brain teasers for problem solving

14 challenging brainteasers and riddles only smart people can solve

• Insider compiled a list of challenging logic problems, riddles, and word puzzles.
• We've also included the answers below each picture, so don't scroll too quickly.
• Some are a play on words, while others need multiple steps to figure out.

Get ready for a challenge. 

The 14 puzzles below are a mix of riddles, logic problems, and word games, but they all have one thing in common: They'll take brainpower to solve.

Keep reading to see if you can figure out the answers — and to see how smart you really are.

1. If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you don't have me. What am I?

Answer : A secret.

Source: RhinoBarbarian, Reddit

2. You're escaping a labyrinth, and there are three doors in front of you. The door on the left leads to a raging inferno. The door in the center leads to a deadly assassin. The door on the right leads to a lion that hasn't eaten in three months. Which door do you choose?

Answer: The door on the right.

Explanation:  The lion would be dead after not eating for three months.

Source:  AntmanIV, Reddit

3. If I am holding a bee, what do I have in my eye?

Answer: Beauty.

Explanation:  This riddle is a play on the proverb, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." In this case, you are the "bee-holder." Thus, beauty is in your eye.

Source: lipwiggler, Reddit

4. An old man dies, leaving behind two sons. In his will, he orders his sons to race with their horses, and the one with the slower horse will receive his inheritance. The two sons race, but since they're both holding their horses back, they go to a wise man and ask him what they should do. After that, the brothers race again — this time at full speed. What did the wise man tell them?

Answer: To switch horses.

Explanation:  After they switch horses, whoever wins the race will get the inheritance because they still technically own the losing (i.e., slower) horse.

Source:  qweiopasd, Reddit

5. Turn me on my side and I am everything. Cut me in half and I am nothing. What am I?

Answer: The number 8.

Explanation:  On its side, the number 8 looks like an infinity symbol. Cut in half, the number 8 becomes two zeros.

Source: romz7, Reddit

6. A farmer needs to take a fox, a chicken, and a sack of grain across a river. The only way across the river is by a small boat, which can only hold the farmer and one of the three items. Left unsupervised, the chicken will eat the grain, and the fox will eat the chicken. However, the fox won't try to eat the grain, and neither the fox nor the chicken will wander off. How does the farmer get everything across the river?

Answer: The farmer must follow these steps.

1. Take the chicken across the river. 2. Come back with an empty boat. 3. Take the grain across the river. 4. Bring the chicken back. 5. Take the fox across the river. 6. Come back with an empty boat. 7. Take the chicken across the river.

Source: someguyinworld, Reddit

7. If you have a 7-minute hourglass and an 11-minute hourglass, how can you boil an egg in exactly 15 minutes?

Answer: To boil the egg in exactly 15 minutes, follow these steps.

1. Start both hourglasses as you start boiling the egg. 2. After the 7-minute hourglass runs out, turn it to start it again. 3. Four minutes later, when the 11-minute hourglass runs out, turn the 7-minute hourglass again. 4. Wait for the 7-minute hourglass to run out, which will take another four minutes and get you to exactly 15 minutes of boiling time.

Source:  DarylHannahMontana, Reddit

8. You are walking down a road and come to a fork. One path leads to certain death; the other leads to eternal happiness. You don't know which is which. In the middle of the fork, you come across two brothers who know which road is which. One brother always tells the truth and the other always lies. You can only ask them one question. How would you determine which road to take?

Answer: Ask each brother, "If you were your brother, which road would you say leads to eternal happiness?"

Explanation:  Let's say the path on the right leads to eternal happiness. After you ask your question, both brothers will tell you the exact same thing: "He would say the left path leads to eternal happiness."

As Reddit user OnscreenForecaster explained, "In either case ... you would pick the opposite of what they both say because one is telling the truth about it being a lie, and one is lying about it being the truth."

Source:  SneeKeeFahk, Reddit

9. What is next in this sequence of numbers: 1, 11, 21, 1211, 111221, 312211, ______?

Answer: 13112221.

Explanation:  Each sequence of numbers is a verbal representation of the sequence before it. Thus, starting with 1, the next sequence would be "one one," or "11." That sequence is followed by "two one," or "21," and so on and so forth.

Still confused? Here's a good explanation by Reddit user hankthetank921 :

The first number is just ONE (amount) "1" (0-9 numeral). So if you say there's ONE "1" (seriously just say it aloud) the next number would be an 11. Then there are TWO "1's", creating 21. Then ONE "2" and ONE "1" which creates 1,211. Then ONE "1", ONE "2", and TWO "1's" creating 111,221 ... and so on.

Source: arsenal7777, Reddit

10. Four people arrive at a river with a narrow bridge that can only hold two people at a time. It's nighttime and they have one torch that has to be used when crossing the bridge. Person A can cross the bridge in one minute, B in two minutes, C in five minutes, and D in eight minutes. When two people cross the bridge together, they must move at the slower person's pace. Can they all get across the bridge in 15 minutes or less?

Answer: Yes, they can cross in exactly 15 minutes.

Explanation:  The group of four must follow these steps.

1. First, A and B cross the bridge and A brings the light back. This takes 3 minutes. 2. Next, C and D cross and B brings the light back. This takes another 10 minutes. 3. Finally, A and B cross again. This takes another 2 minutes.

Source:  bananaslayer100, Reddit

11. A rebus is a pictogram that represents a word, phrase, or saying. For example, "Ci ii" represents "See eye to eye." What word or phrase does the following rebus represent: O_ER_T_O_?

Answer: Painless operation.

Explanation :  The letters missing in O_ER _T _O_ (OPERATION) spell out PAIN. Thus, "pain-less" operation.

Source:  kjivxx, Reddit

12. During a recent census, a man told the census taker that he had three children. When asked their ages, he replied, "The product of their ages is 72. The sum of their ages is the same as my house number." The census taker ran to the man's front door and looked at the house number. "I still can't tell," she complained. The man replied, "Oh that's right, I forgot to tell you that the oldest one likes chocolate pudding." The census taker then promptly wrote down the ages of the three children. How old are they?

Answer: 3, 3, and 8.

Explanation:  As Reddit users  TT1103 and RedditRage explained, the key to this brain teaser is that the census taker looks at the house number. In other words, she knows the sum of the children's ages.

However, at that point of the riddle, she still can't tell how old the man's children are. Therefore, she has to be stuck between multiple possibilities. To narrow it down further, only two sets of numbers that multiply to 72 share the same sum: (2,6,6) and (3,3,8).

After the man reveals that his oldest   child likes chocolate pudding, however, the census taker can differentiate between the two options. That is, only the latter of those two sets has a distinct "oldest" child.

Source: mikebrown_pelican, Reddit

13. You're in a dark room with a candle, a wood stove, and a gas lamp. You only have one match, so what do you light first?

Answer: The match.

Source: notarobot45, Reddit

14. There are five bags of gold that all look identical, and each has 10 gold pieces in it. One of the five bags has fake gold in it. The real gold, fake gold, and all five bags are identical in every way, except the pieces of fake gold each weigh 1.1 grams, and the real gold pieces each weigh 1 gram. You have a perfectly accurate digital gram scale and can use it only once. How do you determine which bag has the fake gold?

Answer: Take one gold piece from the first bag, two from the second bag, three from the third bag, four from the fourth bag, and five from the fifth bag. If the weight on the scale ends in .1, then you know the first bag has the fake gold. If the weight on the scale ends in .2, then the second bag has the fake gold, and so on and so forth.

Source: dankability, Reddit

• Main content

How Many of these 25 Brain Teasers Can You Solve?

By chris higgins | aug 17, 2017.

1. THE POLE-CLIMBING SLOTH

A slippery sloth climbs six feet up a utility pole during the day, then slides back down five feet during the night. If the pole is 30 feet high and the sloth starts from the ground (zero feet), how many days does it take the sloth to reach the top of the pole?

Answer : 25 days. The math here boils down to a net gain of one foot per day, along with a threshold (24 feet at the beginning of a day) that must be attained so that the sloth can get to the 30-foot mark within a given day. After 24 days and 24 nights, the sloth is 24 feet up. On that 25th day, the sloth scrambles up six feet, attaining the 30-foot top of the pole. Left to the reader is a motivation for the sloth to attempt this feat in the first place. Perhaps there is something tasty atop the pole?

(Adapted from a brain teaser by Carl Proujan.)

2. THE PIRATE RIDDLE

A group of five pirates have to divide up their bounty of 100 coins, as described in the video below. The captain gets to propose a distribution plan, and all five of the pirates vote "yarr" or "nay" on the proposal. If a majority votes "nay," the captain walks the plank. The pirates are arranged in order, and vote in that order: the captain, Bart, Charlotte, Daniel, and Eliza. If a majority vote "nay" and the captain walks the plank, the captain's hat goes to Bart, and the process repeats down the line, with a series of proposals, votes, and other acceptance or plank-walking.

How can the captain stay alive, while getting as much gold as possible? (In other words, what is the optimal amount of gold the captain should offer to each pirate, himself included, in his proposal?) Watch the video below for all the rules.

Answer : The captain should propose that he keep 98 coins, distribute one coin each to Charlotte and Eliza, and offer nothing to Bart and Daniel. Bart and Daniel will vote nay, but Charlotte and Eliza have done the math and vote yarr, knowing that the alternative would get them even less booty.

3. THE HIKER'S DILEMMA

A hiker comes across an intersection where three roads cross. He looks for the sign indicating the direction to his destination city. He finds that the pole carrying three city names and arrows pointing to them has fallen. He picks it up, considers it, and pops it back into place, pointing out the correct direction for his destination. How did he do it?

Answer : He knew which city he had just come from. He pointed that arrow back toward his origin point, which oriented the signs properly for his destination and a third city.

(Adapted from a brain teaser by Jan Weaver.)

4. THE PASSCODE RIDDLE

In the video below, the rules of this riddle are laid out. Here's a snippet: Three team members are imprisoned, and one is allowed the opportunity to escape by facing a challenge. Given perfect logical skills, how can the remaining two team members listen in on what the chosen team member does, and infer the three-digit passcode to get them out?

Answer : The passcode is 2-2-9, for hallway 13.

5. COUNTING BILLS

I had a wad of money in my pocket. I gave half away and of what remained, I spent half. Then, I lost five dollars. That left me with just five bucks. How much money did I start with?

Answer : 40 dollars.

(Adapted from a brain teaser by Charles Booth-Jones.)

6. THE AIRPLANE FUEL RIDDLE

Professor Fukanō plans to circumnavigate the world in his new airplane, as shown in the video below. But the plane's fuel tank doesn't hold enough for the trip—in fact, it holds only enough for half the trip. Fukanō has two identical support planes, piloted by his assistants Fugori and Orokana. The planes can transfer fuel in midair, and they must all take off from and land at the same airport on the equator.

How can the three cooperate and share fuel so that Fukanō gets all the way around the world and nobody crashes? (Check the video for more details.)

Answer : All three planes took off at noon, flying west, fully loaded with fuel (180 kiloliters each). At 12:45, each plane has 135 kl remaining. Orokana gives 45 kl to each of the other two planes, then heads back to the airport. At 14:15, Fugori gives another 45 kl to the professor, then heads back to the airport. At 15:00, Orokana flies east , effectively flying toward the professor around the globe. At precisely 16:30, Orokana gives him 45 kl and flips around, now flying alongside the professor. Meanwhile, Fugori takes off and heads for the pair. He meets them at 17:15 and transfers 45 kl to each plane. All three planes now have 45 kl and make it back to the airport.

7. THE HAYSTACK PROBLEM

A farmer has a field with six haystacks in one corner, a third as many in another corner, twice as many in a third corner, and five in the fourth corner. While piling the hay together in the center of the field, the farmer let one of the stacks get scattered all over the field by the wind. How many haystacks did the farmer end up with?

Answer : Just one. The farmer had piled them all up the middle, remember? 

8. THE THREE ALIENS RIDDLE

In this video riddle, you have crashed landed on a planet with three alien overlords named Tee, Eff, and Arr. There are also three artifacts on the planet, each matching a single alien. To appease the aliens, you need to match up the artifacts with the aliens—but you don't know which alien is which.

You are allowed to ask three yes-or-no questions, each addressed to any one alien. You can choose to ask the same alien multiple questions, but you don't have to.

It gets more complex, though, and this wickedly tricky riddle is best explained (both its problem and its solution) by watching the video above.

9. THE FARMER'S WILL

One day, a farmer decided to do some estate planning. He sought to apportion his farmland among his three daughters. He had twin daughters, as well as a younger daughter. His land formed a 9-acre square. He wanted the eldest daughters to get equally sized pieces of land, and the younger daughter to get a smaller piece. How can he divide up the land to accomplish this goal?

Answer : Shown above are three possible solutions. In each, the box marked 1 is a perfect square for one twin, and the two sections marked 2 combine to make a square of the same size for the second twin. The area marked 3 is a small perfect square for the youngest child.

In my hand I have two American coins that are currently minted. Together, they total 55 cents. One isn't a nickel. What are the coins?

Answer : A nickel and a 50-cent piece. (Lately the U.S. 50-cent piece features John F. Kennedy.)

11. THE BRIDGE RIDDLE

A student, a lab assistant, a janitor, and an old man need to cross a bridge to avoid being eaten by zombies, as shown in the video below. The student can cross the bridge in one minute, the lab assistant takes two minutes, the janitor takes five minutes, and the professor takes 10 minutes. The group only has one lantern, which needs to be carried on any trip across. The zombies arrive in 17 minutes, and the bridge can only hold two people at a time. How can you get across in the time allotted, so you can cut the rope bridge and prevent the zombies from stepping on the bridge and/or eating your brains? (See the video for more details!)

Answer : The student and lab assistant go together first, and the student returns, putting three minutes total on the clock. Then, the professor and the janitor take the lantern and cross together, taking 10 minutes, putting the total clock at 13 minutes. The lab assistant grabs the lantern, crosses in two minutes, then the student and lab assistant cross together just in the nick of time—a total of 17 minutes.

12. LITTLE NANCY ETTICOAT

Here's a nursery rhyme riddle:

Little Nancy Etticoat In her white petticoat With a red nose— The longer she stands The shorter she grows

Given this rhyme, what is "she?"

Answer : A candle.

(Adapted from a brain teaser by J. Michael Shannon.)

13. THE GREEN-EYED LOGIC PUZZLE

In the green-eyed logic puzzle, there is an island of 100 perfectly logical prisoners who have green eyes—but they don't know that. They have been trapped on the island since birth, have never seen a mirror, and have never discussed their eye color.

On the island, green-eyed people are allowed to leave, but only if they go alone, at night, to a guard booth, where the guard will examine eye color and either let the person go (green eyes) or throw them in the volcano (non-green eyes). The people don't know their own eye color; they can never discuss or learn their own eye color; they can only leave at night; and they are given only a single hint when someone from the outside visits the island. That's a tough life!

One day, a visitor comes to the island. The visitor tells the prisoners: "At least one of you has green eyes." On the 100th morning after, all the prisoners are gone, all having asked to leave on the night before. How did they figure it out?

Watch the video for a visual explanation of the puzzle and its solution.

Answer : Each person can't be sure whether they have green eyes. They can only deduce this fact by observing the behavior of the other members of the group. If each person looks at the group and sees 99 others with green eyes, then logically speaking, they must wait 100 nights to give the others opportunities to stay or leave (and for each to make that calculation independently). By the 100th night, using inductive reasoning, the entire group has offered every person in the group an opportunity to leave, and can figure that it's safe to go.

14. THE NUMBER ROW

The numbers one through 10, below, are listed in an order. What is the rule that causes them to be in this order?

8 5 4 9 1 7 6 10 3 2

Answer : The numbers are ordered alphabetically, based on their English spelling: eight, five, four, nine, one, seven, six, ten, three, two.

15. THE COUNTERFEIT COIN PUZZLE

In the video below, you must find a single counterfeit coin among a dozen candidates. You're allowed the use of a marker (to make notes on the coins, which doesn't change their weight), and just three uses of a balance scale. How can you find the one counterfeit—which is slightly lighter or heavier than the legitimate coins—among the set?

Answer : First, divide the coins into three equal piles of four. Put one pile on each side of the balance scale. If the sides balance (let's call this Case 1), all eight of those coins are real and the fake must be in the other pile of four. Mark the legitimate coins with a zero (circle) using your marker, take three of them, and weigh against three of the remaining unmarked coins. If they balance, the remaining unmarked coin is counterfeit. If they don't, make a different mark (the video above suggests a plus sign for heavier, minus for lighter) on the three new coins on the scale. Test two of these coins on the scale (one on each side)—if they have plus marks, the heavier of those tested will be the fake. If they have minus marks, the lighter is the fake. (If they balance, the coin not tested is the fake.) For Case 2, check out the video.

16. THE ESCALATOR RUNNER

Each step of an escalator is 8 inches taller than the previous step. The total vertical height of the escalator is 20 feet. The escalator moves upward one half step per second. If I step on the lowest step at the moment it is level with the lower floor, and run up at a rate of one step per second, how many steps do I take to reach the upper floor? (Note: Do not include the steps taken to step on and off the escalator.)

Answer : 20 steps. To understand the math, take a period of two seconds. Within that two seconds, I run up two steps on my own power, and the escalator lifts me the height of an extra step, for a total of three steps—this could also be expressed as 3 times 8 inches, or two feet. Therefore, over 20 seconds I reach the upper floor having taken 20 steps.

