Two men come to a river. By the shore there’s a boat that can carry only one person at a time. Soon both men cross the river. How did they do it?

This classic river-crossing riddle cleverly plays on a common assumption we often make without realizing it. When we hear about two men needing to cross a river with a limited boat, our minds automatically tend to picture both individuals starting on the same side. The puzzle uses this ingrained habit of thought to obscure a simpler, yet less obvious, solution. The key to unraveling it lies in carefully considering all possible initial setups, rather than just the most intuitive one.

The trick reveals itself when we realize the men are not necessarily beginning their journey together on one bank. If one man is already on the left bank and the other on the right, the solution becomes straightforward. The man with the boat simply rows across to the opposite side. Upon arrival, the second man, who was waiting there, now has the boat and can use it to cross back to the first side, effectively completing the journey for both.

Riddles like this are more than just simple brain teasers; they are excellent exercises in critical thinking and lateral thinking. They teach us to question our initial assumptions and to explore all potential interpretations of a problem statement. By challenging our preconceptions, these puzzles help sharpen our problem-solving skills, encouraging us to look beyond the obvious and consider alternative perspectives. It is a reminder that sometimes, the simplest answer is hidden by the limitations we unconsciously place on our own thinking.