There Were Enough Chairs
The man had set out enough chairs for everyone coming to eat.
However, just before the guests arrived, he moved one chair aside, and only then were all the guests able to sit around the same table.
Why?
Let’s unravel your preconceptions, one by one.
View Hints
3 Levels of Hints
Take it little by little, just as much as you need.
Hint 1
If there are enough chairs for everyone, is the seating arrangement sufficient?
Hint 2
The chair was moved not to prevent someone from sitting, but to allow them to take a seat.
Hint 3
One of the guests did not need to switch to a provided chair.
Check the Answer
The truth behind this mystery
One of the guests used a wheelchair and was planning to sit at the table as is.
If he had arranged enough chairs for everyone, the space needed for that person to roll in with their wheelchair would have been blocked. By removing one chair to make room, everyone was able to eat together.
If you notice this, you’ve got it right
Since one person was going to eat while remaining in their wheelchair, he moved one regular chair aside to make room for them at the table.
If the explanation were that a person who didn’t use one of the provided chairs instead sat in their own chair at the same spot, this could be treated as an alternative solution with the same underlying structure. The number of people didn’t actually decrease.
Suggested questions and answers for group play
- Did the number of guests decrease?
- No.
- Are two people sharing one chair?
- No.
- Are some people eating while standing?
- No.
- Is someone eating while in a wheelchair?
- Yes.
- Will that person take the spot where the chair was moved?
- Yes.
- Was the chair broken?
- No.
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