Marilyn Knows how many Candles Remain ... or does she?

Ask Marilyn ® by Marilyn vos Savant is a column in Parade Magazine, published by PARADE, 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA. According to Parade, Marilyn vos Savant is listed in the "Guinness Book of World Records Hall of Fame" for "Highest IQ."

In her Parade Magazine column of September 7, 1997, Marilyn assumes that all 12 candles were lit before 11 were blown out, and she assumes that any candle not blown out will no longer remain after it burns out.

Great Answer! ...but

Your answer is great! It demonstrates a creative interpretation for the word remain.

Did you consider the possibility that only 11 of the dozen candles were originally lit, so that after you blew out 11, none of the candles were burning? Perhaps Don Johnson and his tricky friends tricked you after all.

Define Remain

Thanks to Marilyn H. Macey <maceyuab@ix.netcom.com>, Stephe D McCarthy <DOCINVT@aol.com>, and Donald K. Carr <tuxbro@iquest.net>, who wrote to point out that regardless of how many candles were burning before and after 11 were blown out, all 12 candles will remain for some time afterwards.

http://www.wiskit.com/marilyn/candles.html last updated June 30, 1998 by herbw@wiskit.com