The Melon
A melon weighs 2 kg plus one third of its own weight. How much does the melon weigh?
40
Thinking time
No peeking until the ring closes.
What part of the melon do the 2 kg stand for?
3 KG
The 2 kg must be the other two thirds, so one third is 1 kg and the melon is 3 kg.
How to solve it
Do not add 2 kg and a third of 2 kg. The third is of the whole melon, which you do not know yet.
Split the melon into three equal thirds. One third is the part the riddle names, so the 2 kg must be the other two thirds. Two thirds = 2 kg, so one third = 1 kg, and the whole melon is 3 x 1 = 3 kg.
Check: 2 kg + one third of 3 kg = 2 + 1 = 3 kg.
