Sort Out Three Sock Drawers Whose Labels Are All Wrong
This page contains Coupang Partners affiliate links; the operator may earn a commission.
Key Takeaway
Yesterday's Quiz 1 answer is 42. Today's Quiz 2 is a logic puzzle: how few socks do you need to pull out to fix three drawers whose labels are all wrong? Today's answer goes up tomorrow in Quiz 3.
What was yesterday's answer?
Quiz 1 asked for the number after 2, 6, 12, 20, 30. The answer is 42.
| Neighboring numbers | 2→6 | 6→12 | 12→20 | 20→30 | 30→? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difference | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
The differences grow by 2 each time, so after 30 comes 30+12=42. You can also see each number as a product of two consecutive numbers: 1×2, 2×3, 3×4, 4×5, 5×6. The sixth is 6×7=42, which gives the same answer.
What is today's puzzle?
Three drawers carry the labels "Black socks," "White socks," and "Mixed." One drawer holds only black socks, one holds only white socks, and one holds a mix of both colors. But all three labels are on the wrong drawers.
- You cannot see inside the drawers, but you can reach in and pull out one sock at a time to check its color.
- Question: What is the fewest socks you need to pull out to relabel all three drawers correctly? Which drawer should you pull from?
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Suggested time: 5 minutes
Where should you start?
The condition "every label is wrong" is the biggest clue. Make a table of what each labeled drawer could actually contain. Then find the drawer where a single sock settles what it holds, and the other two drawers fall into place on their own.
| Label on the drawer | What it could actually contain |
|---|---|
| Black socks | Write it in yourself |
| White socks | Write it in yourself |
| Mixed | Write it in yourself |
When can you check the answer?
The answer and explanation go up tomorrow (October 15) morning, at the very top of the Quiz 3 post. It also gives the reason that drawer is the right one, so compare it with your own reasoning.
What skill does a logic puzzle practice?
Mensa Korea describes its online brain test as looking at pattern recognition, logical thinking, and overall cognitive ability (checked 2026-10-13). A puzzle like today's, where you reason from conditions, is closest to practicing logical thinking. Mensa International's membership standard is a top 2% score on an approved intelligence test, and this blog's puzzles are practice questions of the same type, not that test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the answer to Quiz 1?
42. The differences between neighboring numbers are 4, 6, 8, 10, growing by 2 each time, so the next difference is 12, and 30 plus 12 is 42.
When does the Quiz 2 answer come out?
It goes up with the explanation at the very top of the Quiz 3 post, published the next day.
Can I look inside the drawers?
No. The condition is that you can only reach in and pull out one sock at a time to check its color.
Sources & Verification Date
- Mensa International membership requirements guide · Verified
- Mensa Korea online brain test introduction · Verified
All materials have been verified from official announcements and may have changed since verification.