17. A RIVER CROSSING PUZZLE

In the video riddle below, three lions and three wildebeest are stranded on the east bank of a river and need to reach the west. A raft is available, which can carry a maximum of two animals at a time and needs at least one animal onboard to row it across. If the lions ever outnumber the wildebeest on either side of the river (including the animals in the boat if it's on that side), the lions will eat the wildebeest.

Given these rules, how can all the animals make the crossing and survive?

Answer : There are two optimal solutions. Let's take one solution first. In the first crossing, one of each animal goes from east to west. In the second crossing, one wildebeest returns from west to east. Then on the third crossing, two lions cross from east to west. One lion returns (west to east). On crossing five, two wildebeest cross from east to west. On crossing six, one lion and one wildebeest return from west to east. On crossing seven, two wildebeest go from east to west. Now all three wildebeest are on the west bank, and the sole lion on the west bank rafts back to the east. From there (crossings eight through eleven), lions simply ferry back and forth, until all the animals make it.

For the other solution, consult the video.

18. THE THREE WATCHES

I am marooned on an island with three watches, all of which were set to the correct time before I got stuck here. One watch is broken and doesn't run at all. One runs slow, losing one minute every day. The final watch runs fast, gaining one minute every day.

After being marooned for a moment, I begin to worry about timekeeping. Which watch is most likely to show the correct time if I glance at the watches at any particular moment? Which would be least likely to show the correct time?

Answer : We know that the stopped watch must tell the correct time twice a day—every 12 hours. The watch that loses one minute per day will not show the correct time until 720 days into its cycle of time loss (60 minutes in an hour times 12 hours), when it will momentarily be exactly 12 hours behind schedule. Similarly, the watch that gains one minute a day is also wrong until 720 days after its journey into incorrectness, when it will be 12 hours ahead of schedule. Because of this, the watch that doesn't run at all is most likely to show the correct time. The other two are equally likely to be incorrect.

19. EINSTEIN'S RIDDLE

In this riddle, erroneously attributed to Albert Einstein, you're presented with a series of facts and must deduce one fact that's not presented. In the case of the video below, a fish has been kidnapped. There are five identical-looking houses in a row (numbered one through five), and one of them contains the fish.

Watch the video for the various bits of information about the occupants of each house, the rules for deducing new information, and figure out where that fish is hiding! (Note: You really need to watch the video to understand this one, and the list of clues is helpful too.)

Answer : The fish is in House 4, where the German lives.

20. MONKEY MATH

Three castaways and a monkey are marooned together on a tropical island. They spend a day collecting a large pile of bananas, numbering between 50 and 100. The castaways agree that the next morning the three of them will divide up the bananas equally among them.

During the night, one of the castaways wakes up. He fears that the others might cheat him, so he takes his one-third share and hides it. Since there is one banana more than a quantity which could be divided equally into thirds, he gives the extra banana to the monkey and goes back to sleep.

Later in the night, a second castaway awakes and repeats the same behavior, plagued by the same fear. Again, he takes one-third of the bananas in the pile and again the quantity is one greater than would allow an even split into thirds, so he hands the extra banana to the monkey and hides his share.

Still later, the final castaway gets up and repeats the exact same procedure, unaware that the other two have already done it. Yet again, he takes a third of the bananas and ends up with one extra, which he gives to the monkey. The monkey is most pleased.

When the castaways meet in the morning to divide the banana loot, they all see that the pile has shrunk considerably, but say nothing—they're each afraid of admitting their nighttime banana thievery. They divide the remaining bananas three ways, and end up with one extra for the monkey.

Given all this, how many bananas were there in the original pile? (Note: There are no fractional bananas in this problem. We are always dealing with whole bananas.)

Answer : 79. Note that if the pile were bigger, the next possible number that would meet the criteria above would be 160—but that's outside the scope listed in the second sentence ("between 50 and 100") of the puzzle.

21. THE VIRUS RIDDLE

In the video below, a virus has gotten loose in a lab. The lab is a single story building, built as a 4x4 grid of rooms, for a total of 16 rooms—15 of which are contaminated. (The entrance room is still safe.) There's an entrance at the northwest corner and an exit at the southeast corner. Only the entrance and exit rooms are connected to the outside. Each room is connected to its adjacent rooms by airlocks. Once you enter a contaminated room, you must pull a self-destruct switch, which destroys the room and the virus within it—as soon as you leave for the next room. You cannot re-enter a room after its switch has been activated.

If you enter via the entrance room and exit via the exit room, how can you be sure to decontaminate the entire lab? What route can you take? See the video for a great visual explanation of the problem and the solution.

Answer : The key lies in the entrance room, which is not contaminated and which you may therefore re-enter after exiting it. If you enter that room, move one room to the east (or the south) and decontaminate it, then re-enter the entrance room and destroy it on your way to the next room. From there, your path becomes clear—you actually have four options to complete the path, which are shown in the video above. (Sketching this one on paper is an easy way to see the routes.)

22. THE IN-LAW CONUNDRUM

According to puzzle book author Carl Proujan, this one was a favorite of author Lewis Carroll.

The prime minister is planning a dinner party, but he wants it to be small. He doesn't like crowds. He plans to invite his father's brother-in-law, his brother's father-in-law, his father-in-law's brother, and his brother-in-law's father.

If the relationships in the prime minister's family happened to be arranged in the most optimal manner, what would be the minimum possible number of guests be at the party? Note that we should assume that cousin marriages are permitted.

Answer : One. It is possible, through some complex paths in the prime minister's family, to get the guest list down to one person. Here's what must be true: The PM's mother has two brothers. Let's call them brother 1 and brother 2. The PM also has a brother who married the daughter of brother 1, a cousin. The PM also has a sister who married the son of brother 1. The host himself is married to the daughter of brother 2. Because of all this, brother 1 is the PM's father's brother-in-law, the PM's brother's father-in-law, the PM's father-in-law's brother, and the PM's brother-in-law's father. Brother 1 is the sole guest at the party.

23. THE PRISONER BOXES RIDDLE

In the video, ten band members have had their musical instruments randomly placed in boxes marked with pictures of musical instruments. Those pictures may or may not match up with the contents.

Each member gets five shots at opening boxes, trying to find their own instrument. Then, they must close the boxes. They're not allowed to communicate about what they find. If the entire band fails to find their instruments, they'll all be fired. The odds of them randomly guessing their way through this is one in 1024. But the drummer has an idea that will radically increase their odds of success, to more than 35 percent. What's his idea?

Answer : The drummer told everyone to first open the box with the picture of their instrument. If their instrument is inside, they're done. If not, the band member observes what instrument is found, then opens the box with that instrument's picture on it—and so forth. Watch the video for more on why this works mathematically.

24. S-N-O-W-I-N-G

One snowy morning, Jane awoke to find that her bedroom window was misty with condensation. She drew the word "SNOWING" on it with her finger. Then she crossed out the letter N, turning it into another English word: "SOWING." She continued this way, removing one letter at a time, until there was just one letter remaining, which is itself a word. What words did Jane make, and in what order?

Answer : Snowing, sowing, owing, wing, win, in, I.

(Adapted from a brain teaser by Martin Gardner.)

25. THE MYSTERY STAMPS

While on vacation on the island of Bima, I visited the post office to send some packages home. The currency on Bima is called the pim, and the postmaster told me that he only had stamps of five different values, though these values are not printed on the stamps. Instead, the stamps have colors.

The stamps were black, red, green, violet, and yellow, in descending order of value. (Thus the black stamps had the highest denomination and yellow the lowest.)

One package required 100 pims worth of stamps, and the postmaster handed me nine stamps: five black stamps, one green stamp, and three violet stamps.

The other two packages required 50 pims worth each; for those, the postmaster handed me two different sets of nine stamps. One set comprised one black stamp and two each of the other colors. The other set was five green stamps, and one each of the other colors.

What would be the smallest number of stamps needed to mail a 50-pim package, and what colors would they be?

Answer : Two black stamps, one red stamp, one green stamp, and one yellow stamp. (It may help to write out the stamp formulas given above using the various b, r, g, v, and y. Because we know that b > r > g > v > y, and we have three described cases, we can do some algebra to arrive at values for each stamp. Black stamps are worth 18 pim, red are worth 9, green are worth 4, violet are worth 2, and yellow are worth 1.)

(Adapted from a brain teaser by Victor Bryant and Ronald Postill.)

Sources: Brain Teasers by Jan Weaver; Brain Teasers & Mind Benders by Charles Booth-Jones; Riddles and More Riddles by J. Michael Shannon; Brain Teasers Galore: Puzzles, Quizzes, and Crosswords from Science World Magazine , edited by Carl Proujan; The Arrow Book of Brain Teasers by Martin Gardner; The Sunday Times Book of Brain Teasers , edited by Victor Bryant and Ronald Postill.

100+ BRAIN TEASERS FOR KIDS AND ADULTS (WITH ANSWERS)

Brain teasers that require thought, intellect, and a dab of creativity. Moreover, teasing your brain will require you to think hard and sometimes think outside the box.

• Brain Teasers

Brain Teasers to Solve

A brain teaser is a type of puzzle that requires thinking outside of the box and using logic, creativity, and problem-solving skills to solve. It is designed to challenge and stimulate the brain, often requiring a combination of math, language, and visual skills. Brain teasers can come in many different forms, such as riddles , puzzles, and games. They can range in difficulty from easy to extremely challenging and can be solved individually or as a group. The goal of a brain teaser is often to find a hidden solution or pattern that is not immediately obvious and to use critical thinking and reasoning to arrive at the answer. Solving brain teasers can improve cognitive function, memory, and creativity, and can also be a fun and entertaining way to pass the time.

In addition, parents introduce their children to riddles for many reasons.  Solving riddles for kids can significantly accelerate brain development.

You Live In A One Story House Made Entirely Of Redwood

Carnival Trick Riddle

The mustard family riddle.

Six Faces 21 Eyes

A woman shoots her husband riddle.

There Are 10 People In A Room

Always In You, Sometimes On You; If I Surround You I Can Kill You

Strange subtraction, i have a little house in which i live all alone. it has no doors, i am a word of six; my first three letters refer to an automobile, two girls have the same parents and were born at the same hour, a time when they are green a time when they're brown, when can you add two to eleven and get one, sometimes i am born in silence, other times no i am unseen, a pregnant lady named her children, the death of romeo and juliet, i'm not clothes but i cover your body, three playing cards in a row, building riddle, search riddles, follow riddles, share riddles.

Link to Brain Teasers.

Copy the code below and add to your website or blog., like us on facebook, link to brain teasers.

If you would like to use this content on this page for your website or blog, we only ask that you reference content back to us. Use the following code to link this page: <a href="https://www.riddles.com/brain-teasers" >Brain Teasers</a>

Featured Quizzes

• EASTER RIDDLES
• ST PATRICKS DAY RIDDLES
• VALENTINES RIDDLES
• DOWNLOAD PRINT
• JOIN RIDDLES
• USER RIDDLES

RIDDLES BOOK

SUBSCRIBE TO RIDDLES

• Get our Weekly Riddles Round Up sent direct to your email inbox every week!
• The last 7 Riddle Of The Day's ,
• Current Problem of the Week and
• Current Weekly Challenge .

• Best Riddles
• Funny Riddles
• Easy Riddles
• Math Riddles
• Riddles for Kids
• Riddles for Adults

70+ Challenging Riddles for Adults (With Answers)

Test your logical thinking and problem-solving skills with these fun brain teasers and puzzles. These riddles for adults start on a light note with a dirty joke or fun riddle, and then gradually dives into the trickier puzzles. Towards the end, you’ll find the harder riddles, the ones that are more complicated and more difficult to solve… 

Funny Riddles 

Here are some easy riddles , ones that are funny and that you most likely have heard before. Keep in mind that there will be some dirty riddles in here that might not be appropriate for a kid. But if you’re an adult–enjoy! 

I am a rock group with four members. All dead, one was assassinated. What am I?

Mt. Rushmore.

What time is it when an elephant sits on a fence?

It’s time to fix the fence.

What’s messy and can be really annoying and/or tricky to clean up after sex?

I saw a boat full of people, yet there wasn’t a single person on the boat. How is that possible?

They were all married.

Why is Europe like a frying pan?

Because it has Greece at the bottom. 

I go in hard, come out soft, and you love to blow me. What am I?

Chewing gum.

What has ten letters and starts with gas?

Automobile. 

I start with a “p” and ends with “o-r-n,” and I’m a major player in the film industry. What am I?

What goes up but never comes down?

A king, a queen, and two twins all lay in a large room. How are there no adults in the room?

They’re all beds!

Some people prefer being on top, others prefer being on the bottom, and it always involves a bed. What am I? 

A bunk bed.

Why can’t we take a picture of a man with a wooden leg ?

The wooden leg is not a camera.

I assist with erections. Sometimes, giant balls hang from me. I’m known as a big swinger. What am I?

Samuel was out for a walk when it started to rain. He did not have an umbrella and he wasn’t wearing a hat. His clothes were soaked, yet not a single hair on his head got wet. How could this happen?

Because Samuel is bald! 

All-day long it’s in and out. I discharge loads from my shaft. Both men and women go down on me. What am I?

An elevator.

What has four legs like a dog, two eyes like a dog, looks just like a dog but is not a dog?

A picture of a dog! 

What tastes better than it smells?

Your tongue! 

What is as light as a feather, but even the strongest man in the world can’t hold it in for long?

His breath. 

What does a teddy bear do when it rains? 

It gets wet! 

What’s long and hard and has cum in it?

A cucumber.

Challenging Riddles 

Here are some brain teasers that might require some problem-solving skills and logical thinking . They’re tricky, but not impossible to answer . It’s just some good riddles that will get you to really use your brain .  

You walk into a room that contains a match, a kerosene lamp, a candle, and a fireplace. What would you light first?

The match. 

How many letters are in the alphabet?

There are 11 letters in “the alphabet”.

A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose between three rooms: the first is full of raging fires; the second, assassins with loaded guns, and the third, with lions who haven’t eaten in years. Which room is the safest?

The room with the lions because the lions are already dead. 

What five- letter word stays the same when you take away the first, third, and last letter ?

All 5 sisters are busy. Ann is reading a book, Rose is cooking, Katy is playing chess, and Mary is doing the laundry. What is the 5th sister doing?

She’s playing chess, of course! 

A man is asked what his daughters look like. He answers, “they are all blondes, but two, all brunettes, but two, and all redheads, but two.” How many daughters does he have?

Three. One is blonde, one is brunette, and one is a redhead.

David’s father has three sons: Snap, Crackle and…? 

You always find me in the past, I can be created in the present, but the future can never taint me. What am I?

A man is found hanging dead from the ceiling of a room. The room’s dimensions are 15 x 15 x 15. The man is only 6ft tall and the rope was only 2ft long. There are no windows and only one door into the room. The door is bolted shut from the inside and there is a puddle of water under the man . How did he kill himself?

The man stood on a block of ice.

How can you drop a raw egg on the concrete floor without cracking it?

The egg won’t crack the concrete floor! 

What has thirteen hearts but no other organs?

A deck of cards.

In a bus, there is a 26-year-old pregnant lady, a 30-year-old policeman, a 52-year-old random woman, and the driver who is 65 years old. Who is the youngest?

The baby of the pregnant lady.

Two in a corner, 1 in a room, 0 in a house, but 1 in a shelter. What am I?

The letter “R”

What English word does the following: the first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four letters signify a great person , while the entire word signifies a great woman. What is the word ?

A boy and an engineer were fishing. The boy is the son of the engineer but the engineer is the father of the boy. Then who is the engineer?

The engineer is the boy’s mother. 

In a one-story pink house, there was a pink person , a pink cat, a pink fish, a pink computer, a pink chair, a pink table, a pink telephone, a pink shower– everything was pink! What color were the stairs?

There weren’t any stairs, it was a one-story house!

A plane crashed between the border of Canada and America. Where do you bury the survivors?

They are survivors, you don’t bury them.

A woman is sitting in her hotel room when there is a knock at the door. She opened the door to see a man whom she had never seen before. He said, “Oh I’m sorry. I have made a mistake. I thought this was my room.” He then went down the corridor and in the elevator. The woman went back into her room and phoned security. What made the woman so suspicious of this man?

You don’t knock on your own hotel room door! 

What is special about the number 854,917,632?

It’s the numbers from 1-9 in alphabetical order.

What word in the English language has three consecutive double letters ?

Bookkeeper.

My first is in chocolate but not in ham, my second’s in cake and also in jam, my third at tea-time is easily found, my whole is a friend who’s often around. What am I?

Two fathers and two sons are in a car, yet there are only three people in the car. How?

They are a grandfather, father, and son.

A woman shoots her husband, then holds him underwater for five minutes. Next, she hangs him. Right after, they enjoy a lovely dinner. Explain.

She took a picture of him and developed it in her darkroom.

A man is trapped in a room. The room has only two possible exits: two doors. Through the first door, there is a room constructed from magnifying glasses. The blazing hot sun instantly fries anything or anyone that enters. Through the second door, there is a fire-breathing dragon. How does the man escape?

He waits until night time and then goes through the first door.

Poor people have it. Rich people need it. If you eat it you die. What is it?

A is the brother of B. B is the brother of C. C is the father of D. So how is D related to A?

A is D’s aunt.

A man was found murdered on Sunday morning. His wife immediately called the police. The police went to the crime scene and question the wife and staff and got these alibis: The wife said she was sleeping, the cook was eating breakfast, the gardener was picking vegetables, the maid was getting the mail, the butler was cleaning the closet. The police instantly arrested the murderer. Who did it and how did they know?

