The classic riddle “A farmer has 17 sheep, all but one are black, how many black sheep does the farmer have?” has intrigued many for generations. The answer to this riddle is not as straightforward as it may seem at first glance.
The riddle presents a seemingly simple scenario: a farmer has 17 sheep, and all but one are black. However, the question asks how many black sheep the farmer has. At first, one might assume the answer is 16, as all but one are black. However, this is where the riddle’s clever twist comes into play.
The key to solving this riddle lies in understanding the question itself. The question asks for the number of black sheep, not the number of sheep that are not black. Since all but one are black, the farmer has 17 black sheep. The riddle is designed to trick the listener into thinking that the answer is 16, but the correct answer is actually 17.
This riddle is a great example of how language can be used to mislead or confuse. It demonstrates the importance of paying close attention to the words used in a question and not jumping to conclusions based on initial assumptions. The answer to the riddle “A farmer has 17 sheep, all but one are black, how many black sheep does the farmer have?” is 17, a lesson in critical thinking and the power of language.
