Download Article
Test your math and word play skills with these arithmetic riddles
Download Article
X
This article was co-authored by Ronitte Libedinsky, MS
and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising
. Ronitte Libedinsky is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of Brighter Minds SF, a San Francisco, California based company that provides one-on-one and small group tutoring. Specializing in tutoring mathematics (pre-algebra, algebra I/II, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus) and science (chemistry, biology), Ronitte has over 12 years of experience tutoring to middle school, high school, and college students. She also tutors in SSAT, Terra Nova, HSPT, SAT, and ACT test prep. Ronitte holds a BS in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MS in Chemistry from Tel Aviv University.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
If you’re looking for a fun way to sharpen up your math skills, then solving riddles is an excellent way to test your knowledge. Riddles can help you set up and understand tougher math concepts, and we’ve got a perfect variety for you to solve. Keep reading for easy, challenging, and funny math riddles and brain teasers, along with hints and explanations to help you out if you get stuck. (Scroll slowly to read each riddle so you don't reveal the answer too soon!)
Steps
Section 1 of 4:
Easy Math Riddles for Kids
Download Article
-
1A grandfather, 2 fathers, and 2 sons went to the zoo together and each person bought a ticket. How many tickets did they buy in total? Answer: 3 tickets
- Explanation: The grandfather also counts as a father, and the father also counts as a son.
-
2There are 6 apples on the table. If you take 2 away, how many apples do you have? Answer: 2 apples.
- Explanation: The question asks how many apples “you” have, not how many apples are left on the table.
Advertisement -
3What can you put between 3 and 7 to make a number larger than 3 but smaller than 7? Answer: A decimal point (3.7)
-
4A family has 5 sons. Each son has a sister. How many children are in the family? Answer: 6 children
- Explanation: There are 5 sons and 1 daughter. The sons all share the same sister.
-
5How many 9s are there between 1 and 100? Answer: 20 (9, 19, 29, 39, 49, 59, 69, 79, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, and 99)
-
6How do you make 1,000 only using addition and the number 8? Answer: 888 + 88 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 1,000
-
7I am a 3-digit number. My second digit is four times bigger than my first and last digit. My first digit is three less than my second digit. What am I? Answer: 141
-
8What 3 positive numbers can be added or multiplied together and you would get the same result? Answer: 1, 2, and 3
-
9Is it cheaper to take 2 friends to the movie at the same time, or 1 friend to the same movie twice? Answer: 2 friends at the same time
- Explanation: If you take 2 friends at the same time, you only pay for 3 tickets. If you go with the same friend twice, then you’d buy a total of 4 tickets.
-
10How do you use four 9s to make 1,000? Answer: 99 + (9/9) = 100
-
11There are 2 ducks in front of 2 other ducks, and there are 2 ducks behind 2 other ducks. There are also 2 ducks standing next to 2 other ducks. How many ducks are there in total? Answer: 4 ducks
- Explanation: The ducks are arranged in a 2 x 2 square.
-
12If Bobby flips a coin 5 times and it lands on heads each time, what are the chances of landing on tails on the next flip? Answer: 50%
- Explanation: There’s always a 50/50 chance of heads or tails when you flip a coin, no matter what the previous results were.
-
13If eggs are $0.12 per dozen, how many eggs can you get for $1? Answer: 100 eggs
- Explanation: If there are 12 eggs in a dozen, that means each egg only costs $0.01. There are 100 cents in a dollar, so you can buy 100 eggs.
-
14If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will be the same. What number is it? Answer: 0
-
15How can you write a correct math equation only using 2, 3, 4, and 5 and addition? Answer: 2 + 5 = 3 + 4
Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:
Hard Math Riddles for Adults
Download Article
-
1If 8 people are meeting and each person shakes hands once with each of the others, how many handshakes were there? Answer: 28 handshakes
- Explanation: The first person shakes hands with 7 people, the next person shakes hands with the next 6 people, and so on, so 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 28
-
2If pants cost $20 more than a shirt, and the total cost of both items is $70, how much does each item cost? Answer: The shirt is $25 and the pants are $45.
- Explanation: Use x as the cost of the shirt and x + 20 as the cost of the pants. Simplify the equation x + x + 20 = 70 to find your answer.
-
3A mother is 4 times as old as her daughter. In 20 years, she will be twice as old as her daughter. How old are they now? Answer: The mother is 40 and the daughter is 10.
- Explanation: Use x as the daughter’s age. The mother’s age would be 4x . If in 20 years the mother is twice the daughter’s age, use the equation 2(x + 20) = 4x + 20 and solve for x.