It was the Maid. She said she was getting the mail but there’s no mail on Sundays.

Difficult Riddles

All of the puzzles below are considered to be logic riddles , ones that you’ll really need to think about to get the answer . 

Tim and Mel are long-distance lovers. Tim has just purchased an engagement ring for Mel and wants to mail it to her. Unfortunately, the only way to ensure the ring will be received is to place a lock on the package. Tim has locks and Mel has locks but neither have keys for each others’ locks. How can they ensure the ring isn’t stolen?

Tim places a lock on the package and sends it to Mel. Mel places one of her locks on the package and sends it back to Tim. Tim removes his lock and sends the package back to Mel.

I am a word of 5 letters and people eat me. If you remove the first letter, I become a form of energy. Remove the first two and I’m needed to live. Scramble the last 3 and you can drink me. What am I?

Wheat, heat, eat, tea

Which English word is the odd one out – Stun, Ton, Evil, Letter , Mood, Bad, Snap, Straw?

The person who makes it has no need of it; the person who buys it has no use for it. The person who uses it can neither see nor feel it. What is it?

The answer I give is yes, but what I mean is no. What was the question?

“Do you mind ?”

My buddies and I were inseparable mates Til one by one were we split My teacher, she gave me a smack on the pate And off in the corner I sit. Admittedly still I’m not hitting the books Though now I’m hugging a tree I guess in the end it’s not bad as it looks I went from a C to a B…

(Clue: it’s an object)

What can go up a chimney down, but can’t go down a chimney up?

An umbrella.

What can you hold in your right hand, but never in your left hand?

Your left hand.

A man is found murdered in his office. The suspects are Peter, Julie, Jason, Molly, and Brian. In the office is a calendar with the numbers 6,4,9,10,11 written in blood. Who is the killer?

Jason is the killer. The numbers indicate months and the first letter of each month spells the name of the murderer, e.g. the 6th month is June and the first letter of June is J, the 4th month is April and the first letter of April is a, and so on.

There are 3 switches outside of a room, all in the ‘off’ setting. One of them controls a lightbulb inside the room, the other two do nothing. You cannot see into the room, and once you open the door to the room, you cannot flip any of the switches anymore. Before going into the room, how would you flip the switches in order to be able to tell which switch controls the light bulb?

Flip the first switch and keep it flipped for five minutes. Then unflip it, and flip the second switch. Go into the room. If the lightbulb is off but warm, the first switch controls it. If the light is on, the second switch controls it. If the light is off and cool, the third switch controls it.

You walk into a creepy house by yourself. There is no electricity, plumbing or ventilation. Inside you notice 3 doors with numbers on them. Once you open the doors you will die a particular way. Door #1 You’ll be eaten by a lion who is hungry. Door #2 You’ll be stabbed to death. Door #3 There is an electric chair waiting for you. Which door do you pick?

Door #3, Since There Is No Electricity To Harm You.

With pointed fangs I sit and wait, with piercing force I serve out fate. Grabbing bloodless victims, proclaiming my might; physically joining with a single bite. What am I?

Short Riddles: Math Edition 

Everyone loves a good ol math riddle!   Math riddles are a great way to test your smarts and make sure that you actually did learn something in school: 

I have two coins equaling fifteen cents. One of them is not a nickel. What are the two coins?

A dime and a nickel. One of the coins is not a nickel, but the other one is. 

Mom and dad have four daughters, and each daughter has one brother . How many people are in the family?

If 9999=4, 8888=8, 1816=6, 1212=0, then 1919=? (Clue: Closed areas.)

2. 9999 has 4 closed areas (the top of the ‘9’).8888 has 8 closed areas (the top and bottom parts of 8 and there are no other digits). 1816 has 3 closed areas (top and bottom of 8 and bottom of 6, and it has 2 other digits (3 * 2 = 6)). 1212 has 0 closed areas, (0 * 4 = 0).

If you multiply me by any other number, the answer will always remain the same. What number am I?

Which is correct: 18 plus 19 is 36. Or 18 plus 19 are 36?

Actually, both are incorrect – 18 plus 19 is 37!

When does 11+3=2?

On a clock.

There was a large truck that needed to cross a 20-mile long bridge. Unfortunately, the bridge could only hold the weight of 12000 lbs. Even a single pound extra, the bridge would collapse. However, the weight of the truck is exactly 12000 lbs. The driver carefully drove and crossed almost 85% distance of the bridge. He stopped to get a small break. Suddenly, a bird landed on the truck. Did the bridge collapse? 

No, the bridge doesn’t collapse. The truck almost crossed 85% of total distance. Equivalent diesel would have been lost. So the extra weight of the bridge doesn’t add any extra load to the bridge.

3 hens lay 3 eggs in 3 days. How many eggs do 12 hens give in 12 days?

48 eggs. One hen lays 1 egg in 3 days or 4 eggs in 12 days. 12 hens give 48 eggs in 12 days.

Challenging Adult Riddles 

Here are some fun yet complicated riddles for adults wanting to challenge themselves and really use the depths of their brains to figure out the answer (s).

Hard Mythology Riddle  

There is a mythological story of a Sphinx, a monster with the body of a lion and the head of a woman. Apparently, the Sphinx sat on top of a rock along the road to the city of Thebes, stopping travelers and proposing to them a riddle . The Sphinx claimed that whoever failed the riddle would be killed, and evidently, not pass through to the city. This is the riddle : 

What animal walks on four legs in the morning, two legs during the day, and three legs in the evening?

Oedipus, the king of Thebes, figured out the answer to this logic puzzle :

Man, who in childhood creeps on hands and knees, in manhood walks erect, and in old age with the aid of a staff. (Morning, day, and night are representative of the stages of life.)

Buried Treasure Riddle

The best way to find the right answer to this brainteaser is through logic and deductive reasoning. 

After a storm tears through the Hex Archipelago, you find five grizzled survivors in the water. Shivering their timbers, they explain that they’re the former crew of the great pirate Greenbeard, who marooned them after they tried to mutiny. Each was bound up in a different spot on a small island, until the storm washed them out to sea. In gratitude for saving them, they reveal a secret: the island they were on is also where Greenbeard has buried his treasure hoard. But when the sailors try to describe the island, something seems off. All agree it was flat and barren with no prominent features except for some trees. Yet each pirate claims they saw a different number of trees, ranging from two to six. The pirate who saw two trees says the treasure was buried right at his feet. When you fly your hot air balloon over the area to investigate, you see hundreds of small islands, each with exactly six trees. The next storm will be here soon, so you’ll have to hurry and narrow your search. What does the island with Greenbeard’s treasure look like from the sky? And where will the treasure be on that island? 

• All islands have exactly 6 trees of equal height. 
• The islands are all flat, have no obstructions other than trees and their precise shapes aren’t important.
• Each pirate was confined in a specific spot and saw a different number of trees, ranging from 2 to 6. They could look all around but not move. 
• The treasure was buried at the feet of the pirate who saw 2 trees.

No, the pirates aren’t delirious from dehydration. Remember, each was confined to a separate point on the island, and no two of them could see the same number of trees. That means that for all but one pirate, something was blocking their view. And since there are no other features on the island, that something could only have been other trees.

A pirate would see fewer trees when two or more fell along a straight line from their vantage point. So we need to find the island where five different pirates standing in different spots would each see a different number of trees. Virtually every island has a position from which you can see six trees. And on most islands there’s a position where 5 trees can be seen by standing in line with two of them. It turns out that the hardest locations to find are those with fewer visible trees precisely because they require more trees to line up with the viewer’s position. So how can we see just two trees. One way would be if all the trees were lined up in single file, such as on this island. Then, you could stand at the end of the line and see one, stand in the middle and see two, or stand anywhere else and see all six. But there’s no place from which you can see only three, four, or five, so one straight line of trees is out. So what about two lines of trees? So long as the lines aren’t parallel and they intersect over land, there’ll always be a position where the two lines converge from which you could see exactly two trees. And if they’re grouped two and four, or three and three, there are many arrangements in which you could also see three, four, five, and six trees. 

Fortunately for us, there’s only one island in the archipelago with two non-parallel lines of trees, and it’ll be buried at the intersection of the two lines. (X marks the spot!) You land on this island and dig up a chest containing a massive pile of tree seeds. 

Prisoner Hat Riddle

Here’s a great mind -boggling riddle :

100 prisoners are lined up single file. A blue or red hat is placed on each of their heads randomly. The prisoners cannot see the color of the hat on their own head, but they can see the colors of all the hats in front of them. The prisoner in the back can clearly see all 99 hats in front of him. The 50th prisoner in line can see the 49 hats in front of him, and the prisoner in the front of the line cannot see anything but the forest before him. Also, the prisoners don’t know the proportion of red hats to blue hats in advance—it could be 50/50, but it could also be any combination that adds to 100.

A guard is going to walk down the line, starting in the back, and ask each prisoner what color hat they have on. They can only answer “blue” or “red.” If they answer incorrectly or say anything else, they will be shot dead on the spot. If they answer correctly, they will be set free. Each prisoner can hear all of the other prisoners’ responses, as well as any gunshots that indicate an incorrect response. They can remember all of this information.

Before the executions begin, the prisoners get to huddle up and make a plan. How can the prisoners ensure that most people possible survive?

The prisoners come up with the following plan: 

If the first prisoner to speak—the one in the back of the line—sees an even number of blue hats, he will yell out “blue.” If he sees an odd number of blue hats, he will yell out “red.”

Let’s assume the first prisoner to speak yells out “blue,” indicating that he sees an even number of blue hats. Then the next prisoner to speak can look at the line in front of him, and if he sees an odd number of blue hats, he knows his hat must be blue to make the number even. Similarly, if he sees an even number of blue hats, he knows his hat must be red to keep it that way. The same logic works if the first prisoner yells out “red,” indicating that there are an odd number of blue hats.

The next prisoner in line listens to the prisoner behind him and takes that information into consideration. If he sees an even number of blue hats and the prisoner behind him yells “blue,” making the total number of blue hats odd, then he knows his hat must be blue to make the total number even again (of the 99 seen by the first prisoner). In the same situation, if his hat were red, the total number of blue hats would be odd (of the 99 seen by the first prisoner).

As you go down the line, each prisoner must count how many blue hats are behind them. Then he must consider the blue hats in front of him. If the number of blue hats behind a prisoner plus the blue hats he can see in front of him equals an odd number, then he knows his hat must be blue to make the total number even, or red to make the total number odd (not counting the very first prisoner).

The very first prisoner is the maybe-martyr of the group. He is imparting information to the rest of the group that has nothing to do with the hat on his own head, which he cannot know, and so his chances of living are only 50%.

More Riddles

• Riddles with Answers
• Short Riddles
• Riddles for Adults
• Riddles for Teens
• Riddles for Kids
• Funny Riddles
• Tricky Riddles
• Hard Riddles
• Easy Riddles
• Math Riddles

January Nelson

January Nelson is a writer, editor, and dreamer. She writes about astrology, games, love, relationships, and entertainment. January graduated with an English and Literature degree from Columbia University.

More From Thought Catalog

When He Ghosts and You Reach Out Anyway

Best Hookup Sites of 2024: Your Guide to Finding Casual Connections

3 Productions Based on Liane Moriarty Novels to Look Forward to After ‘Apples Never Fall’

Must-See New Movies and Shows Coming to Streaming 3/11— 3/17

7 Shows and Movies to Watch After ‘Death and Other Details’

8 Must-Watch Queer Rom-Coms Streaming

Brain Teasers, Riddles, Trivia, Games and more...

Braingle is a place to solve puzzles, brush up on your trivia, play games and give your brain a workout. Get ready to have your brain tangled!

With over 15,000 brain teasers, riddles, logic problems and mind puzzles submitted and ranked by users like you, Braingle has the largest collection anywhere on the internet!

Try a Brain Teaser!

The odd 8-letter word.

Braingle's Trivia section contains over 5,000 fun and interesting quizzes on a wide variety of topics. Are you an expert on something? Create your own quiz for other people to test their knowledge?

Stay mentally fit with these daily brain exercises. You will learn how to flex your mind, improve your creativity and boost your memory. Try to do some Mentalrobics every single day!

All of our unique online games are free to play and several of them are multiplayer games where you can challenge other members of the Braingle gaming community.

We have an active community of smart people who participate in all areas of the website. Chat with your friends, post comments, and earn points to climb the ladders .

Braingle at a Glance

Riddles, puzzles, logic problems and other enigmas to entangle the mind.

A deceptive or misleading picture that is caused by the disagreement of the eye and the mind.

Need a bigger challenge? Try one of our exciting puzzle experiences!

Learn about encryption, cryptography, codes and ciphers.

An encyclopedia of all types of written, spoken and mechanical puzzles.

Take fun and interesting quizzes on a wide range of topics.

Discover interesting facts and take random quizzes on a variety of topics.

We will show you a picture with only a small piece revealed. Can you identify the object in the photo?

Can you identify the artist who made each of these artistic masterpieces?

Try to identify the famous people in these obscured photos.

Daily exercises and tips for improving memory, creativity, vocabulary and stress management.

The average person's short-term memory can hold 7 things. How much can you remember?

When you are trying to memorize something, flash cards can be a very effective way to improve your memory.

This vocabulary test is loaded with over 3000 of the most common words found on the SAT and GRE standardized tests.

Learn more about how intelligence is measured and calculate your own personal score.

Play popular puzzle games like Sudoku or Wordsearch right in your web browser.

Free strategy games to play online. Compare your score to other Brainglers.

Over 20 logic puzzles in one downloadable book. Can you solve them all?

Learn how to play hundreds of fun card games with our encyclopedia of card game rules.

Dozens of simple games to play with a friend when you only have a pencil and paper.

An active message board with hundreds of topics in which to participate.

Talk with your friends in your own private forum.

Send private messages to your friends.

IM with your favorite Braingle people in this live chat room.

Play some social games with your Braingle friends.

There's always something new to solve!

As a Braingle user you can submit riddles, rate puzzles, make quizzes, keep track of brain teasers and play some of our exclusive games. With our active community frequently adding new brain teaser and quizzes your brain will never get bored!

Join the 200,000+ members who keep their wits sharp with Braingle!

Braingle has a large vibrant community of smart people who contribute to the site in many ways. Some of the coolest features are only available to registered users. It's free to sign up, so why not give it a try?

Create a Free Account!

After creating your account, become a subscriber to get a number of added benefits.

Follow Braingle!

Get Your Free Braingle Account

• Submit your own brain teasers
• Vote on puzzles and track your favorites
• Chat with other smart people

• Search Search Search …
• Search Search …

Critical Thinking Brain Teasers: Enhance Your Cognitive Skills Today

Critical thinking brain teasers are an engaging way to challenge one’s cognitive abilities and improve problem-solving skills. These mind-bending puzzles come in various forms, such as logic puzzles, visual puzzles, and rebus puzzles, each designed to test one’s ability to analyze, evaluate, and think outside the box. Incorporating critical thinking brain teasers into daily routines or educational settings helps develop key cognitive skills, fostering creativity and enhancing overall intellectual capacity.

The role of critical thinking in problem-solving cannot be overstated, as it enables individuals to approach complex issues rationally, systematically, and strategically. By using brain teasers specifically designed to enhance critical thinking skills, individuals can sharpen their analytical prowess and improve their decision-making abilities in various life situations. Engaging in educational games and worksheets that incorporate brain teasers can be an effective way to promote critical thinking and create a lifelong curiosity for learning.

Key Takeaways

• Critical thinking brain teasers help improve cognitive skills and problem-solving abilities.
• These puzzles come in various forms, such as logic puzzles and visual puzzles, each challenging one’s analytical prowess.
• Incorporating brain teasers into educational settings can foster creativity and enhance intellectual capacities.

Understanding Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is a vital skill for obtaining knowledge and making well-informed decisions. It involves the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue, allowing individuals to form sound judgments and actions. When thinking critically, people actively and skillfully assess, synthesize, and evaluate information from various sources, including observation, knowledge, reflection, and conversations. This process helps to strengthen one’s educational foundation and promotes problem-solving capabilities.

A significant aspect of critical thinking is the ability to approach problems from multiple angles. This skill allows individuals to consider various perspectives, enhancing the quality and accuracy of their judgments. It also aids in identifying biases and misleading information, fostering an open and clear-minded approach to complex issues.

To develop and maintain critical thinking skills, it is essential to engage in a variety of brain-teasing activities, such as puzzles and riddles. These challenges facilitate the refinement of one’s logical reasoning, pattern recognition, and analytical abilities. Additionally, the practice of sharing and discussing these brain teasers with others helps to refine communication skills and exposes individuals to new perspectives and ideas.

In the realm of education, critical thinking is crucial for promoting independent thought and fostering a deeper understanding of complex topics. Educators can encourage the development of these skills by incorporating various critical thinking activities into lesson plans, such as debates, analysis of case studies, and group problem-solving exercises. This not only helps students become more insightful individuals but also equips them with the tools necessary for lifelong learning and adaptation in an ever-changing world.

By nurturing a confident, knowledgeable, and neutral approach to learning, critical thinking not only enables personal growth but also contributes to a more informed and open-minded society.

Role of Critical Thinking in Problem-Solving

Critical thinking plays a crucial role in developing effective problem-solving skills. It enables individuals to analyze situations, gather necessary information, and evaluate different solutions objectively. Employing critical thinking skills leads to informed decision-making, as individuals learn to think critically about every step they take.

Developing problem-solving skills begins with understanding the importance of reasoning and logic. Critical thinking encourages individuals to avoid relying solely on intuition and assumptions. Instead, they should seek evidence, identify biases, and consider various perspectives before reaching a conclusion.

