet” specifically refers to human feet or the feet of animals that actually have feet—not hooves. This is where many people go wrong.
Now, let’s analyze each subject in the riddle carefully.
Counting the Animals (And Their Feet?)
Video: if a farmer has 3 horses 2 Ducks1 pig use your brain and solve the question
We have three types of living beings mentioned:
Horses (3 total)
- Horses have four legs, but they do not have feet.
- They have hooves, and hooves do not count as feet.
- Not counted as feet.
Ducks (2 total)
- Ducks have webbed feet, which count as actual feet.
- Each duck has two feet.
- 2 ducks × 2 feet each = 4 feet.
Pig (1 total)
- Pigs also have four legs with hooves.
- Just like horses, hooves are not considered feet.
- Not counted as feet.
At this point, the only feet counted belong to the ducks. But what about the farmer?
The Farmer’s Feet
- The farmer is human, and humans have feet.
- The farmer has two feet.
- 2 feet from the farmer.
Total Feet Calculation
Adding up the feet we can confirm:
- 4 feet from the ducks
- 2 feet from the farmer
Total: 6 feet.
This seems like the logical final answer, but there’s a hidden trick in the wording that changes everything.