The obligatory monthly Bored riddle

[NellyLunatic1980]

You have two ducks in front of a duck.
You have two ducks behind a duck.
You have two ducks to the left of a duck.
You have two ducks to the right of a duck.

What are the fewest number of ducks you can have so that all four of the above statements are true? And how are they situated?

[KillerTomato]

You have two ducks in front of a duck.
You have two ducks behind a duck.
You have two ducks to the left of a duck.
You have two ducks to the right of a duck.

What are the fewest number of ducks you can have so that all four of the above statements are true? And how are they situated?

Spoiler

Five, in the shape of a cross.


..No.....Duck.....No
Duck...Duck....Duck
..No.....Duck.....No

[fantine33]

Spoiler

I would say three. In a staggered, sort of off center zig zag pattern. It doesn't say anywhere that the ducks have to be DIRECTLY behind or beside each other.

Edited because I didn't think of spoilering.

[tanstaafl2]

You have two ducks in front of a duck.
You have two ducks behind a duck.
You have two ducks to the left of a duck.
You have two ducks to the right of a duck.

What are the fewest number of ducks you can have so that all four of the above statements are true? And how are they situated?

Spoiler

5?

XXD
DDD
XXD

[tanstaafl2]

You have two ducks in front of a duck.
You have two ducks behind a duck.
You have two ducks to the left of a duck.
You have two ducks to the right of a duck.

What are the fewest number of ducks you can have so that all four of the above statements are true? And how are they situated?

Spoiler

Five, in the shape of a cross.


..No.....Duck.....No
Duck...Duck....Duck
..No.....Duck.....No

Spoiler

Don't necessarily have to be in a cross but that is another option.

[tanstaafl2]

Spoiler

I would say three. In a staggered, sort of off center zig zag pattern. It doesn't say anywhere that the ducks have to be DIRECTLY behind or beside each other.

Edited because I didn't think of spoilering.

Spoiler

Hmm, good point.

XXD
XDX
DXX

[minimetoo26]

Spoiler

Three ducks, spinning, so that their orientation changes relative to one another!

Okay, so maybe not, but I like the idea of Dizzy Ducks....

[mrkelley23]

They don't have to be spinning, you just have to stipulate the frame of reference is changeable.

D
D
D

No just rotate 90 degrees when necessary.

[minimetoo26]

They don't have to be spinning, you just have to stipulate the frame of reference is changeable.

D
D
D

No just rotate 90 degrees when necessary.

I was thinking on a turntable. But I want my Dizzy Ducks, Dammit!

[CharlesFoxSingers]

Went to a party the other night
All the ladies were treating me right
Moving my feet to the disco beat
How in the world could I keep my seat

All of a sudden I began to change
I was on the dance floor acting strange
Flapping my arms I began to cluck
Look at me..I'm the disco duck

Ah get down mama, I've got to have me a woman, ha ha ha ha ha
Disco, disco duck
Got to have me a woman
Disco, disco duck
Oh get down mama
Try your luck, don't be a cluck, disco
Disco
Disco
Disco
Disco
Disco
Disco disco duck
All right
Disco disco duck
Ah get down mama, oh mama shake your tail feather, ha ha ha ha ha

When the music stopped I returned to my seat
But there's no stoppin' a duck and his beat
So I got back up to try my luck
Why look

Everybody's doin' the
Disco, disco duck
Disco, disco duck
Try your luck
Wave to me
Don't be a cluck
I'm so happy to be here
Disco
Thank you duck
Disco
For gettin' down
Disco disco disco
Thank you so very much
Disco duck
You're welcome
Disco Disco Duck
Try your luck, don't be a cluck, disco, disco, disco..

[mrkelley23]

They don't have to be spinning, you just have to stipulate the frame of reference is changeable.

D
D
D

No just rotate 90 degrees when necessary.

I was thinking on a turntable. But I want my Dizzy Ducks, Dammit!

Your wish is my command, m'lady:

http://tinyurl.com/2ucjok

Or there's this:

http://img.quebarato.com.br/photos/big/4/5/EB45_1.jpg

[T_Bone0806]

Howzabout a song from the Kinks instead?