Brain teasers are an excellent way to build critical thinking skills. These cognitive exercises require individuals to think outside the box, analyze patterns, and draw logical conclusions. By engaging in brain teasers and similar activities, people can improve their problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Using brain teasers to build critical thinking skills enhances mental agility and adaptability, as individuals must consider multiple approaches to reach a solution.

Critical thinking is essential not only for personal growth but also for the development of a dynamic society. As people learn to make better decisions, they become more effective contributors to the community. It is vital to foster an environment that encourages critical thinking, empowering individuals to engage in thoughtful and informed decision-making. In this way, our collective problem-solving capacity is strengthened, and we are better equipped to tackle complex, real-world challenges together.

Brain Teasers and Their Importance

Brain teasers play a significant role in developing and maintaining cognitive skills. They come in various forms, ranging from simple puzzles that provide a sense of joy to more hard challenges that require extensive critical thinking. These mind-boggling exercises often require creativity, analytical thinking, and logical reasoning to solve.

The benefits of brain teasers are evident in different areas of life. They not only maintain mental sharpness but also help in building critical thinking skills. These skills enable individuals to tackle complex problems, analyze data, and formulate well-informed decisions. Engaging in critical thinking brain teasers provides opportunities for personal growth and success in various spheres.

Moreover, brain teasers encourage a healthier lifestyle by keeping the brain active. Just as physical exercise benefits the body, mental exercise enhances cognitive function and prevents age-related decline. Researchers have found that regularly solving puzzles and brain teasers can boost memory and cognitive abilities, leading to mental well-being.

In summary, brain teasers offer a range of advantages, from improving critical thinking skills to providing mental stimulation and enjoyment. By incorporating these engaging exercises into daily routines, individuals can enhance their cognitive abilities and contribute to overall personal growth and success.

Logic Puzzles

Logic puzzles are a type of puzzle that requires the use of logic skills to solve. These puzzles often present a scenario with incomplete information, and the solver must use reasoning to fill in the gaps and arrive at the correct solution. They are an excellent way to exercise the mind and improve critical thinking abilities.

One popular type of logic puzzle is the grid-based puzzle, where solvers are given a series of clues and must use deduction to correctly place items in a grid according to the constraints imposed. The more clues provided in the puzzle, the easier it is to solve, and the better the puzzle is at teaching logic skills.

Sudoku is another popular type of logic puzzle that challenges a player’s logic and deduction skills. In a Sudoku puzzle, the player is presented with a partially filled 9×9 grid, with each row, column, and 3×3 subgrid containing the numbers 1 to 9 exactly once. The objective is to fill in the remaining cells in the grid using the provided information and the rules of the game, without guessing.

When solving logic puzzles, it is important to avoid making assumptions or jumping to conclusions. Instead, carefully analyze the information provided and use a methodical approach to deducing the relevant facts. This may involve breaking the puzzle down into smaller parts or using a process of elimination to remove possibilities and narrow down the potential solutions.

By regularly engaging with logic puzzles, such as Sudoku or grid-based puzzles, people can develop and strengthen their logical reasoning skills, which are valuable in many aspects of life, from decision making to problem-solving. These cognitive challenges also provide a fun, engaging way to stimulate the mind and keep it sharp.

Enhancing Cognitive Skills and Creativity with Brain Teasers

Brain teasers offer a fun and engaging way to sharpen cognitive skills and boost creativity. They are designed to challenge the way individuals think, analyze information, and solve problems. Utilizing brain teasers as a part of one’s daily routine can foster intellectual growth, improve memory, and stimulate new ideas.

One of the most significant benefits of engaging in brain teasers is that they encourage critical thinking. This involves assessing assumptions, evaluating evidence, and formulating well-founded conclusions. By frequently practicing such exercises, individuals can strengthen their cognitive skills and enhance problem-solving abilities.

Another substantial advantage provided by brain teasers is the stimulation of creativity. Creative thinking is vital in generating innovative ideas and finding unique solutions to challenges. Brain teasers often require the ability to think outside the box, stretching the mind to come up with unconventional approaches.

Moreover, brain teasers can be an excellent tool for mental training, keeping the mind sharp and focused. They can help in reducing cognitive decline associated with age, and even have the potential to improve productivity in various aspects of life. By maintaining an active mind, individuals are more likely to excel in their personal and professional pursuits.

In conclusion, incorporating brain teasers into daily routines can significantly enhance cognitive skills and creativity. By challenging the thought process and requiring innovative problem-solving approaches, these exercises can provide both mental stimulation and personal growth. Thus, brain teasers can be a valuable addition to anyone seeking to improve their thinking abilities, foster creativity, and achieve success in various areas of life.

Critical Thinking Brain Teasers

Critical thinking brain teasers are puzzles designed to challenge a person’s mental acuity, requiring them to think outside the box and approach problems in a non-straightforward manner. These brain teasers test a person’s ability to analyze situations, identify patterns, and make logical deductions based on the information provided.

One type of critical thinking brain teaser involves a match-stick puzzle. In these puzzles, participants are given a specific number of matchsticks, and the objective is to rearrange them to form a new shape only by moving the specified number of matchsticks. These puzzles require a good spatial sense, attention to detail, and an understanding of geometric principles.

Another type of critical thinking brain teaser is a riddle or lateral thinking puzzle. In these puzzles, participants are presented with a problem or scenario that appears simple at first but requires unexpected solutions to solve. An example of this type of puzzle is the well-known “river crossing” problem, where participants must help a farmer, a fox, a chicken, and a bag of grain cross a river with a small boat that can only carry a limited number of passengers. The challenge lies in finding a way to get all of the items across without allowing the fox to eat the chicken or the chicken to eat the grain.

Word-based brain teasers can also be excellent tools for developing critical thinking skills. For example, participants might be asked to find words that can be formed by rearranging the letters in a given set of words, such as “tail,” “shed,” and “height.” The answers might include words such as “light” and “shield.” These puzzles pose a linguistic challenge that requires participants to think about words in a new and unfamiliar context.

Another category of critical thinking brain teasers includes logic puzzles and grid-based challenges, where participants must deduce relationships between objects, people, or events based on a set of clues. For example, in a puzzle involving five houses of different heights and colors, participants must determine which house is the tallest and who lives in each house.

Overall, critical thinking brain teasers help sharpen problem-solving and analytical skills, featuring a variety of challenges such as match-stick puzzles, riddles, word problems, and logic puzzles. Participants can improve their critical thinking abilities by regularly engaging with these types of brain teasers.

Strategies to Solve Brain Teasers

Solving brain teasers can be a fun and challenging way to improve critical thinking skills. To effectively solve these puzzles, one should approach them with a systematic and organized approach. Here are some strategies that can help in finding the solution to various brain teasers.

First, take the time to carefully read and understand the information provided in the brain teaser. Identify the key details and relevant information that will help in reaching the solution. It is essential to have a clear understanding of the problem before diving into solving it.

Next, apply logical reasoning to assess the information and make connections between the given details. This involves breaking down the problem into smaller components, analyzing each part separately, and identifying patterns or relationships that might lead to the solution.

Additionally, it is essential to stay organized and keep track of the information that has been processed. This can be achieved by jotting down notes, creating tables, or using visual aids such as diagrams. Organizing information in this way can help clarify the problem and make it easier to find the correct answer.

Another useful strategy is to approach the brain teaser from different angles or perspectives. Explore multiple possibilities and consider alternative interpretations of the information provided. This can help in identifying potential solutions that might not have been apparent at first glance.

Lastly, it’s crucial to remain persistent and patient while solving brain teasers. Some puzzles might take a few minutes, while others could require much longer to solve. Remember that the goal of these teasers is not only to find the solution but also to develop critical thinking and reasoning skills in the process.

By using these strategies and maintaining a confident, knowledgeable, and neutral mindset, one can increase their chances of success in solving brain teasers. The key is to be clear in your approach and maintain focus on the task at hand.

Benefits of Brain Teasers in Real World

Brain teasers offer a wide range of benefits in the real world. They not only provide entertainment but also enhance your cognitive abilities in various aspects of life.

One of the most significant benefits of brain teasers is the improvement of critical thinking skills. Engaging in these activities forces you to think outside the box, analyze situations from different angles, and come up with creative solutions. This advanced reasoning ability is applicable to many real-world scenarios, such as problem-solving in the workplace or making informed decisions in daily life.

Logical skills are also enhanced through brain teaser exercises, as many of these puzzles require the use of deductive reasoning and pattern recognition. Developing a strong foundation in logic can aid individuals in fields such as mathematics, computer programming, and engineering, where a keen sense of order and methodical thinking is crucial.

Furthermore, brain teasers often require a strong command of language skills. Puzzles based on wordplay, riddles, or anagrams can be particularly beneficial for expanding vocabulary, improving reading comprehension, and honing language abilities. This expertise in language assists you in more effective communication, both written and verbal, in various personal and professional settings.

In summary, brain teasers offer numerous advantages in the real world by influencing the development of critical thinking, logic, and language skills. Engaging in these challenging activities can lead to more informed decision-making, better problem-solving abilities, and enhanced communication prowess.

Visual Puzzles and Rebus Puzzles

Visual puzzles and rebus puzzles are excellent tools for enhancing critical thinking skills. These puzzles often require a person to think more abstractly and use their cognitive abilities to solve them.

Visual puzzles are logic or reasoning problems that are expressed and solved using drawings or images. They can be found in various forms, such as finding differences between two pictures, identifying hidden objects in a scene, or determining the number of geometrical shapes in a given pattern. Some popular examples of visual puzzles are mentioned in this article titled “ Visual Puzzles & Brain Teasers That Will Challenge Your Mind .”

Rebus puzzles , on the other hand, use a combination of images, symbols, or letters to represent words or phrases. These puzzles force a person to think beyond literal interpretations and decipher the intended message. Rebus puzzles can be simple or complex, depending on the arrangement and combination of the elements. For example, the phrase “Green with envy” could be represented by a green-colored word “WITH” placed between the word “GREEN” and a picture of an envious facial expression. You can find more examples and challenges in this list of “ 20 Rebus Puzzles (with Answers) ” or this collection of “ 25 Rebus Puzzles (With Answers!) .”

These types of puzzles are not only enjoyable; they also help develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and language skills. Visual puzzles improve spatial reasoning and pattern recognition, whereas rebus puzzles strengthen the understanding and interpretation of common words and phrases. Furthermore, these puzzles can be used in educational settings, as demonstrated by these “ 10 Teacher-Tested Visual Brain Teasers ” for classroom use.

In conclusion, both visual puzzles and rebus puzzles are valuable tools for exercising critical thinking and cognitive skills. These challenges offer an engaging and entertaining way to promote mental agility while enhancing language and problem-solving abilities.

Educational Games and Worksheets

Educational games and worksheets are essential tools for fostering critical thinking skills in students. These activities not only make learning more engaging but also help improve memory, concentration, and problem-solving abilities. Teachers often incorporate a variety of brain teasers and puzzles in their lesson plans to develop these skills.

One popular approach to incorporating brain teasers in education is through printable worksheets. These worksheets may contain riddles, anagrams, connected squares, mazes, and other challenging exercises designed to stimulate cognitive development. Teachers can find a variety of free brain teaser worksheets online for use in the classroom or as homework assignments.

In addition to worksheets, teachers may also utilize visual brain teasers in their lessons. These activities encourage students to use critical thinking skills by solving problems through visual cues and patterns. This engaging form of game-based learning can be a fun way to develop logical thinking and problem-solving abilities among students.

Interactive educational games, such as online quizzes, can also help improve critical thinking skills. These activities are often timed, providing students with a fun challenge and encouraging quick thinking. Incorporating gaming elements into education keeps students entertained and motivated while they develop essential cognitive abilities.

By incorporating brain teasers, puzzles, and educational games into their lessons and worksheets, teachers can provide students with opportunities to develop their critical thinking abilities. These activities make education more interactive and enjoyable while promoting essential cognitive skills that students will use throughout their lives.

Engaging in brain teasers is a valuable activity to develop and improve critical thinking abilities. They offer a way to sharpen the mind, making it more efficient and effective when facing complex challenges. Examples of such brain teasers can be found on websites like gcfglobal and Psychology Today .

Brain teasers come in various forms, such as riddles, puzzles, and lateral thinking problems. When individuals challenge themselves with these activities, they train their minds to process information creatively, utilize logic, and make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. A wide range of brain teasers can be found in sources like Reader’s Digest and Parade .

In conclusion, incorporating brain teasers into one’s routine can have a positive impact on critical thinking skills, enhancing performance in various aspects of life. It’s important to choose brain teasers that are both engaging and challenging to ensure the most significant benefits and progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is half of 2+2.

The first step in solving this is understanding that the equation should be read as “half of (2+2).” In this case, you have to perform the addition first: 2+2 equals 4. Now, find half of 4, which equals 2. Therefore, half of 2+2 is 2.

Which tire doesn’t move when a car takes a left turn?

This is a tricky question that requires critical thinking. The answer lies in understanding how a car moves when making a turn. In reality, all four tires rotate as the car takes a left turn. However, the inside tires move less distance, while the outside tires travel a greater distance to make the turn.

You walk into a room with one match, a stove, a candle, and a fireplace; which do you light first?

This brain teaser is designed to test your problem-solving skills and careful reading. The answer is simple: before lighting any of these items, you must light the match first.

A man gave one of his three children one coin each. How many coins are left?

To solve this, it’s essential to realize that the man has three children and gave each of them one coin. Therefore, all three of the coins are given away, and none are left.

What is full of holes but still holds water?

The answer to this riddle is a sponge. Even though a sponge has numerous holes, it can still hold and absorb water. This brain teaser tests your ability to think creatively and outside the box.

What word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?

This brain teaser asks you to add two letters to a word, making it shorter in length. The answer is the word “short.” When you add the letters “er” to the end, it becomes “shorter.”

You may also like

The Map Is Not the Territory: A Concise Analysis of this Cognitive Principle

“The Map Is Not the Territory” is a critical thinking concept that serves as a metaphor highlighting the differences between our perception […]

What is the Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test? An Overview

The Watson Glaser Critical Thinking Test is a popular assessment tool used by employers to evaluate the critical thinking skills of job […]

How Do Emotions Positively Influence Critical Thinking: Uncovering the Benefits

Emotions are typically viewed as obstacles to rational thought, but recent studies indicate that they can actually play a positive role in […]

What Is Drone Mentality?

Drone mentality is a pattern of going through the motions, paying little to no attention to what’s going on around you. Think […]

• Prodigy Math
• Prodigy English
• Is a Premium Membership Worth It?
• Promote a Growth Mindset
• Help Your Child Who's Struggling with Math
• Parent's Guide to Prodigy
• Assessments
• Math Curriculum Coverage
• English Curriculum Coverage
• Game Portal

45 Fun and Clever Brain Teasers for Kids with Answers!

Written by Laney Kennedy

Reviewed by Sarah Tino, M.Ed.

Engage and motivate your students with our adaptive, game-based learning platform!

• Game-Based Learning
• What brain teasers are
• The benefits of brain teasers for kids

Math brain teasers for kids

Sometimes keeping your students engaged during a (long) school day feels like a losing battle. How do you gain their full attention while teaching the skills they need to succeed? How do you turn tough and intimidating concepts into fun, entertaining lessons that actually spark life in the classroom? 

Brain teasers for kids are a great form of game-based learning that not only entertain children but also inspire some creative thought in the classroom. People of all ages can indulge in these playful — yet challenging — activities.

And some examples of when teachers might want to use brain teasers are on a bulletin board in the classroom, as a partnered activity to start a new concept or lesson, or during a rainy day indoor recess box.

We’ve gathered 45 examples of brain teasers for kids with answers, organized by category:

Table of Contents

Language brain teasers for kids :

Riddles ; Language associations ; Lateral thinking problems.

Math brain teasers for kids :

Math riddles ;  Pattern problems ;  Prodigy.

Visual brain teasers for kids :

Spot the difference ;  Rebus puzzles ;  Optical illusions ;  Stroop effect test.

Use the list below to find the perfect brain teaser for your class!

What are brain teasers?

Before you explore our examples, you might be wondering what brain teasers actually are.

Cambridge Dictionary defines a brain teaser as “a problem for which it is hard to find the answer, especially one which people enjoy trying to solve as a game.”

Brain teasers are a type of puzzle — and as the list below reveals, they come in many different forms. Often presented as a riddle, question or activity, brain teasers require a little extra brainpower to solve.

It's important to note that if you have any English language learners in your class, brain teasers for kids might pose a challenge for them. If that's the case, they might need you to walk them through the brain teaser more closely, or you can find ones that better suit their language level.

Brain teasers for kids differ from other complex or abstract problems because they’re usually done for fun. Although you can use them to analyze problem-solving and critical thinking skills, they’re often used as an amusing activity to encourage logical and lateral thinking , or thinking “outside the box.”

45 Brain teasers for kids

We’ve compiled a list of language, math and visual brain teasers to get your students thinking. Get inspired by the examples below — including answers!

Language brain teasers for kids

When you hear the term “brain teaser,” a riddle is likely the first thing that comes to mind. Riddles are perplexing — sometimes misleading — questions or statements that require creative thought to solve.

Riddles are usually fun, and plenty of them can add some humour to your classroom.