-
4There are 10 pairs of dogs, and each dog has 2 pairs of puppies. If 15 of the puppies are adopted, how many dogs are left? Answer: 85 puppies
- Explanation: Each dog in the original 10 pairs has its own puppies, so 20 dogs have 4 puppies each, for a total of 80 puppies. 20 dogs + 80 puppies - 15 adopted puppies = 85 dogs leftover.
-
5There are a few cards missing from a standard 52-card deck. When you deal the entire deck out to 4 people, there are 3 cards leftover. If you deal the entire deck out to 3 or 5 people, there are 2 cards leftover. How many cards are missing? Answer: 5 missing cards
- Explanation: Subtract the number of missing cards from the total number in the deck, and then divide the result by 3, 4, and 5 to check the remainders. With 5 cards missing, a group of 3 people each get 15 cards (2 left over), a group of 4 each get 11 cards (3 left over), and a group of 5 each get 9 cards (2 left over).
-
6If you divide 30 by ½ and then add 5, what is the result? Answer: 65
- Explanation: When you divide a number by ½, you actually multiply it by the reciprocal, which is 2. (30 x 2) + 5 = 65.
-
7If 2 + 2 = 44, 3 + 3 = 96, and 4 + 4 = 168, what does 5 + 5 equal? Answer: 2,510
- Explanation: The answers to each equation are the numbers multiplied together combined with the numbers added together (5 x 5 = 25 and 5 + 5 = 10 for a final result of 2510).
-
8How can you make 5 + 5 + 5 = 550 true by adding a single line? Answer: Draw a diagonal line connecting the left and top points on the first plus sign to change it into a 4 so it reads 545 + 5 = 550.
-
9The combined age of a father and son are 66. If the father’s age is the son’s age reversed, and the son is a teenager, how old are they both? Answer: The father is 51 and the son is 15.
- Explanation: Find the pairs of numbers with reversed digits that add up to 61 (06 & 60, 15 & 51, and 24 & 42). Only one of these pairs has a number in the teens, so they must be 15 and 51.
-
10A quarter of the animals on a farm have 4 legs, and the other 3 quarters have 2 legs. If there are 60 legs total, how many animals are on the farm? Answer: 24
- Explanation: If X is the number of 4 -legged animals and Y is the number of 2-legged animals, then use the equation (x • 4) + (y • 2) = 60.
- The equation simplifies to 4x + 2y = 60
- You also know that X is ¼ and Y is ¾ of the total animals, then y = 3x.
- Substitute 3x in for Y, so the equation reads 4x + 2(3x) = 60 → 4x + 6x = 60 → 10x = 60.
- Divide each side by 10 to solve for X, so x = 6.
- Plug in the value of X to the original equation to solve for Y. 4(6) + 2y = 60 → 24 + 2y = 60 → 2y = 36 → y = 18.
- There are 6 animals with 4 legs, and 18 animals with 2 legs.
-
11There are 12 students total. 6 students are wearing socks, 4 students are wearing shoes, and 3 students are wearing both. How many students are barefoot? Answer: 5 students
- Explanation: Out of the 12 students, 3 of them are wearing socks and shoes, 3 more are wearing just socks, and 1 more is wearing only shoes, leaving 5 students barefoot.
-
12In an alien world, ½ of 5 equals 3. Using the same proportions, how much is â…“ of 10? Answer: 4
- Explanation: If ½ of 5 equals 3, then 5 = 2 x 3 = 6. In this case, 10 = 2 x 6 = 12. Divide 12 by 3 to get the final answer of 4.
-
13Abe weighs half as much as Bill, and Caleb weighs 3 times as much as Abe. If their total weight is 720 pounds, how much do they each weigh? Answer: Abe weighs 120 pounds, Bill weighs 240 pounds, and Caleb weighs 360 pounds.
- Explanation: Use X for Bill’s weight to set up the formula ½x + x + 1½x = 720.
- Add the values to simplify the equation to 3x = 720.
- Divide by 3 to solve for X, so X = 240.
- Then, plug the value of X into each weight to find the values.
Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:
Funny Math Riddles
Download Article
-
1How many sides does a circle have Answer: 2, the inside and the outside!
-
2If you buy a rooster to lay eggs and expect 3 eggs every day, how many eggs will you have after 2 weeks? Answer: None, roosters don’t lay eggs.
-
3If you multiply all the numbers on a telephone together, what number do you get? Answer: 0
- Explanation: Anything multiplied by 0 equals 0. [1] X Research source
-
4How do you make 7 even without adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing? Answer: Take the letter “S” off the word “seven,” and you’re left with “even.”