Ducks On The Wall (from the delightful "The Kinks Present A Soap Opera" album)

My baby's got the most deplorable taste,
But her biggest mistake
Is hanging over the fireplace.
She's got ducks, ducks on the wall,
Ducks, ducks, hanging on the wall.

My lady's got a sort of strange fascination,
An obsessive fixation
For cheap decorations
She's got ducks, ducks on the wall.
Ducks, ducks, hanging on the wall.

Wo-wo-wo I love her so but if she doesn't move the ducks,
I think my mind is gonna go.
Ducks ducks on the wall.
Ducks ducks, hanging on the wall.

I leave the office and I want to relax.
Don't want to stare at a wall
And look at a duck that can't quack.
I love you baby but I can't fall
For those ducks on the wall.

I start to snuggle up and squeeze her so tight.
Then out of the corner of my eye
I see those ducks in flight.
I love you baby but I can't ball
When I see those ducks on the wall.

Wo-wo-wo I can sit through your gossip and your soap opera shows,
But those ducks have got to go.
I love you baby but I can't ball
When I see those ducks on the wall.
And when I went to a cocktail party
With the bores next door,
What was the first thing that I saw?
Ducks, ducks on the wall.
Ducks, ducks hanging on the wall.

My baby's got the most deplorable taste,
But her biggest mistake
Is hanging over the fireplace.
She's got ducks, ducks on the wall,
Ducks, ducks hanging on the wall.

I'll sit and look at all the soap operas with her
I'll play all the panel games and watch all the quiz shows,
But those ducks they've got to go,
Those ducks are getting up my nose.

If those ducks can fly, well so can I.
And if those ducks have got to stay
Then I'm going to fly away.
I love you baby but I can't ball
When I see those ducks on the wall.

Ducks, ducks, ducks on the wall.
Ducks, ducks, ducks on the wall.
Oh those ducks on the wall are beginning to move
They're talking to me
I've got to get away from those ducks.

[minimetoo26]

They don't have to be spinning, you just have to stipulate the frame of reference is changeable.

D
D
D

No just rotate 90 degrees when necessary.

I was thinking on a turntable. But I want my Dizzy Ducks, Dammit!

Your wish is my command, m'lady:

http://tinyurl.com/2ucjok

Or there's this:

http://img.quebarato.com.br/photos/big/4/5/EB45_1.jpg

The first one reminds me of when we let Rain Man drive a bumper boat when he was 3 or 4 years old! He couldn't understand how to steer it, so he kept spinning in circles the whole time! Thanks!

[NellyLunatic1980]

Spoiler

Three ducks, spinning, so that their orientation changes relative to one another!

Okay, so maybe not, but I like the idea of Dizzy Ducks....

Now that's what I call thinking outside the box!

[peacock2121]

Who gives a duck?

[etaoin22]

Spoiler

You have two ducks in front of a duck.
You have two ducks behind a duck.
You have two ducks to the left of a duck.
You have two ducks to the right of a duck.

What are the fewest number of ducks you can have so that all four of the above statements are true? And how are they situated?
Assuming that the "a" duck does not have to be the same duck, and that forward means in front of, and not directly in front of, then 3 ducks in a slightly skew equilateral triangle wold do

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

They don't have to be spinning, you just have to stipulate the frame of reference is changeable.

D
D
D

No just rotate 90 degrees when necessary.

I was thinking on a turntable. But I want my Dizzy Ducks, Dammit!

So just put three one legged ducks in a pond.

[etaoin22]

Howzabout a song from the Kinks instead?

Ducks On The Wall (from the delightful "The Kinks Present A Soap Opera" album)

My baby's got the most deplorable taste,
But her biggest mistake
Is hanging over the fireplace.
She's got ducks, ducks on the wall,
Ducks, ducks, hanging on the wall.

My lady's got a sort of strange fascination,
An obsessive fixation
For cheap decorations
She's got ducks, ducks on the wall.
Ducks, ducks, hanging on the wall.