Enjoy our list of riddles for kids below!

a) Billy’s mother had five children. The first was named Lala, the second was named Lele, the third was named Lili, the fourth was named Lolo. What was the fifth child named?

b) Choose the correct sentence: “The yolk of the egg is white” or “the yolk of the egg is white.”

c) It’s as light as a feather, but the strongest person can’t hold it for more than five minutes. What is it?

d) The more there is, the less you see. What is it?

e) What gets more wet while it dries?

f) You can find it in Mercury, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, but not in Venus or Neptune. What is it?

g) It likes food, but water kills it. What is it?

h) What’s full of holes but can still hold water?

i) Which is heavier, a pound of feathers or a pound of rocks?

j) How far can a dog run into the woods?

k) You’re driving a city bus. At the first stop, three women get on. At the second stop, one woman gets off and a man gets on. At the third stop, two children get on. The bus is blue and it’s raining outside in December. What colour is the bus driver’s hair?

l) There are three houses. One is red, one is blue and one is white. If the red house is to the left of the house in the middle, and the blue house is to the right of the house in the middle, where’s the white house?

m) It’s at the center of gravity and you can find it in Venus, but not Mars. What is it?

n) What goes on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three in the evening?  (This is from the classic myth,  Oedipus and the Riddle of the Sphinx )

o) What travels faster: heat or cold?

p) A man was walking in the rain in the middle of nowhere without a coat or an umbrella. He got soaked, but not a single hair on his head was wet. How can this be?

q) A cowboy rode into town on Friday. He stayed in town for three days and rode back out on Friday. How is this possible?

b) Neither. Egg yolks are yellow, not white!

f) The letter “R”

h) A sponge

i) Neither. Both weigh a pound!

j) Halfway. Once it reaches halfway, it’s running  out  of the woods.

k) Whatever colour your hair is. Remember, you’re driving the bus!

l) In Washington, D.C.

m) The letter “V”

n) A human. The times of day represent stages of human life. At the beginning of life, a baby crawls on four “feet.” As a person gets older, they walk on two feet. Later in life, a person will walk on three “feet” (two feet, plus a cane to help them walk).

o) Heat travels faster because you can catch a cold!

p) He was bald.

q) The horse’s name was Friday.

As a bonus, use these riddles to challenge preconceived notions and get students thinking about natural bias .

a) Two boxers are in a match scheduled for 12 rounds. (Pure boxing only - no kicking, UFC takedowns, or anything else). One of the boxers gets knocked out after only six rounds, yet no man throws a punch. How is this possible?

b) A father and son have a car accident and both are very injured. They are taken to separate hospitals for treatment. When the boy is taken in for an operation, the surgeon says, “I can’t do this surgery…. this boy is my son!” How is this possible?

a) The two boxers are women.

b) The surgeon is the boy’s mother.

2. Language associations

These brain teasers for kids explore the complexities of the English language. Use them to boost student knowledge of sounds, words, spelling, categorization and more.a)  Word association : find a word that associates with the following sets of words.

• Cake, swiss, cottage
• Glasses, screen, day
• Cream, cube, cap
• Knife, fly, cup

b) Find the mystery word . Replace the third letter of each word with a new letter to create a different word. When read vertically, the new letters will reveal the mystery word.

For example, the word MA K E could become MA R E, MA L E, MA T E and so on. It’s your job to figure out which one works to create the mystery word. 

Hint: It’s something you’ll find outside.

c) Find rhyming pairs . Unscramble the words below so that each pair of words rhymes.

• RBAE & HREAS
• WNROED & UTRHNDE
• TUGHAT & HBTUGO
• ODULC & ODOG

Mystery word: FLOWER

• BEAR (or BARE) & SHARE
• WONDER & THUNDER
• TAUGHT & BOUGHT
• COULD & GOOD

You can also use printable brain teasers for kids like this one:

Image source: Spelling Words Well

Answer: The “happy word” is SMILE.

3. Lateral thinking problems

Lateral thinking problems require creative thinking with an indirect approach.

These questions require logic and careful thought to solve. The most notable example of a lateral thinking problem is the classic Monty Hall problem .

Here are two examples of lateral thinking problems kids can try to solve.

a) The river crossing problem

Image source: Popular Mechanics

A farmer is travelling with a fox, a goose, and a bag of beans. During his journey, he comes across a river with a boat to cross it.

The farmer can only fit one thing in the boat with him at a time. If left alone together, the fox will eat the goose or the goose will eat the beans. How does the farmer get everything across the river safely?

b) The light bulb problem

There are three light switches outside of a room-- labeled number one, number two, and number three. The door to the room is closed and you can’t see in. All three switches are off.

You need to figure out which switch belongs to which bulb. You can use the switches however you want to, but can only enter the room once. How do you do it?

a) Here’s the step-by-step solution:

• The farmer brings the goose across the river first (if he leaves the goose alone, it will either eat the beans or be eaten by the fox).
• The farmer brings either the fox or the beans across and leaves the other one alone.
• Now the farmer has two items on the other side of the river, including the goose. If he leaves the goose again, the same problem will occur. So, the farmer must bring the goose back to the other side.
• The farmer brings the other item back (either the fox or the beans) and leaves the goose alone again. The fox and the beans are now on the other side of the river.
• The farmer returns and brings the goose across the river again.

b) Turn on the first switch and leave it on. Turn on the second switch for a few minutes, and then turn it off again. When you enter the room, one light bulb will be on. You’ll know it goes with switch one because you turned it on. Another bulb will be hot. You’ll know that goes with switch two because it was on for a little while. The bulb that’s off and cold goes with switch three because you didn’t touch it.

Like math puzzles , these brain teasers for kids can increase engagement with math content and inspire your students to work on math concepts and problems outside of regular lessons.

1. Math riddles

These riddles are just as amusing as the ones above, but they’re math-focused . Use them to give students some extra math practice and encourage resourceful thinking.

Math riddles

a) Divide 30 by ½ and add 10. What’s the answer?

b) A clerk at the butcher shop is six feet tall and wears size 10 shoes. What does he weigh?

c) A farmer has 19 sheep on his land. One day, a big storm hits and all but seven run away. How many sheep does the farmer have left?

d) Your sock drawer only contains 18 white socks and 18 blue socks. How many times do you need to reach inside the drawer and take out a sock to guarantee a matching pair?

e) You planted sunflower seeds in your back garden. Every day, the number of flowers doubles. If it takes 52 days for the flowers to fill the garden, how many days would it take for them to fill half the garden?

f) Using only addition, how can you use eight eights to get the number 1,000?

g) When Ashley was 15, her mother was 37. Now, her mother is twice her age. How old is Ashley?

a) It's 70. You’re dividing 30 by ½, not by two. Thirty divided by ½ is the same thing as multiplying it by two, which is 60. Plus 10 makes 70!

b) Meat. He works at the butcher shop, so he weighs meat for a living.

c) Seven. The riddle says  all but seven  run away, meaning there are seven left who didn’t.

d) Three times. On the third time, you’ll get either a white or a blue sock to match with one of the other two you’ve already grabbed.

e) It would take 51 days. If the number of flowers doubles every day, half the garden would be full the day before, on the 51st day.

f) 888 +88 +8 +8 +8

g) Ashley is 22. Her mother is 22 years older, so when Ashley is 22, she’s now half her mother’s age.

2. Pattern problems

These questions require students to identify a pattern before they can answer a particular question. Kids must use creative and logical thinking to find the answers.

4 + 4 = 168

5 + 5 = 2510.

b) What makes this number unique: 8,549,176,320?

c) Solve the pattern puzzle below. Find the missing number to replace the question mark.

Image source: Genius Puzzles

d) Solve the following:

Image source: AOL

a) The missing number is 3612. The answer is the number multiplied by itself and then the number added to itself. Six multiplied by six is 36, and six plus six is 12.

b) It contains each one-digit number, zero through nine, listed in alphabetical order.

c) The missing number is 17. Each number in the circle is the sum of the numbers in the opposite quadrant. In this case, the numbers are eight and nine — added together makes 17.

d) The answer is 14 (or 16), if you’re on the other side of the debate .

3. Prodigy Math Game

This math activity is a bit different from others on the list. It’s not a traditional brain teaser, but it can also be used as a fun, skill-building alternative to traditional math class.

Prodigy is a game-based learning platform that takes your students on an online fantasy adventure while they answer standards-aligned math questions. It’s engaging and effective at teaching necessary skills. 

Prodigy's free teacher tools help you differentiate learning, send assessments in-game and even collect student insights!

Visual brain teasers for kids

1. spot the difference.

This ever-popular activity might remind you of your own childhood — and kids still love it! Spot the difference puzzles require lots of deduction and attention to detail.

Here’s an example of a printable spot the difference activity.

Image source: Tim’s Printables

2. Rebus puzzles

A rebus is a visual word puzzle that uses lateral thinking to find its intended meaning. The word or phrase is depicted with a visual illustration, including letters and words. Students must think creatively to figure out the meaning from the clues they’re given. 

Image source: Wikipedia

Image source: Stack Exchange

a) Top secret

b) Think outside the box

Visit the link below if you want more fun rebus puzzles for your students:

3. Optical illusions

Get tricky with your students! Optical illusions use visual tricks that alter the perception of what you’re really seeing. Students will love trying to figure out what’s really going on in these examples.

a) How many legs does the elephant have?

Image source: Optics For Kids

b) Are the two squares different colours?

Image source: Brain Den

b) They’re exactly the same colour. If you place your finger over the spot where the squares meet, you can see they’re the same. Try this impossible paper puzzle if you want a more hands-on optical illusion. You can make one to show your class, then have students make their own as a fun brain teaser to show friends and family.

4. Stroop effect test

The Stroop effect was discovered in the 1930s by John Ridley Stroop. During the test, you’re given a list of colour names, with each word being a different colour than what they describe.

The test involves saying the colour of a word, rather than reading the word itself. Your mind must process the two conflicting pieces of information, which slows down reaction speed and requires careful thought to get through.

Image source: The Crafty Classroom

Benefits of brain teasers for kids

You know your students enjoy them, but did you know there are plenty of additional reasons to make brain teasers a regular activity in the classroom?

A study on the attention spans of six-year-olds found children who were given brain teasers were more attentive than those who were not — showing brain teasers were effective at boosting children’s attention spans.   

Brain teasers for kids can also:

• Strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Encourage lateral thinking and build new perspectives
• Improve cognitive abilities like memory and processing speed
• Inspire teamwork and communication
• Engage students and motivate them to learn
• Provide necessary breaks from traditional class work

How to use brain teasers in the classroom

In addition to their many learning advantages, brain teasers are a great way to break up the day and engage your students. Here are just a few ways you can use brain teasers for kids as a teaching strategy and maximize the benefits in your classroom:

• Engagement-boosting activity before or after lessons
• Bonus questions in assignments and tests
• Optional “free time” activity
• Encourage team building — split students into groups to solve them together
• Supplement lessons — choose brain teasers about the subject you’re teaching

Final thoughts on brain teasers for kids

No matter what subject or skill you want to focus on, a brain teaser is a great addition to traditional teaching methods. Plus, it’s something students will actually be excited to do.

Remember that brain teaser are designed to be fun for kids. it’s not about finding the right answer, but the mental exercise they get from trying to find the solution.

Use any of the brain teasers in this list whenever you need a boost of energy in your classroom. Bonus points if you can stump any adults!

Create or log in to your free teacher account on Prodigy – a game-based learning platform for math that’s easy to use for educators and students alike. Aligned with standards across the English-speaking world, it’s used by more than a million teachers and 90 million students.

Tracking Health and Wellness Applications of Brain Science

Brain Teasers, Puzzles and Games for Teens and Adults

It is always good to learn more about our brains and to exer­cise them! .

Fun teasers on how our brains and minds work:

2. You say you can count? Check out this brief  atten­tion experiment

3. Test your stress level

4. Guess: Are there more con­nec­tions in one human brain or leaves in the whole Amazon?

Challenge your cognitive abilities with these brain teaser games:

5.  Quick brain teasers to flex two key men­tal muscles

6. Count the Fs in this sentence

7.  Can you iden­tify Apple’s logo?

Visual illusions:

8.  Ten clas­sic opti­cal illu­sions  to trick your mind

9. What do you see?

10. Fun  Men­tal Rota­tion challenge

11.  What is going on with these pictures?

Language and logic mind teasers:

12. Which way is the bus head­ing ?

13. Where do words go?

14. Join this par­ty for polyglots

15.  Fun & Brainy Haikus . Yours?

A few visual workouts to challenge your mind:

16. Is a cir­cle a circle?

17. Less obvi­ous than it may appear

18. How many…

How’s your pattern recognition?

19. Proverbs to  exer­cise your mem­ory and reasoning

21. Good puz­zle for the whole brain:  The Blind Beggar

22. Find the  the Real­ly, Real­ly, Real­ly Big Number

Fun brain teasers for the workplace:

23. Please  con­sider Lin­da ’s job prospects

24. A few guessti­ma­tions  often used in con­sult­ing and tech interviews

25. How many golf balls can fit in a school bus?

What does it mean when you don’t see mov­ing circles?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

• Our Mission

10 Brilliant Math Brain Teasers

Tap into rigorous problem-solving and critical thinking with these playful math brain teasers for middle and high school students.  

To break the ice during the first few awkward moments of class in the new school year, high school math teacher Lorenzo Robinson uses an unusual strategy: He reads his students’ minds.

Here’s how the mystical feat unfolds: Each student picks a number between 1 and 100. Next, they use calculators to add, subtract, multiply, and divide their way through a set of predetermined numbers. At the end, everyone ends up with the same answer: 427. Robinson isn’t psychic, of course, but because the mechanics of the teaser are always the same, regardless of which initial numbers his students select, he’s able to correctly “guess” their final result—much to their amazement. 

Starting off the lesson with a math brain teaser sets a playful tone and lowers the stakes for kids, “generating a buzz around my class,” Robinson says. “It makes students feel as though this class is not going to be scary, it’s going to be interesting. ‘We’re going to be learning, but we’re also going to have some fun.’” 

Robinson thinks of math brain teasers as a variation on brain breaks —a brief respite from dense curricular material that gives kids time to pause and process. They can also provide an opportunity to build relationships and community as kids put their heads together to find solutions. Good brain teasers can be sneaky: They get kids developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills. 

Meanwhile, before introducing a new one, Robinson works through the problem himself, identifying questions that students might have along the way and making sure his class has the background knowledge to understand how the teaser works. It’s important, he says, to provide a few minutes for kids to examine and discuss the teaser. Ask them to observe, highlight, and share things that stand out. 

“The most powerful reaction is when a kid doesn’t get the correct answer,” Robinson says, and they ask to try the problem again. “They want to feel what the other kids are feeling, that educational euphoria. They want to do it again because they want to be right.” That organic intellectual curiosity is hugely helpful in high school math, Robinson says, because it can be “parlayed into the other stuff that we do.”

We combed through dozens of math brain teasers to find 10 good ones—including several of Robinson’s tried-and-true favorites.  

Number Magic: I’ll Bet Your Number is… 427

• Start by having students pick any number between 1 and 100. 
• Add 28. 
• Multiply that number by 6. 
• Subtract 3. 
• Divide that number by 3. 
• Subtract 3 more than your original number. 
• Add 8. 
• Subtract 1 less than your original number. 
• Multiply that number by 7. 

And voilà, you’ll correctly identify each student’s final result as 427. Courtesy of: Lorenzo Robinson  

Can Your Shoe Size Tell Your Age? 

• Start with your shoe size. If you are a half size—for example, size 8.5—round up to 9.
• Multiply your shoe size by 5. 
• Add 50. 
• Multiply that number by 20. 
• Subtract the year you were born—for example, 1991. Add 1 if you already had your birthday this year. 

The first digit(s) are your shoe size, and the last two digits are your age.  Courtesy of: Lorenzo Robinson.  

Cutting Across a Cross

Ask students to draw a cross on a sheet of paper. Drawing one on the board as a point of reference is helpful. Next, ask students to draw two straight lines that will segment or cut the cross into pieces. The goal is to produce the most pieces.

The solution can be found here .  Sourced from: MathisFun.com .

Number Magic: I’ll Bet Your Final Number is… 5  

• Start with a positive number. Students shouldn’t say the number out loud.
• Square that number. 
• Add 10x the original number to what you have now. 
• Add 25 to the result of the previous step. 
• Now take the square root of that number, rounding to the nearest whole number. 
• Subtract your original number.
• Before students share their final figure, reveal that you guess their collective result is 5. 

Courtesy of: Lorenzo Robinson.

Birthday Math 

Have students work in pairs and share the following instructions with their partner:

• Start with the number 7.
• Multiply that by the month of your birth. For example, if you were born in September, you’d use the number 9 to represent your birth month. 
• Subtract 1. 
• Multiply that number by 13. 
• Add the day of your birth. 
• Add 3. 
• Multiply that number by 11. 
• Subtract the month of your birth. 
• Subtract the day of your birth. 
• Divide by 10.
• Add 11 to that number. 
• Divide by 100. 

The result on the calculator screen should be their partner’s birthday.  Sourced from: Dr. Mike’s Math Games for Kids .

Coin Conundrum

Ask students to imagine that they have two coins that total 30 cents in value. Have them try to figure out what the two coins are, only providing them with a singular piece of information: One of the coins is not a nickel. The answer: A quarter and a nickel. (Only one of the coins is not a nickel.)

Sourced from: WeAreTeachers .

The Phone Number Trick  

• Ignoring your area code, type the first three digits of your phone number into a calculator.
• Multiply that number by 80. 
• Add 1. 
• Multiply that number by 250. 
• Add the last four digits of your phone number. 
• Add the last four digits of your phone number again. 
• Subtract 250. 
• Divide this number by 2. Do you recognize your phone number?