-
5There are 2 coins that equal 30 cents, and one of them is not a nickel. What are the coins? Answer: A quarter and a nickel.
- Explanation: The riddle only says that one coin is not a nickel, but the second coin can still be a nickel.
-
6If 2 is a couple and 3 is a crowd, what is 4 and 5? Answer: 9
- Explanation: This trick question is asking you to add the numbers 4 and 5, which equals 9.
-
7It takes 6 people 8 hours to build a barn. How long does it take 12 people to build the same barn? Answer: None, the barn is already built!
-
8A butcher is 6 feet tall and he has size 10 feet. What do they weigh? Answer: Meat, because they work in a butcher shop.
-
9How did the football fan know before the game that the score would be 0-0? Answer: The score is always 0-0 before the game starts.
-
10How many bricks does it take to finish a brick building? Answer: One
- Explanation: While there are multiple bricks in a building, only the last one that’s placed is needed to finish the building.
-
11A man going to the museum passes 4 women each holding 4 baskets. In each basket, there are 4 cats. How many total creatures are going to the museum? Answer: One
- Explanation: Only the man is going to the museum. He passed the women and cats on his way there.
-
12What weighs more, 1 pound of feathers or 1 pound of bricks? Answer: Neither, they weigh the same.
-
13If it’s raining at midnight but the forecast is clear for tomorrow and the next day, will the sun be out in 48 hours? Answer: No
- Explanation: Even if the weather is clear, in 48 hours it will be midnight and dark again.
-
14What is a math teacher’s favorite dessert? Answer: Pi(e)
-
15What did one math textbook say to the other? Answer: I have a lot of problems!
Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:
Download Article
-
1How many times can you subtract 5 from 25? Answer: Once
- Explanation: After you subtract 5 the first time, then it becomes 20, not 25.
-
2How can you add 4 to 11, and get 3? Answer: If a clock reads 11 AM and you add 4 hours, then it will be 3 PM.
-
3How can you take 2 from 5 and leave 4? Answer: If you take the first and last letter from the word “five” you’re left with “IV” (4 in Roman numerals).
-
4How can you make the equation 81 x 9 = 801 true? Answer: Flip it upside-down (108 = 6 x 18).
-
5If 3 men can make 3 chairs in 3 hours, how many chairs can 6 men make in 6 hours? Answer: 12 chairs
-
6If a 200-foot train going 200 feet per minute travels through a 200-foot tunnel, how long does it take for the train to travel through it completely? Answer: 2 minutes
- Explanation: The front of the train takes 1 minute to pass through the tunnel and the rest of the train takes another minute to exit the tunnel.
-
7If one is three, three is five, five is four, and four is the magic number, what is the pattern? Answer: The second number is how many letters are in the word. Because the word “four” is the only value that matches the number of letters in the word, it’s the magic number.
-
8If a vest costs $28, a sweater costs $49, and pants cost $35, how much do underwear cost? Answer: $63
- Explanation: Each item costs $7 for each letter in the word.
-
9In 1990, a person celebrated their 15th birthday. In 1995, the same person celebrated their 10th birthday. How is this possible? Answer: The years are in BCE, so 1995 BCE is 5 years earlier than 1990 BCE.
-
10When Mary was 5, she hammered a nail into a tree 40 inches from the ground to mark her height. If Mary comes back when she’s 15 and the tree grows 5 inches every year, how much higher is the nail? Answer: The nail is in the same place.
- Explanation: Trees grow from the top, so the nail doesn’t change positions.
-
11How can someone pass away from old age if they’re only 25? Answer: Their birthday is on February 29th, so they only celebrate every 4 years on a leap year.
-
12If you double a number and multiply it by 4, and then divide the result by 8, you’ll have the original number. What number is it? Answer: Any number
- Explanation: When you double a number and then multiply by 4, you’re actually multiplying the original number by 8. Dividing by 8 will always bring you back to the original number.
-
13One child leaves for school and another child leaves 15 minutes later. Both children cross each other in the school parking lot. Which child is closer to the school? Answer: Both children are the same distance from the school.
- Explanation: The question doesn’t ask which child lives closer, but which one is closer now. Both children are in the parking lot at the same time, so they’re the same distance.