Wo-wo-wo I love her so but if she doesn't move the ducks,
I think my mind is gonna go.
Ducks ducks on the wall.
Ducks ducks, hanging on the wall.

I leave the office and I want to relax.
Don't want to stare at a wall
And look at a duck that can't quack.
I love you baby but I can't fall
For those ducks on the wall.

I start to snuggle up and squeeze her so tight.
Then out of the corner of my eye
I see those ducks in flight.
I love you baby but I can't ball
When I see those ducks on the wall.

Wo-wo-wo I can sit through your gossip and your soap opera shows,
But those ducks have got to go.
I love you baby but I can't ball
When I see those ducks on the wall.
And when I went to a cocktail party
With the bores next door,
What was the first thing that I saw?
Ducks, ducks on the wall.
Ducks, ducks hanging on the wall.

My baby's got the most deplorable taste,
But her biggest mistake
Is hanging over the fireplace.
She's got ducks, ducks on the wall,
Ducks, ducks hanging on the wall.

I'll sit and look at all the soap operas with her
I'll play all the panel games and watch all the quiz shows,
But those ducks they've got to go,
Those ducks are getting up my nose.

If those ducks can fly, well so can I.
And if those ducks have got to stay
Then I'm going to fly away.
I love you baby but I can't ball
When I see those ducks on the wall.

Ducks, ducks, ducks on the wall.
Ducks, ducks, ducks on the wall.
Oh those ducks on the wall are beginning to move
They're talking to me
I've got to get away from those ducks.

REC

[Bob78164]

You have two ducks in front of a duck.
You have two ducks behind a duck.
You have two ducks to the left of a duck.
You have two ducks to the right of a duck.

What are the fewest number of ducks you can have so that all four of the above statements are true? And how are they situated?

If all of the relationships need to be "directly" true (i.e., directly in front, directly behind, directly to the left, and directly to the right), then I believe it can be accomplished with four.

Spoiler

They're all in a line, numbered 1 (in front) through 4 (in back). Numbers 1 and 3 face forward. Numbers 2 and 4 face to the right (or left).

--Bob

[ne1410s]

M R Ducks
M R Not Ducks
OSAR
CDEDBD Feet
CDEDBD Eyes

LIB M R Ducks














Well, it makes 5th graders giggle...

[VAdame]

M R Ducks
M R Not Ducks
OSAR
CDEDBD Feet
CDEDBD Eyes

LIB M R Ducks














Well, it makes 5th graders giggle...

I think this is the whole thing.....

MR Ducks
MR Knot
OSAR
CM Wings
LIB
MR Ducks

MR Snakes
MR Knot
OSAR
CMBDIs
LIB
MR Snakes

MR Mice
MR Knot
OSAR
CMEDBD Feet
LIB
MR Mice

MR Farmers
MR Knot
OSAR
CMMT Pockets
LIB
MR Farmers

[tanstaafl2]

You have two ducks in front of a duck.
You have two ducks behind a duck.
You have two ducks to the left of a duck.
You have two ducks to the right of a duck.

What are the fewest number of ducks you can have so that all four of the above statements are true? And how are they situated?

If all of the relationships need to be "directly" true (i.e., directly in front, directly behind, directly to the left, and directly to the right), then I believe it can be accomplished with four.

Spoiler

They're all in a line, numbered 1 (in front) through 4 (in back). Numbers 1 and 3 face forward. Numbers 2 and 4 face to the right (or left).

--Bob

Could be but don't know if it can be two "or more" ducks in any direction.

Spoiler

^
D

D>

^
D

D>

You have two ducks in front of a duck, but three behind.

You have two ducks to the right, but three to the left.

[Jeemie]

You have two ducks in front of a duck.
You have two ducks behind a duck.
You have two ducks to the left of a duck.
You have two ducks to the right of a duck.

What are the fewest number of ducks you can have so that all four of the above statements are true? And how are they situated?

Spoiler

No No Duck
No Duck No
Duck No No

Three (in a diagonal)