Courtesy of: Lorenzo Robinson. 

A Number Challenge

For a slightly more independent teaser, challenge students to produce a math equation that works using these four numbers—2, 3, 4, and 5—as well as a plus (+) and equal sign (=). Students can work individually, in pairs, or in small groups as they try to create a valid equation. The answer: 2 + 5 = 3 + 4.

Sourced from: WeAreTeachers .  

Math Mind Reader 

Students can work in pairs with this teaser. One person will start off by holding the calculator so their partner cannot see it; the other person can read the steps aloud to the partner with the calculator. 

• The student with the calculator starts by choosing a whole number from 1 to 20 and writing it down on a piece of paper without letting their partner see it. 
• Next, the student with the calculator enters their secret number into the calculator. 
• Multiply that number by 3. 
• Add the secret number, then subtract 5. 
• Multiply by 3, then multiply by 3 again. 
• Add the secret number, then subtract the number of their favorite month (you don’t have to know what month it is). For example, 9 represents the ninth month of the year, September. 
• Multiply by 3, then multiply by 3 again, and then again a third time. 
• Add the secret number, then subtract their favorite day of the month (again, you don’t have to know what it is on your end). 
• Ask them to show the non-calculator partner the result. At this stage, the non-calculator partner can guess the original secret number, even though what appears on the screen may be a very large number. 

If the result is negative, their secret number is 1.

If the result has only three digits, their secret number is 2.

In all other cases, ignore the last three digits, and then add 2 to get the secret number! 

Sourced from: Dr. Mike’s Math Games for Kids .

What’s Unique About This Number?

After writing the number 8,549,176,320 on the board, ask students to observe the number and tell you everything they think is unique about the number.

Answer: It is the digits 0 to 9 in alphabetical order (eight, five, four, nine, one, seven, six, three, two, zero), but it’s surprising and fun to see what students come up with. This number can also be evenly divided by the digits 1 through 9 except for the number 7, for example. 

Sourced from: MathisFun.com . 

75 Brain Teasers to Sharpen Your Wits and Make You LOL

Some of these riddles are sure to stump kids and adults—but don't worry, we've included answers, too!

But brain teasers are more than just a workout for your gray matter. They're seriously fun—especially when they're super clever or funny, like the ones we've gathered below. They'll make you think for sure, but they're also pretty much guaranteed to get you giggling as hard as your favorite Dad wisecrack or knock-knock joke does.

And as you'll see, we've included not just more difficult brain teasers that are great for grown-ups, but also plenty of easier, kid-friendly thought puzzles and math riddles. That way, the whole family can work them out together at the dinner table . Because the only thing better than training your brain is bonding with your loved ones while you do it!

Let the Brain Teasers Begin!

Funny Brain Teasers

• Q: What can you put in a bucket to make it weigh less? A: A hole.
• Q: What is faster, hot or cold? A: You can catch a cold, so hot is definitely faster.
• Q: What kind of running also means walking? A: Running out of gas.
• Q: Who is bigger: Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger, or their baby? A: Their baby, because he is a little bigger.
• Q: What has a lot of teeth but can't bite? A: A comb.
• Q: Imagine you're in the forest, surrounded by ravenous, man-eating wolves. How do you put an end this terrible situation? A: Stop imagining it.
• Q: What has a bottom at the top? A: Your legs.
• Q: What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it? A: Short.
• Q: Why did the woman push her car to a hotel and tell its owner she’s bankrupt? A: Because she's playing Monopoly.
• Q: How can a man who shaves many times a day still have a long beard? A: He’s a barber.
• Q: Which tire doesn’t move when your car turns left? A: The spare tire.
• Q: What kind of tree can you carry in your hand? A: A palm tree.
• Q: How far can a bear run into the woods? A: Halfway. After that, he’s running out of the woods.
• Q: When two snakes get married, what do their towels say? A: Hiss and hers.
• Q: Which side of a chicken has more feathers? A: The outside.

Easy Brain Teasers

• Q: You live in a one-story house made of redwood. What color are the stairs? A: There aren't any stairs. It's a one-story house!
• Q: If an electric train is heading north, which way is the smoke going? A: There is no smoke. It's an electric train.
• Q: I have two newly minted coins in my pocket. One isn't a nickel, but they total 30 cents. What are the coins? A: A quarter and a nickel—one isn’t a nickel but the other is.
• Q: What kind of band doesn’t play music? A: A rubber band.
• Q: I'm not psychic, but I can always predict the score of any baseball game before it starts. How do I do this? A: The score is always zero to zero before the game starts!
• Q: A man is taking a walk when it starts to rain. He's not wearing a hat, and he doesn't have an umbrella, or anything else to cover his head. How does he manage to not get a single hair wet? A: He's bald.
• Q: Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world? A: Mt. Everest was still the highest mountain the world—it just hadn't been discovered yet.
• Q: What has a lot of keys but can’t open a lock? A: A piano.
• Q: A plane crashes on the border of the U.S. and Mexico. Where are the survivors buried? A: You don't bury survivors!
• Q: There are 12 months in a year, and seven months have 31 days. How many months have 28 days? A: All of them.
• Q: I'm a six-letter word. My first three letters refer to an automobile and my last three letters refer to a household animal. My first four letters are the name of a fish, but I'm found in your house. What am I? A: Carpet.
• Q: What can you hold without ever touching it? A: Your breath.
• Q: I won't cry if you cut me, but you will! What am I? A: An onion.
• Q: What 2 things can you never eat for breakfast? A: Lunch and dinner.
• Q: There's a power outage and the lights go out. It's pitch black, but you have one match on you. Do you light the candle, the oil lamp or the fire first? A: You light the match first.

Difficult Brain Teasers

• Q: What is special about these words: job, polish, herb? A: They are pronounced differently when the first letter is capitalized.
• Q: Turn me on my side and I'm everything. Cut me in half and I'm nothing. What am I? A: The number 8.
• Q: Can you name the three playing cards that have been place in a row using the following clues? There is a two to the right of a king. A diamond will be found to the left of a spade. An ace is to the left of a heart. A heart is to the left of a spade. A: Ace of diamonds, king of hearts and two of spades.
• Q: What word has three double letters in a row? A: Bookkeeper.
• Q: What is unique about the number 8,549,176,320? A: Each number, zero through nine, is listed in alphabetical order.
• Q: What is made and bought by people who have no use for it, while the person who uses it can't see it or feel it? A: A coffin.
• Q: What is unusual about the following words: revive, banana, grammar, voodoo, assess, potato, dresser, uneven? A: If you put the first letter of each word at the end instead, it will spell the same word backward.
• Q: What is yours, but everyone else you know uses it? A: You name.
• Q: If I am holding a bee, what do I have in my eye? A: Beauty. (It's a play on the famous proverb, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.")
• Q: What can go up a chimney when down but can't go down a chimney when up? A: An umbrella.
• Q: What word's first two letters signify a man, first three letters signify a woman, first four letters signify a great man, while the whole word signifies a great woman? A: Heroine.
• Q: What runs but never walks, has a bed but never sleeps, a mouth that never speaks, and a head that never weeps? A: A river.
• Q: A cowboy rides into town on Friday, stays for two nights, and leaves on Friday. How is this possible? A: His horse is named Friday.
• Q: Two men wearing backpacks are in a desert. One is dead. The man who is alive has his backpack open, and the guy who is dead has his backpack closed. What's in the dead man’s backpack? A: A parachute.
• Q: What can fill an entire room without taking up any space? A: Light.

Math Brain Teasers

• Q: How many triangles are in the image above? A: 18. See the explanation.
• Q: Using only addition, how can you add eight 8s to get the number 1,000? A: 888 + 88 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 1,000.
• Q: Mr. and Mrs. Smith have six sons, who each have one sister. How many people are in the Smith family? A: Nine. Each brother shares the same sister, so there are six boys and one girl, plus Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
• Q: The ages of a mother and his daughter add up to 55. If you reverse the digits of the mother's age, you get the daughter's age. How old are they? A: The mother is 41, and the daughter is 14.
• Q: How do you make the number 7 even without using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division? A: Drop the "s" and "seven" becomes "even."
• Q: How can you use the numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the symbols + and = to make a true math equation? A: 2 + 5 = 3 + 4 .
• Q: A farmer has 24 cows. All but seven of them ran away. How many does he have left? A: Seven.
• Q: What 4-digit number multiplied by 4 gives the same number in reverse? A: When multiplied by 4, the number 2178 is 8712.
• Q: Which weighs more: 16 ounces of gold or a pound of feathers? A: They weigh the same. 16 ounces = 1 pound, no matter what's being weighed.
• Q: How can 6 + 12 = 6? A: When you think in terms of time. 6 a.m. + 12 hours = 6 p.m.
• Chet purchased a pair of pants and a shirt for $150. The pants were $100 more than the shirt. How did each item cost? A: Answer: The pants cost $125, the shirt $25.
• What three numbers give the same result whether they're added or multiplied together? A: 1, 2 and 3 (1 + 2 + 3 = 6 and 1 x 2 x 3 = 6).
• Q: What can you place between 5 and 6 to make the outcome greater than 5 but less than 6? A: A decimal point.
• Q: If three bears can catch three fish in three minutes, how long will it take 100 bears to catch 100 fish? A: Three minutes. If one bear can catch one fish in three minutes, 100 bears catch can catch 100 fish in three minutes.
• Q: What three-digit number has a second digit that is four times greater than the third digit, and a first digit that is three less than the second digit? A: 141.
• Q: In your head, take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10. What is the total? A: 4100. But most people get tripped up at the end of the equation, when adding 10 to 4,090, and come up with 5,000.

Clever Brain Teasers

• Q: If you drop me I’m sure to crack, but give me a grin and I’ll always grin back. What am I? A: A mirror.
• Q: What begins and ends with an E but only has one letter? A: An envelope.
• Q: A man is standing on one side of a river, and his dog is on the other. The man calls his dog, who crosses the river without swimming and without using a boat or a bridge. How did the dog get across? A: The river was frozen.
• Q: What building has the most stories? A: The library.
• Q: Give me food, and I will live. Give me water, and I will die. What am I? A: Fire.
• Q: In 1990, a person is 15 years old. In 1995, that same person is 10 years old. How can this be? A: They were born in 2005 BC.
• Q: If a sundial has the fewest moving parts of any timepiece, what has the most? A: An hourglass. It has thousands of grains of sand.
• Q: I'm always in you, sometimes on you, but if I surround you, I can kill you. What am I? A: Water.
• Q: Two fathers and two sons are in a car, yet there are only three people in the car. How is this possible? A: They are grandfather, father, and son.
• Q: What can you hold in your right hand but not in your left? A: Your left elbow.
• Q: Where does today come before yesterday? A: The dictionary.
• Q: Sometimes they're green, sometimes they're brown, and both of these times make me frown. But in between, for a little while, they're perfect and yellow and make me smile. What are they? A: Bananas.
• Q: What runs though cities and towns, forest and fields, but never moves? A: A road.
• Q: First, I threw away the outside and cooked the inside. Then I ate the outside and threw away the inside. What did I eat? A: Corn on the cob.
• Q: If there are seven boys, and seven peaches in a basket, how do you give each boy a peach, but keep a peach in the basket? A: Give the last boy his peach in the basket.

Jill Gleeson is a travel journalist and memoirist based in the Appalachian Mountains of western Pennsylvania who has written for websites and publications including Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Country Living, Washingtonian, Gothamist, Canadian Traveller, and EDGE Media Network. Jill is the travel editor for Enchanted Living. Learn more about her journey at gleesonreboots.com.

.css-1shyvki:before{background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:contain;background-size:contain;content:'';height:0.819rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-right:-0.9375rem;width:3.125rem;}.loaded .css-1shyvki:before{background-image:url('/_assets/design-tokens/countryliving/static/images/arrow.svg');}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1shyvki:before{display:none;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1shyvki:before{display:inline-block;}} Entertainment .css-unxkmx:before{background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:contain;background-size:contain;content:'';height:0.819rem;margin:0.7rem auto 0.9375rem;width:3.125rem;}.loaded .css-unxkmx:before{background-image:url('/_assets/design-tokens/countryliving/static/images/arrow.svg');}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-unxkmx:before{display:block;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-unxkmx:before{display:none;}}

Kate & William on Their 13th Wedding Anniversary

Ben and Erin Napier's "True Test" of Marriage

Jenny Marrs' Emotional Post Reflects Past 8 Years

Get Ready to LOL With These 125 Hilarious Jokes

Nathan Fillion Has Big 'The Rookie' News to Share

Sitting Down With 'Yellowstone' Star Cole Hauser

'Virgin River' Drops Season 6 Update

Chip and Joanna Gaines Share Magnolia Network News

When Is Vacation House Rules Coming Back to HGTV?

Costco's New Burger Kits Are Dividing The Internet

Reddit Theorizes How 'The Good Doctor' May End

• Get started with computers
• Learn Microsoft Office
• Apply for a job
• Improve my work skills
• Design nice-looking docs
• Getting Started
• Smartphones & Tablets
• Typing Tutorial
• Online Learning
• Basic Internet Skills
• Online Safety
• Social Media
• Zoom Basics
• Google Docs
• Google Sheets
• Career Planning
• Resume Writing
• Cover Letters
• Job Search and Networking
• Business Communication
• Entrepreneurship 101
• Careers without College
• Job Hunt for Today
• 3D Printing
• Freelancing 101
• Personal Finance
• Sharing Economy
• Decision-Making
• Graphic Design
• Photography
• Image Editing
• Learning WordPress
• Language Learning
• Critical Thinking
• For Educators
• Translations
• Staff Picks
• English expand_more expand_less

Critical Thinking and Decision-Making  - Using Brain Teasers to Build Critical Thinking Skills

Critical thinking and decision-making  -, using brain teasers to build critical thinking skills, critical thinking and decision-making using brain teasers to build critical thinking skills.

Critical Thinking and Decision-Making: Using Brain Teasers to Build Critical Thinking Skills

Lesson 4: using brain teasers to build critical thinking skills.

/en/problem-solving-and-decision-making/decisionmaking-strategies/content/

Using brain teasers to build critical thinking skills

Here's a brain teaser: A rooster is on the roof of a barn facing east. The wind is blowing to the west at 10 miles per hour. The rooster lays an egg. Which direction does the egg roll?

The answer appears below the image.

Answer: There is no egg. The rooster didn't lay one because roosters are male. Did you get it right? Let's pick this apart and see why so many people have difficulty with this brain teaser, and so many others.

Watch the video below to learn more about how you can use brain teasers to improve your critical thinking.

The answer is in the details

It's easy to overlook details or accept them without questioning. In the brain teaser above, the answer could be found in the second word: r ooster .

In hindsight, we realize it's impossible for roosters to lay eggs. But it's easy to overlook this when it's casually mentioned in the brain teaser.

Misdirection

Another process at work in this brain teaser is misdirection . There were several details included that we may have paid too much attention to: The fact that the rooster was facing east, and that the wind was blowing west at 10 miles per hour.

In the end, these details had nothing to do with the actual answer. However, they seemed important in the context of the brain teaser! This directed us away from the relevant information.

Applying these ideas to the real world

The same techniques we use to solve brain teasers can also be applied to real-world situations . When you're trying to figure something out, it's important to analyze the information that's available to you and ask the following questions:

• Are there any key details I may be missing?
• Am I being misled by something?
• Could I be thinking about this in another way?

Brain teasers not only help to keep your mind sharp, but can help improve your critical thinking skills as well.

Let's finish things off with another brain teaser...

You are in a dark room with a single match. The only objects available to you are a candle, an oil lamp, and a gas stove. Which item do you light first?

Answer: The match!

/en/problem-solving-and-decision-making/navigating-todays-health-crazes/content/

You are here

Challenging brain teasers with solutions: long list.

This is a rather long list of challenging brain teasers with solutions. The brain teasers are hand-picked and solutions focus on systematic problem solving.

Know how to solve difficult problems easily without wasting time on random attempts

Our ebook on puzzle solutions by innovative methods will show you just that.

Puzzles for Adults: 50 Brain Teasers with Step-by-Step Solutions: Boost Your Power of Problem Solving

(BUY from Apple books, Barnes & Noble, Rokuten Kobo, Vivlio, Angus & Robertson, Tolino, PayHip and others)

BUY the never before eBook Amazon Kindle version here , from Google Play here and Paperback here .

We are happy to announce on early morning 15th July, 2022 (IST) that the book has been labeled as number 1 new release in puzzles category in Amazon Kindle store in USA marketplace on its 14th day of release.

Second book on Innovative Solutions to Matchstick Puzzles from Suresolv

BUY Creative Matchstick Puzzles Innovative Solutions eBook Amazon Kindle version

BUY the paperback here.

Puzzles and Riddles That You Will Find Interesting

It is a growing list of puzzles and riddles that I felt attracted to and solved. The puzzles belong to all major categories. Each puzzle is divided into two parts - the puzzle and its solution.

A solution focuses on each little step of thought that leads to the solution. And it relies heavily on problem solving strategies and techniques as well as reasoning . Reasoning is my favorite topic - there is so many types and forms of reasoning!

Problem solving techniques are merrily used. But these days, that is during last part of 2021, I favor Question, answer and analysis technique to crack many hard nuts.

Enough of monologue. Go ahead. Taste for yourself. Who is not fond of challenging brain teasers!

Quick jump links to the categories are,

Mathematical puzzles

Logic puzzles, river crossing puzzles, ball weighing puzzles.

• Matchstick puzzles.