-
14If you caught 20 ants and all but 7 of them escaped, how many ants are left? Answer: 7
-
15You have an empty box with a 1-foot diameter and 1-foot depth. How many 3-inch oranges can be put inside the empty box? Answer: One
- Explanation: After you put in the first orange, the box won’t be empty anymore.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- Ronnie Libedinsky, an academic tutor, recommends breaking word problems into sections to understand them easier. As you read through the problem, think about what mathematical functions to use and write out an equation.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
You Might Also Like
How to
Solve Hard Sudoku Puzzles
How to
Solve Sudoku when Stuck
How to
Play Sudoku & Solve Any Puzzle: Beginner & Advanced Tips
3 Ways to Solve Magic Square Math Puzzles
How to
Add One Line to Make 200: Answer Revealed
Sudoku Techniques: How to Solve a 3x3 Sudoku Puzzle
How to
Do Sudoku Fast
How to
Create a Sudoku
How to
Solve 8 Puzzle
How to
Solve Kakuro
How to
Play Sudoku for Kids
How to
Solve Logic Puzzles
How to
Solve a 15 Puzzle
How to
Play Kenken
Advertisement
About This Article
This article was co-authored by Ronitte Libedinsky, MS
and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising
. Ronitte Libedinsky is an Academic Tutor and the Founder of Brighter Minds SF, a San Francisco, California based company that provides one-on-one and small group tutoring. Specializing in tutoring mathematics (pre-algebra, algebra I/II, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus) and science (chemistry, biology), Ronitte has over 12 years of experience tutoring to middle school, high school, and college students. She also tutors in SSAT, Terra Nova, HSPT, SAT, and ACT test prep. Ronitte holds a BS in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MS in Chemistry from Tel Aviv University.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 4
Updated: October 7, 2024
Views: 490
Categories: Mathematical Puzzles
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 490 times.
Did this article help you?
Advertisement
Click a star to vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
Co-authors: 4
Updated: October 7, 2024
Views: 490
Quizzes
Do I Have a Dirty Mind Quiz
Take Quiz
Am I a Good Kisser Quiz
Take Quiz
Rizz Game: Test Your Rizz
Take Quiz
What's Your Red Flag Quiz
Take Quiz
Am I Smart Quiz
Take Quiz
How Insecure Am I Quiz
Take Quiz
You Might Also Like
How to
Solve Hard Sudoku Puzzles
How to
Solve Sudoku when Stuck
How to
Play Sudoku & Solve Any Puzzle: Beginner & Advanced Tips
3 Ways to Solve Magic Square Math Puzzles
Featured Articles
How to
Make Your Android Screen Black and White or Grayscale
How to
Study a Week Before an Exam
How to
Stop Taking Things Personally
13 Signs Your Friends with Benefits Is Falling For You
How to
Love an Overthinker
Do I Have Rizz Quiz
Trending Articles
How to
Work on Yourself: 11 Essential Tips for Self-Improvement
How to
Keep Your Dog Happy
400+ Cute, Cool, & Unique Name Ideas for Cows & Bulls
Can Enemies Become Friends? How to Mend Your Relationship
How to
Make Soft Drinks
Which Emojis Represent Taylor Swift? A Guide for Swifties
Featured Articles
How to
Improve Your Personality
How to
Force Yourself to Seriously Study
11 Ways to Confuse and Disarm a Narcissist
"Hot to Go!" by Chappell Roan: The Flirtatious Lyrics & Their Meaning
How to
Dress for Fall
What Human Emotion Am I Quiz
Featured Articles
How Strong Is Your Intuition Quiz
People with Big Eyes: What Are They Like, and Are They More Attractive?
50 First Date Conversation Starters to Spark a Connection
118 Cute, Flirty, and Romantic Good Night Texts to Copy and Paste
How to
Achieve the Messy Fringe Look
21 Common Hand Signs & Gestures (& What They Mean)
Watch Articles
How to
Remove a Toothpaste Stain
How to
Make Couscous
How to
Properly Take Off a Face Mask
How to
Know when Oat Milk Is Bad
How to
Blow Dry Bangs
How to
Prepare a Pop Tart
Trending Articles
13 Striking, Masculine Flowers That Men Will Love
How to
Overcome Your Fear of Roller Coasters
How to
Find Scholarships, Plus When & How to Apply
Ticketmaster Thinks I'm a Bot: 6 Reasons & Fast Fixes
How to
Stop Being Sad
How to
Permanently Delete an X (Formerly Twitter) Account
Quizzes
What Disney Princess Am I Quiz
Take Quiz
Do I Have a Phobia Quiz
Take Quiz
Guess My Age Quiz
Take Quiz
Am I a Genius Quiz
Take Quiz
Depression Test
Take Quiz
What Human Emotion Am I Quiz
Take Quiz
