Tricky Test 2 Level 16

Overview

This level is a birthday-candle counting trick. The instruction at the top reads "I'm 2 years old!" and in the center sits a layered birthday cake on a silver stand. Stuck into the top of the cake are three blue unlit candles, and a lit match on a stick floats at the top-right of the screen. The trap is that the cake has three candles but the person is only turning 2: you should only light two of them, not all three. You use the lit match to light exactly two candles, leaving the third blue.

• Difficulty: Regular
• Estimated moves: 2 candle lights

Step-by-Step Solution

1. Read "I'm 2 years old!" Count the candles on the cake: there are three blue unlit candles standing in a row.
2. Notice the lit match (small wooden stick with a flame) in the upper-right of the screen. That is your lighter.
3. You are celebrating a 2nd birthday, so only two candles should be lit. Do NOT light all three.
4. Tap/drag the lit match to the wick of the leftmost candle to light it. A small orange flame appears on that candle.
5. Tap/drag the lit match to the wick of the middle candle to light it. A second orange flame appears.
6. Leave the third (rightmost) candle blue and unlit. With exactly two candles burning, the level completes and the success animation plays.

Strategy & Reasoning

The obvious mistake is to light all three candles because the match is right there and all three are unlit. But the person says "I'm 2 years old," which means the birthday cake should have exactly two flames. Lighting all three would be like putting three candles on a 2nd birthday cake, which contradicts the stated age.

The match stays lit after touching a candle, so you can use it multiple times. The puzzle does not require any dragging of the cake or the phone; you just bring the flame to two wicks. The third candle remains blue.

The success state is two burning candles and one still blue candle, which matches the age "2".

Tips & Common Mistakes

• Common mistake: Lighting all three candles. The person is 2, so only two candles get a flame.
• Common mistake: Trying to blow the candles out, or tapping them without using the match. The candles are lit by touching them with the lit match.
• Common mistake: Lighting one candle and stopping. You need exactly two lit for a 2-year-old.
• Tip: The lit match floats near the top-right; tap a candle while the match is selected, or drag the match to the wick.
• Tip: After lighting two candles, stop. The third candle should remain blue; the level completes automatically.