Just click on any of the above links to go through the particular category chosen and to return click on your browser back button.

These are the puzzles that I couldn't categorize comfortably. Usually a riddle is small having a small number of key mysteries to unravel. But you will find some of the riddles not easy to conquer.

Two jugs riddle

The tramcar reunion riddle

Riddle of 4 persons crossing a bridge over a river at night

Three boxes riddle

Can You Solve the PROBLEMSOLVING Repetition Riddle?

Airplane riddle of flying around the world

Riddle of lying and truth-telling twins

Two jugs riddle of delivering 1 quart of milk each

How could Sonia sell half a poodle riddle

Transfer a pile of 15 numbered discs riddle

Two burning ropes timer riddle

Riddle of four coins touching

Pick up in turns riddle

Devotee and three temples riddle

Big game hunting riddle: How many animals were bagged?

Knight and calculator keypad riddle

Riddle of all around handshakes in a dinner party

Open the lock riddle with 682 in clues

Connect the nine dots riddle: step by step solution

Open the lock riddle with 154 in clues

Number lock puzzle: Can you crack the code?

Two circles and a line riddle: can you traverse?

The ten barrel face number puzzle

Stepping stone crossing riddle step by step solution

Odd numbered and even numbered piles riddle

Make a circular chain riddle

Catch the cat hiding in 5 boxes riddle

4 digit number lock riddle: Can you crack the code

Remove discs from 10 touching discs riddle

Sharpen Your Thinking: Solve Day Before Two Days After Riddle

Matching Socks Puzzle: Pick Minimum Number of Socks

Four Persons Bridge and Torch River Crossing in 15 minutes Puzzle

Each of these puzzles is predominantly math heavy. Some amount of math you would surely need to solve a puzzle of this category.

But I have taken special care to keep the math simple (simply because I don't know complex math). Even such a hard one like Monkey and coconuts I have solved using Class ten level math that should be understood by most if not all.

Reverse cheque puzzle

Reverse cheque puzzle solution

Counting eggs puzzles based on Euclid's division lemma

Monkey and the coconuts puzzle with solutions

10 digit Conway number puzzle with solution

World's Hardest Easy Geometry Puzzle Solved with Techniques Explained Step by Step

Hard Algebra Puzzles Solved by Basic Exponent Concepts and Reasoning

Three squares in a triangle puzzle

3 digit number math puzzle

9 squares in a rectangle math puzzle

How many addition signs needed to make sum of 99

Solve 3 puzzles by solving only one: Domain mapping

Minimum number of heads with same number of hairs riddle

Playing card math puzzle

Change money math puzzle

Sharing a bicycle puzzle step by step solution

Ship carpenter's problem of plugging a square hole puzzle

Half and half money math puzzle

What is the weight of the fish?

The archery match math puzzle

The cat and mouse game with advisor dog

The puzzle of a purchase in the local market

Math Olympiad Question: Can You Solve in 5 minutes?

Cracking the Code: Solving the Changing Length Repetition Riddle

Just like math puzzles, these are logic heavy. I mean heavily dependent on formal logic that involves truth, falsity, implications and so on.

Though logic is a part of math only, in puzzles, logic demands a separate category. These are especially interesting.

Method based solution to Einstein's logic analysis puzzle, whose fish

How to solve Einstein's puzzle whose fish confidently, improved method based solution

Logic puzzle, When is Cheryl's birthday

Liar and truth-teller riddle with step by step easy solution

4 Prisoners and Hats Puzzle

Liar, Truth-teller, Random-answerer riddle

Flipping coins to heads or tails logic puzzle

Six wrong labeled bottles logic puzzle

Riddle of Name of the Engineer

Who wears which shirt color logic puzzle

Whose birthday on which day logic puzzle

4 logicians and 11 fish fries logic puzzle

Can You Solve the Tricky 3-letter Words Logic Puzzle? (3 Clues)

Sharpen Your Logic: Exercise Your Brain with These Fun Puzzles

Can you Crack the Lying and Truth-telling Lion and Unicorn Puzzle

Solutions to a Liar, Truth-teller Puzzle: Many Ways of Reasoning

This category has a small number of puzzles but these are highly popular and engaging ones.

Farmer with fox, goose and bag of corn crossing the river puzzle

Two pigs and two hens crossing river puzzle

3 monkeys and 3 humans crossing river puzzle

King queen minister washerman river crossing puzzle

Four friends river crossing puzzle in a 100 kg capacity boat

This is also a small category with only a few puzzles. But again these are of a kind as the saying goes.

None of these are easy to solve, but again not too hard to understand the solution also.

Find the heavier among 8 identical balls in 2 weighing puzzle

Find the fake ball among 8 identical balls in 3 weighing puzzle

Find the fake ball among 9 identical balls in 3 weighing puzzle

Find the fake ball among 12 identical balls in 3 weighing hard puzzle with solution

Matchstick puzzles

This is my favorite category and I always keep a large box of matchsticks within reach to play with when I feel the need.

It is a wonder how many engaging creations can be made with these innocuous little sticks!

Solution to 6 triangles to 5 triangles in 2 moves, first matchstick puzzle

Matchstick puzzle 5 squares to 4 squares in 2 moves

Matchstick puzzle 5 squares to 4 squares in 3 moves

Matchstick puzzle, Turn around the fish in 3 moves

Fifth Matchstick puzzle, Move 3 sticks in tic-tac-toe figure to form 3 perfect squares

Hexagonal wheel to 3 triangles by removing 4 sticks

Convert 5 squares to 4 squares in 3 stick moves, third 5 square matchstick puzzle

Matchstick Puzzle - Make the kite nose-dive in 5 stick moves

Make 5 squares from 6 in 2 stick moves - 6 square matchstick puzzle

Move 3 sticks and convert 5 squares to 4 squares in 4th 5 square matchstick puzzle

Move 3 sticks and convert 4 squares to 3 squares matchstick puzzle

Move 8 sticks and convert 5 squares to 2 squares matchstick puzzle

First Move 3 sticks and make 2 squares matchstick puzzle

Second Move 3 sticks and make 2 squares matchstick puzzle

Remove 2 matchsticks to leave 6 triangles puzzle

Add 3 matchsticks to make 4 triangles - lateral thinking stick puzzle

Move 1 stick to make 4 closed shapes each with 3 or 4 sides

Move 2 sticks to make 5 closed shapes matchstick puzzle

Move 2 to make 7 squares matchstick puzzle - solution based on problem solving and innovation model

Move 4 to turn the tower upside down Matchstick puzzle

Move 2 matches to make 6 squares and move 8 matches to make 6 squares - a pair of matchstick puzzles

Move 3 matches to take the cherry out of wine glass and move 2 matches to take the cherry out - a pair of matchstick puzzles

Move 6 matches to make 5 squares

Move 2 matches and add 1 to make 2 diamonds puzzle

Move 4 matches to make 5 triangles matchstick puzzle

Remove 4 matches to leave 4 equal triangles puzzle

Transfer 1 match in two matchstick groups puzzle

Move 3 matches to make 5 equal squares puzzle

Matchstick puzzle move 4 to make 10 squares

Matchstick puzzle Move 2 for form 11 squares

Move 2 matches to make 3 triangles

Remove 3 matches to leave 3 triangles

Add 9 matches to make 8 nodes

Move 3 matches to make 7 squares matchstick puzzle

Move 4 to make 6 squares matchstick puzzle

Move 4 matches to form 3 square area

Move 4 matches to make 4 squares matchstick puzzle

Move 2 matches to form 4 equal squares matchstick puzzle

Move 3 matches to create 3 squares of different sizes

Matchstick star puzzle - Move 2 matches to form 6 triangles

Move 2 matches to form 5 triangles from 6 triangles puzzle

Remove 3 and move 2 matches to form 3 squares puzzle

Enclose maximum number of triangles by 9 matchsticks

Remove 4 matches to leave 6 diamonds matchstick puzzle

Turn around the face of the pig in 2 moves puzzle

Add 10 matches to create 5 diamonds matchstick puzzle

Move 3 matches of 6 squares to create 5 squares puzzle

Turn the Westerly fish to Southerly swimming fish in 2 moves

Remove 5 matches to leave 5 squares matchstick puzzle

Move 4 matches to make 6 triangles matchstick puzzle

Remove 6 matches to leave exactly 2 squares puzzle

Move 3 matches to form 6 squares matchstick puzzle

Move 3 Matches to Form Exactly 3 Rectangles Puzzle

Move 4 matches to leave 2 triangles matchstick puzzle

Move 3 sticks to form six squares matchstick puzzle

Move 3 matches to form 2 large and 1 small triangle puzzle

14 Best Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities For 2024

The best teams see solutions where others see problems. A great company culture is built around a collaborative spirit and the type of unity it takes to find answers to the big business questions.

So how can you get team members working together?

How can you develop a mentality that will help them overcome obstacles they have yet to encounter?

One of the best ways to improve your teams’ problem solving skills is through team building problem solving activities .

“86% of employees and executives cite lack of collaboration or ineffective communication for workplace failures.” — Bit.AI

These activities can simulate true-to-life scenarios they’ll find themselves in, or the scenarios can call on your employees or coworkers to dig deep and get creative in a more general sense.

The truth is, on a day-to-day basis, you have to prepare for the unexpected. It just happens that team building activities help with that, but are so fun that they don’t have to feel like work ( consider how you don’t even feel like you’re working out when you’re playing your favorite sport or doing an exercise you actually enjoy! )

What are the benefits of group problem-solving activities?

The benefits of group problem-solving activities for team building include:

• Better communication
• Improved collaboration and teamwork
• More flexible thinking
• Faster problem-solving
• Better proactivity and decision making

Without further ado, check out this list of the 14 best team-building problem-solving group activities for 2024!

Page Contents (Click To Jump)

Popular Problem Solving Activities

1. virtual team challenge.

Virtual Team Challenges are popular problem-solving activities that involve a group of people working together to solve an issue. The challenge generally involves members of the team brainstorming, discussing, and creating solutions for a given problem.

Participants work both individually and collaboratively to come up with ideas and strategies that will help them reach their goals.

Why this is a fun problem-solving activity: Participants can interact and communicate with each other in a virtual environment while simultaneously engaging with the problem-solving activities. This makes it an enjoyable experience that allows people to use their creative thinking skills, build team spirit, and gain valuable insights into the issue at hand.

Problem-solving activities such as Virtual Team Challenges offer a great way for teams to come together, collaborate, and develop creative solutions to complex problems.

2. Problem-Solving Templates

Problem-Solving Templates are popular problem-solving activities that involve a group of people working together to solve an issue. The challenge generally involves members of the team utilizing pre-made templates and creating solutions for a given problem with the help of visual aids.

This activity is great for teams that need assistance in getting started on their problem-solving journey.

Why this is a fun problem-solving activity: Problem-Solving Templates offer teams an easy and stress-free way to get the creative juices flowing. The visual aids that come with the templates help team members better understand the issue at hand and easily come up with solutions together.

This activity is great for teams that need assistance in getting started on their problem-solving journey, as it provides an easy and stress-free way to get the creative juices flowing.

Problem Solving Group Activities & Games For Team Building

3. coworker feud, “it’s all fun and games”.

Coworker Feud is a twist on the classic Family Feud game show! This multiple rapid round game keeps the action flowing and the questions going. You can choose from a variety of customizations, including picking the teams yourself, randomized teams, custom themes, and custom rounds.

Best for: Hybrid teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Coworker Feud comes with digital game materials, a digital buzzer, an expert host, and a zoom link to get the participants ready for action! Teams compete with each other to correctly answer the survey questions. At the end of the game, the team with the most competitive answers is declared the winner of the Feud.

How to get started:

• Sign up for Coworker Feud
• Break into teams of 4 to 10 people
• Get the competitive juices flowing and let the games begin!

Learn more here: Coworker Feud

4. Crack The Case

“who’s a bad mamma jamma”.

Crack The Case is a classic WhoDoneIt game that forces employees to depend on their collective wit to stop a deadly murderer dead in his tracks! Remote employees and office commuters can join forces to end this crime spree.

Best for: Remote teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: The Virtual Clue Murder Mystery is an online problem solving activity that uses a proprietary videoconferencing platform to offer the chance for employees and coworkers to study case files, analyze clues, and race to find the motive, the method, and the individual behind the murder of Neil Davidson.

• Get a custom quote here
• Download the app
• Let the mystery-solving collaboration begin!

Learn more here: Crack The Case

5. Catch Meme If You Can

“can’t touch this”.

Purposefully created to enhance leadership skills and team bonding , Catch Meme If You Can is a hybrid between a scavenger hunt and an escape room . Teammates join together to search for clues, solve riddles, and get out — just in time!

Best for: Small teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Catch Meme If You Can is an adventure with a backstory. Each team has to submit their answer to the puzzle in order to continue to the next part of the sequence. May the best team escape!

• The teams will be given instructions and the full storyline
• Teams will be split into a handful of people each
• The moderator will kick off the action!

Learn more here: Catch Meme If You Can

6. Puzzle Games

“just something to puzzle over”.

Puzzle Games is the fresh trivia game to test your employees and blow their minds with puzzles, jokes , and fun facts!

Best for: In-person teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Eight mini brain teaser and trivia style games include word puzzles, name that nonsense, name that tune, and much more. Plus, the points each team earns will go towards planting trees in the precious ecosystems and forests of Uganda

• Get a free consultation for your team
• Get a custom designed invitation for your members
• Use the game link
• Dedicated support will help your team enjoy Puzzle Games to the fullest!

Learn more here: Puzzle Games

7. Virtual Code Break

“for virtual teams”.

Virtual Code Break is a virtual team building activity designed for remote participants around the globe. Using a smart video conferencing solution, virtual teams compete against each other to complete challenges, answer trivia questions, and solve brain-busters!

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Virtual Code Break can be played by groups as small as 4 people all the way up to more than 1,000 people at once. However, every team will improve their communication and problem-solving skills as they race against the clock and depend on each other’s strengths to win!

• Reach out for a free consultation to align the needs of your team
• An event facilitator will be assigned to handle all of the set-up and logistics
• They will also provide you with logins and a play-by-play of what to expect
• Sign into the Outback video conferencing platform and join your pre-assigned team
• Lastly, let the games begin!

Learn more here: Virtual Code Break

8. Stranded

“survivor: office edition”.

Stranded is the perfect scenario-based problem solving group activity. The doors of the office are locked and obviously your team can’t just knock them down or break the windows.

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Your team has less than half an hour to choose 10 items around the office that will help them survive. They then rank the items in order of importance. It’s a bit like the classic game of being lost at sea without a lifeboat.

• Get everyone together in the office
• Lock the doors
• Let them start working together to plan their survival

Learn more here: Stranded

9. Letting Go Game

“for conscious healing”.

The Letting Go Game is a game of meditation and mindfulness training for helping teammates thrive under pressure and reduce stress in the process. The tasks of the Letting Go Game boost resiliency, attentiveness, and collaboration.

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Expert-guided activities and awareness exercises encourage team members to think altruistically and demonstrate acts of kindness. Between yoga, face painting, and fun photography, your employees or coworkers will have more than enough to keep them laughing and growing together with this mindfulness activity!

• Reach out for a free consultation
• A guide will then help lead the exercises
• Let the funny videos, pictures, and playing begin!

Learn more here: Letting Go Game

10. Wild Goose Chase

“city time”.

Wild Goose Chase is the creative problem solving activity that will take teams all around your city and bring them together as a group! This scavenger hunt works for teams as small as 10 up to groups of over 5000 people.

Best for: Large teams

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: As employees and group members are coming back to the office, there are going to be times that they’re itching to get outside. Wild Goose Chase is the perfect excuse to satisfy the desire to go out-of-office every now and then. Plus, having things to look at and see around the city will get employees talking in ways they never have before.

• Download the Outback app to access the Wild Goose Chase
• Take photos and videos from around the city
• The most successful team at completing challenges on time is the champ!

Learn more here: Wild Goose Chase

11. Human Knot

“for a knotty good time”.

The Human Knot is one of the best icebreaker team building activities! In fact, there’s a decent chance you played it in grade school. It’s fun, silly, and best of all — free!

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: Participants start in a circle and connect hands with two other people in the group to form a human knot. The team then has to work together and focus on clear communication to unravel the human knot by maneuvering their way out of this hands-on conundrum. But there’s a catch — they can’t let go of each other’s hands in this team building exercise.

• Form a circle
• Tell each person to grab a random hand until all hands are holding another
• They can’t hold anyone’s hand who is directly next to them
• Now they have to get to untangling
• If the chain breaks before everyone is untangled, they have to start over again

Learn more here: Human Knot

12. What Would You Do?

“because it’s fun to imagine”.

What Would You Do? Is the hypothetical question game that gets your team talking and brainstorming about what they’d do in a variety of fun, intriguing, and sometimes, whacky scenarios.

Best for: Distributed teams

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: After employees or coworkers start talking about their What Would You Do? responses, they won’t be able to stop. That’s what makes this such an incredible team building activity . For example, you could ask questions like “If you could live forever, what would you do with your time?” or “If you never had to sleep, what would you do?”

• In addition to hypothetical questions, you could also give teammates some optional answers to get them started
• After that, let them do the talking — then they’ll be laughing and thinking and dreaming, too!

13. Crossing The River

“quite the conundrum”.

Crossing The River is a river-crossing challenge with one correct answer. Your team gets five essential elements — a chicken, a fox, a rowboat, a woman, and a bag of corn. You see, the woman has a bit of a problem, you tell them. She has to get the fox, the bag of corn, and the chicken to the other side of the river as efficiently as possible.

