Multiple choice general knowledge math & puzzles

A 5m rope ladder is hanging down the side of a boat, the rope ladder just about touching the surface of the water. The tide is rising at 1m per hour, how long till the rope ladder is completely covered in water?

  1. Never

  2. 6.0489 hours

  3. 5 hours

  4. 5.0489 hours
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

As the tide rises, the boat rises with it since boats float. The rope ladder is attached to the boat, so it also rises. The ladder will never be submerged because it moves upward with the boat and tide. This is a classic trick question testing understanding of buoyancy.

AI explanation

The rope ladder hangs from the side of the boat, and the boat itself floats and rises with the tide — so the ladder rises along with the water level and never actually gets submerged. This is a classic lateral-thinking riddle testing whether you remember that a floating boat keeps pace with rising water.

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