This riddle says a man was born in 2005 and later passed away in 2005 at the age of 80. At first glance, that sounds impossible if 2005 is a year.
The answer is: 2005 is not the year — it is a room, address, or other identifying number.
The man could have been born in room 2005 of a hospital, apartment 2005, or another place marked with the number 2005. Eighty years later, he could have died in another location with that same number.
The trick is that the riddle never actually says “the year 2005.” It simply says he was born “in 2005” and passed “in 2005.” Our brains automatically interpret the number as a date.
Once you stop assuming it is a year, the contradiction disappears.
