Monday, February 19

a riddle



There are two friends, both girls. They both get married. One girl ends up marrying the brother of the other girl's sister in law's husband. Therefore, the same family is to both girls a sister in law, brother-in law, and a nephew. Are the two friends related to each other?

***(OKAY you guys, it's not really a riddle, riddle. It's a shameless attempt to get you all to say that my friend Ruth and I are related...so feel free to leave your opinions!)***

18 comments:

The Two of Us said...

I have no clue. It is too early to think through such things. :)

ruth said...

I'll withold my input. I'm interested to see the response of others on this one...

Kelly Glupker said...

I LOVE these! And my vote is "yes" they are related.

Kelly Glupker said...

I should add that they aren't necessarily related by blood. They are potentially married to brothers. Therefore they are sisters-in-law.

Anonymous said...

If A=B and A=C...then B=C and has to be related.
If I am related to my Aunt Ruth and I am related to my Aunt Jenny, then my Aunt Jenny and Aunt Ruth must be related to each other. That makes sense to me.

Micah Valiante

Katrina said...

I'm totally ingnoring your riddle and just commenting on your little cutie in the video. I've neglected coming to your blog in a while (sorry) and I'm not sure how long you've had this posted, so let me comment on it now . . . TOO CUTE! He's getting so big and quick!

The Barkers said...

WHAT?!

Heather said...

OK, I am so not very good at these things!! Whenever I hear the answer, I am always like...duh!!!

ruth said...

Nice diagram, Jenny!

Jenny said...

thanks...but it helps clear things up, doesn't it?

Kelly Glupker said...

Did you just add to your post the part about your friend Ruth? I don't remember reading it before. So did you make this whole thing up? Because I really want to know the answer - :)

Jenny said...

Sorry, Kelly! I really wanted to know the answer too! That's why I posted. Ruth married John V, who is a brother to my brother in law. I want to know how I am related to Ruth. I didn't mean to deceive or confuse - sorry! :-S

Kelly Glupker said...

Well, if the brother is not related to you, neither is Ruth. I took it as a tricky riddle. I assumed the brother-in-law's brother, was also your brother-in-law, making you related to him by marriage. However, if the brother-in-law is only your brother-in-law because he is married to your sister-in-law, then you are by no means related to his brother. Am I making ANY sense? Sorry to disappoint you, but you're not related. But you are free to pretend! :)

ruth said...

Well, now I'm disappointed. I FEEL like we're related, Jenny. For what it's worth...

Jenny said...

Ruth, I think we should take Micah's word for it. He's the only one that REALLY matters, right?!?!

Unknown said...

You all have certainly thought long and hard about this! It's dizzying my tired brain for this time of night but I just wanted to comment that I dig your diagram. And that Micah can't use the transitive property (if a=b and b=c . . . ) for this. That only works in math, not real life situations. Sorry, Micah! Pretty good thinking for being a newborn though. :)

Stephens said...

Well,that was certainly entertaining. Ha ha Kris is really the one who understands the whole relative thing. In fact, he reminds me that his brother is my brother-in-law, but that his brother's wife is not MY sister-in-law, she's Kris'. What do you think of that? :-) Just like Sarah's husband, Joe, is MY brother-in-law, not Kris'. Your head spinning? He says that that is technically true by definition.

Jenny said...

maybe we are aunties in law!