As I was going to St. Ives, I met seven men who each had seven wives.
Each wife had seven kids, and each kid held seven sacks.
In each sack was seven cats.
Kids, sacks, cats, men and wives! How many were going to St. Ives?
2006-08-23 16:55:54 · 18 answers · asked by Froggbitz 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
one
2006-08-23 16:58:04 · answer #1 · answered by Neil G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The traditional answer of 'one' to this question makes the assumption that the only way you would meet someone on the road is when they are heading in the opposite direction. How-ever, personal experience has shown to me that you can meet someone who is headed towards the same destination. Perhaps you are all waiting at the station for the next train.
In this case you would have 7 men, 49 wives, 343 kids, 16,807 cats in this particular group, plus yourself, for a total of 17,209 (I did not count the sacks, as they are not persons, but containers)
Since the normal population of St Ives is just a little over 11,000, the influx of this many visitors would put a serious strain on the hospitality services available, it would be best if you went somewhere else.
2006-08-24 00:23:12 · answer #2 · answered by Aurthor D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You really don't clarify where you met the men, wives, kids, cats, sacks, it could have been on the road into st. Ives in which case all of you were headed there. You also don't state weather or not you completed your journey... perhaps your flight was cancelled due to inappropriate use of liquid substances on board inwhich case none of you made it.
I can't answer that question in light of the lack of evidence, it just wouldn't feel right.
HOWEVER, you are the only one who you SAY Is going to st ives.
2006-08-24 00:04:07 · answer #3 · answered by kittycollector32 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Can't tell from that information. They seven men and their wives, etc., may have been heading somewhere other than St. Ives.
2006-08-25 18:53:40 · answer #4 · answered by Ox Cimarron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. The men, women, kids and cats may not be going, but you said as YOU were going to St Ives, you met them.
2006-08-24 02:12:30 · answer #5 · answered by tombraider 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you assume they were all going which is not clearly stated...
7 men + 7 * 7 wives + 7 * 7 * 7 kids + 7 * 7 * 7 * 7 sacks
+ 7 * 7 * 7 * 7 * 7 cats + yourself
how many of each? Or how many living things? Or how many things total?
Total of everything is 19608 if you include yourself.
2006-08-24 00:07:04 · answer #6 · answered by Alex 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
0, only you were going.
Actually. It could be 1 if you are a man, a wife, or a kid. I assume you aren't a sack or cat.
2006-08-23 23:57:16 · answer #7 · answered by Michael M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1 you were going to st ives
2006-08-24 00:05:37 · answer #8 · answered by snail 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
19608 kids, sacks, cats, men and wives ...they met on a convergence of a "Y" trail to St Ives. :p
...jj
2006-08-26 23:41:02 · answer #9 · answered by johnny j 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One Just you. or the first answer. But when my high school math teacher gave this riddle out I remember the answer being one? But i was the one that solved it then too. I'm good a riddles.
2006-08-23 23:58:28 · answer #10 · answered by SummerRain Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