The egg riddle: a mental trap
It simply adds up the actions:
- 2 broken eggs
- 2 fried eggs
- 2 eggs eaten
This quickly results in 6 eggs being used.
But this reasoning rests on an assumption: we imagine that each action concerns different eggs. However, the text never specifies this.
Our mind fills in the missing information without us even realizing it. This is what creates the logical trap of the puzzle.
Let’s go through the puzzle step by step
To understand the logic, you just need to calmly reread the sentence.
Initially:
I have 6 eggs.
Afterwards :
I broke two of them.
These two eggs are broken, but they still exist.
Then :
I’m frying two of them.
To fry an egg, you must first crack it. Therefore, it makes sense that these two eggs are precisely the same as those already cracked.
Finally :
I am many 2.
It is obvious that these are the eggs that have just been fried.
In other words, all three actions concern exactly the same two eggs.
The correct answer
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