Anyone for Logic?

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

I was going to say Julius, because it was a boy, but he's probably called Mary.

[Diane CBPFC]

...or Sue?

[Diane CBPFC]

How about this one, then?

Two boys wish to cross a river.
The only way to get to the other side is by boat, but that boat can only take one boy at a time.
The boat cannot return on its own, there are no ropes or similar tricks, yet both boys manage to cross using the boat.

How do they cross the river?

pee in it? that would sure make the river cross.

[Vulture]

The fourth child is Mary, as it's Mary's mum that has four children.


There are two boats.

[Joan]

How about this one, then?

Two boys wish to cross a river.
The only way to get to the other side is by boat, but that boat can only take one boy at a time.
The boat cannot return on its own, there are no ropes or similar tricks, yet both boys manage to cross using the boat.

How do they cross the river?

pee in it? that would sure make the river cross.

    

[Bilthehut]

How about this one, then?

Two boys wish to cross a river.
The only way to get to the other side is by boat, but that boat can only take one boy at a time.
The boat cannot return on its own, there are no ropes or similar tricks, yet both boys manage to cross using the boat.

How do they cross the river?

"that boat", "the boat" = singular, or one.  There is only one boat, Vulture.

[Malc]

One boy is already on the other side. 

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

One boy is already on the other side. 

Genius! Now what kind of hat was he wearing?

[Vulture]

One boy is already on the other side. 

Genius! Now what kind of hat was he wearing?

A sailor's hat? Or a boater?

[Bilthehut]

One boy is already on the other side. 

Correct.  They are on opposite sides of the river.  One crosses over using the boat, then the other takes the boat back to the opposite side. 
The logic question requires us to:
  a.  Read the question carefully, and
  b.  Not make assumptions that are not explicit in the question. 
       (the assumption being that the boys are on the same side of the river)

[Bilthehut]

Burning rope

There are two lengths of rope.
Each one can burn in exactly one hour.
They are not necessarily of the same length or width as each other.
They also are not of uniform width (may be wider in middle than on the end), thus burning half of the rope is not necessarily 1/2 hour.

By burning the ropes, how do you measure exactly 45 minutes worth of time?

[Diane CBPFC]

You burn the ropes at the wooden door of a jewler's shop. The door burns down and you nick a wristwatch.
Finally - one right for me!

[The Peepmaster]

Burning rope

There are two lengths of rope.
Each one can burn in exactly one hour.
They are not necessarily of the same length or width as each other.
They also are not of uniform width (may be wider in middle than on the end), thus burning half of the rope is not necessarily 1/2 hour.

By burning the ropes, how do you measure exactly 45 minutes worth of time?

You just use one rope. (Put the other in the dustbin.)
Then you light the other rope.
After quarter of an hour, you put the fire out.
The remainder of the rope that's left, when re-lit, will only burn for 45 minutes, so when it expires, you'll know 45 minutes has passed.

[The Peepmaster]

Mary's mum has four children.
The first child is called April.
The second May.
The third June.
What is the name of the fourth child?

Herbert?

[Bilthehut]

You burn the ropes at the wooden door of a jewler's shop. The door burns down and you nick a wristwatch.
Finally - one right for me!

Good idea - lateral thinking - but wrong.

By burning the ropes, how do you measure exactly 45 minutes worth of time?

You just use one rope. (Put the other in the dustbin.)
Then you light the other rope.
After quarter of an hour, you put the fire out.
The remainder of the rope that's left, when re-lit, will only burn for 45 minutes, so when it expires, you'll know 45 minutes has passed.
[/quote]

Wrong.  You have no means of measuring time other than to burn the rope.  You do have a lighter to light the rope though.