Twelve Apples Hanging High Riddle Answer Explained
Have you ever come across the riddle “Twelve apples hanging high, twelve men passing by, each took an apple and left eleven hanging there” and wondered how that’s possible? Let’s break it down step by step.
The Question
Riddle:
Twelve apples hanging high,
Twelve men passing by,
Each took an apple,
And left eleven hanging there.
How is that possible?
At first glance, it seems impossible how each person can take an apple but still leave eleven apples hanging? Let's explore the clever twist hidden in the wording.
The Answer
The key lies in how we interpret the word “took.” Only the first man took an apple from the tree. The remaining eleven men each took apples from the men who came before them, not from the tree.
The Explanation
The riddle plays on language logic and expectation. When we read “each took an apple,” we imagine everyone took one directly from the tree. But “each took an apple” doesn't specify from where.
So when we think creatively:
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The first man truly takes from the source (the tree).
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Everyone else takes indirectly, from someone before them.
Simply
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Man 1 takes 1 apple from the tree.
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Man 2 takes apple from Man 1.
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Man 3 takes apple from Man 2.
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… and so on until Man 12.
That’s why the riddle ends with “each took an apple and left eleven hanging there.” It’s not about how many apples were taken in total, but from what source they were taken.