Why this is an effective group problem solving activity: She has a rowboat, but it can only carry her and one other item at a time. She cannot leave the chicken and the fox alone — for obvious reasons. And she can’t leave the chicken with the corn because it will gobble it right up. So the question for your team is how does the woman get all five elements to the other side of the river safely in this fun activity?

• Form teams of 2 to 5 people
• Each team has to solve the imaginary riddle
• Just make sure that each group understands that the rowboat can only carry one animal and one item at a time; the fox and chicken can’t be alone; and the bag of corn and the chicken cannot be left alone
• Give the verbal instructions for getting everything over to the other side

14. End-Hunger Games

“philanthropic fun”.

Does anything bond people quite like acts of kindness and compassion? The End-Hunger Games will get your team to rally around solving the serious problem of hunger.

Best for: Medium-sized teams

Why this is an effective problem solving group activity: Teams join forces to complete challenges based around non-perishable food items in the End-Hunger Games. Groups can range in size from 25 to more than 2000 people, who will all work together to collect food for the local food bank.

• Split into teams and compete to earn boxes and cans of non-perishable food
• Each team attempts to build the most impressive food item construction
• Donate all of the non-perishable foods to a local food bank

Learn more here: End-Hunger Games

People Also Ask These Questions About Team Building Problem Solving Group Activities

Q: what are some problem solving group activities.

• A: Some problem solving group activities can include riddles, egg drop, reverse pyramid, tallest tower, trivia, and other moderator-led activities.

Q: What kind of skills do group problem solving activities & games improve?

• A: Group problem solving activities and games improve collaboration, leadership, and communication skills.

Q: What are problem solving based team building activities & games?

• A: Problem solving based team building activities and games are activities that challenge teams to work together in order to complete them.

Q: What are some fun free problem solving games for groups?

• A: Some fun free problem solving games for groups are kinesthetic puzzles like the human knot game, which you can read more about in this article. You can also use all sorts of random items like whiteboards, straws, building blocks, sticky notes, blindfolds, rubber bands, and legos to invent a game that will get the whole team involved.

Q: How do I choose the most effective problem solving exercise for my team?

• A: The most effective problem solving exercise for your team is one that will challenge them to be their best selves and expand their creative thinking.

Q: How do I know if my group problem solving activity was successful?

• A: In the short-term, you’ll know if your group problem solving activity was successful because your team will bond over it; however, that should also translate to more productivity in the mid to long-term.

Interested in a content partnership? Let’s chat!

Get Started

About SnackNation

SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome. We provide a monthly, curated selection of healthy snacks from the hottest, most innovative natural food brands in the industry, giving our members a hassle-free experience and delivering joy to their offices.

Popular Posts

Want to become a better professional in just 5 minutes?

You May Also Like

5 Snappy Alternatives to Easily Send Corporate Gifts in 2024

📊 12 Best SWOT Analysis Templates for Teams in 2024

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

SnackNation About Careers Blog Tech Blog Contact Us Privacy Policy Online Accessibility Statement

Pricing How It Works Member Reviews Take the Quiz Guides and Resources FAQ Terms and Conditions Website Accessibility Policy

Exciting Employee Engagement Ideas Employee Wellness Program Ideas Thoughtful Employee Appreciation Ideas Best ATS Software Fun Office Games & Activities for Employees Best Employee Engagement Software Platforms For High Performing Teams [HR Approved] Insanely Fun Team Building Activities for Work

Fun Virtual Team Building Activities The Best Employee Recognition Software Platforms Seriously Awesome Gifts For Coworkers Company Swag Ideas Employees Really Want Unique Gifts For Employees Corporate Gift Ideas Your Clients and Customers Will Love

© 2024 SnackNation. Handcrafted in Los Angeles

• Recipient Choice Gifts
• Free Work Personality Assessment
• Happy Hour & Lunches
• Group eCards
• Office Snacks
• Employee Recognition Software
• Join Our Newsletter
• Partner With Us
• SnackNation Blog
• Employee Template Directory
• Gifts For Remote Employees
• ATS Software Guide
• Best Swag Vendors
• Top HR Tools
• Ways To Reward Employees
• Employee Appreciation Gift Guide
• More Networks

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

The 6 Best 3D Brain Teaser Puzzles for Handheld Challenges and Spatial Problem Solving

From board game Kanoodle to cast-iron playthings.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

At Popular Mechanics , we’ve got an office full of curious puzzlers and calculated tinkerers. So, to find out which puzzles are worth spending that precious mental energy (and money) on, we called some in, dropped them off in a common space, and Slacked some colleagues to help put them together. If you’re a puzzle fiend and love to get your brain working, below are the ones that most impressed our resident nerds.

Game on and check our picks for the best retro gaming consoles , board games for families , and beginner gaming PCs .

The Best 3D Brain Teaser Puzzles

• Best Overall: Educational Insights Kanoodle
• Best Upgrade: Craighill Tycho Puzzle
• Best Hanayama: Bepuzzled Labyrinth Hanayama
• Best for Kids: Uncommon Goods T-Rex 3D Puzzle Building Kit
• Best 3D Puzzle: Original 3D Crystal Puzzles Grand Castle Deluxe

What to Consider

Types of puzzles.

Brain teaser puzzles cover a broad range, from multi-piece posers you take apart and reassemble to 3D jigsaws.

Multi-piece puzzles are either lock-based (which involve pulling apart and putting together geometric shapes via turning, clicking, maneuvering, or shimmying each piece) or spatial (which involve organizing and arranging items based on color, shape, or both).

Japanese puzzle maker Hanayama is one of the most popular brands in this space, specializing in handheld cast-iron pieces that require unlocking and removing pieces from one another and putting them back together. Hanayama rates its puzzles using difficulty levels 1 to 6, with higher numbers indicating more difficulty. Of course, these are subjective ratings, but after testing a few, we believe the higher-end Hanayama puzzles involve creative problem-solving that the average person finds difficult.

While traditional 2D jigsaw puzzles are assembled on flat surfaces and resemble a box art image, 3D jigsaws are slightly more challenging. They require spatial awareness—a.k.a., an understanding of how things fit together in space—and actual instructions. Sometimes, the pieces are lettered or numbered. But, like most puzzles, you can kick it into hard mode by tossing those instructions.

<p>Are" class="redactor-autoparser-object">https://www.tiktok.com/@popula... you someone who enjoys reassembling puzzles? If not, stick to something simple that doubles as a display once it’s complete. Logic puzzles from Hanayama aren’t always the best to show off on a shelf or desktop, but higher-end pieces from Craighill are practically made for showing off. 3D jigsaw puzzles are similar to regular jigsaw puzzles—you likely won’t remember where all the pieces go if you disassemble and reassemble it several months apart.

How We Tested

“Brain teaser” is a bit subjective, but we settled on products that enhance and stimulate spatial reasoning skills, critical thinking, and logic—with a healthy dose of fun. We only focused on puzzles that involve pulling pieces apart and putting them together, playing with colors, and tinkering.

We researched popular puzzle brands and landed on a few major ones: BePuzzled, Hanayama, and Kanoodle-maker Educational Insights. We ignored any products that looked flimsy or cheap. We also avoided any wooden puzzles, as their difficulties are hard to gauge, they’re mostly geared toward children, and, frankly, they remind us of that peg game from Cracker Barrel —also cheap. Lastly, for the sake of brevity, we avoided anything that seemed like a multi-pack overkill , focusing on quality instead of quantity.

BePuzzled, Hanayama, Uncommon Goods, and Educational Insights sent various puzzles for us to try out in our offices. I emptied each box onto a table and told my colleagues, “Hey, come over here and work on these while I watch you tinker.” Through two weeks of work-time breaks, lunch hours, and random communal puzzling sprees, we gauged each puzzle below on effort (How hard is this to figure out? How much time is this taking?), difficulty (How many people did it take to solve?), value (Would we do this puzzle again?), and material (Is it plastic or metal?).

Although we typically keep a 2D puzzle on the table for screen breaks, the puzzlers at Popular Mechanics found that the best 3D puzzles were the straightforward ones that needed little to no explanation. Anything that felt the most enticing to pick up and play, either due to visual attraction or office gossip/word of mouth, topped our final list.

Educational Insights Kanoodle 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle

Kanoodle recently became a TikTok sensation , and after spending hours tinkering with it at the office, picking up games over breakfast, and watching colleagues play it, I can see why: It’s highly addictive. Holistically, it’s got everything I want in a brain teaser puzzle—it’s colorful, pocket-sized, easy to learn, super stimulating, and it makes me feel like a genius when I solve it.

Kanoodle’s goal is simple, but it always proves challenging. The board has 48 spaces, 12 uniquely shaped, color-connected beads, and a booklet of 200 puzzles, sorted in numerical order from easiest to hardest. To play, pick a puzzle from the booklet and set your pieces on the board according to the puzzle’s design. After setup, you’ll notice you have pieces left over. The goal is to fit those pieces on your board without moving the design you just laid out.

It’s comparable to clearing lines in Tetris, except instead of clearing lines, your prize is being able to shut your Kanoodle case. There are also a few pages of 3D puzzles, which involve stacking play pieces on top of each other.

Educational Insights claims Kanoodle expands spatial reasoning skills and enhances critical thinking. Several resources for children with autism recommend Kanoodle for developing fine motor skills, including National Autism Resources and Therapy Shoppe .

“It’s a fun, engaging way to develop problem-solving skills,” says Digital Content Producer Amber Joglar , who spent hours playing this at her desk instead of working (sorry, Amber). “The puzzles get more challenging and involved as you move through levels, and it’s a nice way to get a brain break that doesn’t involve screen time.”

The game is excellent for ages 7 and up, and we especially recommend it for adults looking for a non-screen activity . (It’s helped me calm down on more demanding days.) Its clamshell, pocket-sized packaging makes it easy to travel with and, as evidenced by my office mates, it’s easy to learn and play with others. We simply can’t get enough of this game.

Bepuzzled Hanayama Labyrinth Metal 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle

The objective of this two-piece puzzle is simple: Remove both rings and put them back together. It’s not as easy as it looks. A nub on each end of the horseshoe-like ring marked “Laby” prevents the two rings from pulling away from each other, while both sides of the other ring present two different labyrinths. You must guide the nubs on one ring through the mazes on the other ring, and try not to hit any dead ends on the way.

I tinkered with this Hanayama-branded brainteaser for 20 minutes before giving up. Meanwhile, one of my colleagues fiddled with it for two hours only to get nowhere. Our Assistant Reviews Editor, Adam Schram , successfully pulled both rings apart by feeling his way through the maze while talking and keeping his mind occupied on other things—and in 10 minutes, no less.

The puzzle has a great weight to it. And while it’s made of metal, unlike Craighill’s pieces, it doesn’t stink of it. Both pieces feel like solid cast iron, lending a pleasing tactility and heft. The brand says this puzzle has a difficulty level of 5 for “experts,” but your mileage may vary if you’re anything like Schram.

We also tested the Hanayama Infinity puzzle , in which users pull out bearings from a seemingly invincible figure-8 loop. Staff Photographer Trevor Raab figured it out in less than 10 minutes despite its level 6 difficulty. We do like its design quite a lot, though.

Craighill Tycho 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle

The Tycho puzzle is hefty and beautiful, with eight interlocking stainless steel and brass components. You spin it on a countertop to break it apart, then reassemble it by sliding pieces in place. In its core is a hidden cavity that can hold a surprise—large enough for a tiny fortune-cookie-sized message, really—and it’s got a solid weight of nearly 2 pounds . It’s a tough cube puzzle that feels brutalist by design.

We’ve been passing this cube around in the office to see who can assemble it the fastest, and a group of four colleagues got it in less than 30 minutes, though it took lots of tinkering and talking through to reassemble. Many love its weight and feel, and several (myself included) say it looks mesmerizing on a shelf or countertop. It’s definitely a statement piece in a way, maybe establishing authority on a boss’s desk or classiness on a mantle at home.

It also stinks like coins. After toying with the puzzle, the combination of brass and steel had our hands smelling like pennies. If you prefer your puzzles scentless, this may not be for you. It’s also relatively expensive due to its craftsmanship and heavy materials.

We also tried the very similar Tetra puzzle from Craighill, which was as big of a hit in our offices as the Tycho. Though we prefer the Tycho due to its eight-piece makeup (rather than the Tetra’s four), we still enjoyed it. It’s $98—less than the Tycho and still hardy enough to make a statement.

Uncommon Goods T-Rex 3D Puzzle Building Kit

Not so much a brain teaser as it is a 3D puzzle, this T-Rex 3D puzzle-building kit is still a mild head-scratcher. It takes the traditional 2D puzzle and changes it into a layered pile of 3D cardboard, where you slide pieces into slots to make a shape. It has 72 numbered, precut pieces you pop out of place and attach to each other. The box says it’ll take 60 minutes to complete, but Raab assembled it solo in less than 30.

Because of its easy difficulty level and unique 3D build, we highly recommend this for children learning spatial awareness. It’s also a great art project when complete, as a simple paint job would make this pop in a bedroom or on a desktop. Although it’s made of cardboard, its pieces are sturdy and it doesn’t feel cheap.

Original 3D Crystal Puzzles Grand Castle Deluxe 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle

If this looks annoying to put together, you’ll be happy to know that it very much is. And if you like that sort of challenge, the Grand Castle Deluxe is a frustrating yet satisfying build—the total opposite of the cardboard T-Rex. Rather than slide its parts into place, you assemble this puzzle by correctly stacking and interlocking its 105 transparent plastic pieces. Each piece has tiny (hard to read, due to its clear plastic) letters that correspond to others… somehow . Frankly, we don’t even know if we’re doing it right—it doesn’t come with instructions, and after visiting a URL on the back of the box, its PDF instructions aren’t quite helpful, either.

Its rigor isn’t solely due to a lack of instructions but also its design—every piece looks the same, even if they’re in different shapes. After unboxing and dumping each plastic bag full of pieces out on a table, we had a hard time figuring out where even to start.

It’s not impossible, though. Producer Barry Knoblach took a long while to lay out the pieces and assess the situation. “As someone who prefers finishing puzzles instead of seeing how long they take to complete, I was frustrated when I eventually got stuck,” he says. “The castle’s spires are especially difficult, and no directions came with the box. The puzzle is fun once you get the hang of it, but lack of clarity on its parts knocks my rating of it down.”

Uncommon Goods 540 Colors 3D Brain Teaser Puzzle

Probably our favorite puzzle to look at and assemble as a group, this sphere is a blast. It has 540 pieces and cycles through a rainbow ombre gradient, transitioning from red to pink to orange to yellow as you spin it. Each plastic piece is slightly curved, and they’re all satisfying to slot together. The finished puzzle sits on top of a plastic pedestal to display.

Four of us assembled this in less than two hours, separating the pieces by color and then attempting to link each bright hue with its washed-out transitional pieces. It’s remarkably sturdy when put into place, and it’s fun to assemble a puzzle in a shape that should, theoretically, be smooth.

The only problem we had with it was its transitional colors. It was difficult to tell which faded, white-washed pieces fit where, as some color differences were hard to make out. The transitions between each colored area isn’t as smooth as we’d like. Piece placement definitely benefits from a second opinion and a flashlight.

Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.

.css-cuqpxl:before{padding-right:0.3125rem;content:'//';display:inline;} Toys .css-xtujxj:before{padding-left:0.3125rem;content:'//';display:inline;}

The 8 Best Rubik’s Cubes for Fun and Frustration

The 9 Best Robotics Kits for Kids

The 11 Best Nerf Guns

The Best Lego Building Accessories

Black Friday Lego Deals 2023: Save on Every Set

The Best Kids’ Electric Cars

The Best Remote Control Toys

The Best Lego Advent Calendars for 2023

Post-Amazon Prime Day Lego Deals 2023

The Best RC Boats for Racing and Sailing

The Best Remote Control Cars for Kids and Adults

Brain teaser: Play detective and identify the man’s real wife in 10 seconds

D o you like brain teasers? These can help test your common sense and your ability to think out of the box. Brain teaser puzzles can test your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Solving these can be fun, especially when you try them along with your friends, family or colleagues. Even if you are unable to solve a particular challenge, regularly practicing them can help boost your intelligence and improve your concentration power.

If you are a fan of brain teaser challenges, here is one with an optical illusion. In the given image, you can see a man being pulled from the left and right by two identical looking women.

The situation is that both of them claim to be his real wife. Now, as a detective, it is your task to help the poor man out, and identify who his real wife is. Are you up for this challenge? It can be quite tricky. If you think it will be too easy, let us warn you that you need to identify the correct wife within 10 seconds. Sounds challenging enough? This brain teaser will test the sharpness of your brain. Are you ready? Your time starts now!

Look at the image carefully. Only the most attentive and intelligent minds can spot the real wife before anyone else.

Need a hint? Look at the photograph hanging on the wall behind. The answer is hidden there only.

Hurry up, time is running out.

1..Time’s up!

Were you able to find the real wife? Congratulations to those who were able to successfully solve this challenging task. You truly have a bright brain. Those who are still struggling, fret not. Here is the solution.

Find the real wife: Solution

Did you enjoy solving this brain teaser? Here are more such interesting stories for you to practice and sharpen your brain:

READ ALSO: Optical illusion: Can you find the hidden horse in 5 seconds?

READ ALSO: Uncover RICE Amidst the Sea of RISE: Can You Master This Challenge in Under 20 Seconds?

READ ALSO: Can You Spot the Hidden Crocodiles Among the Dragons? Viral Brain Teaser Revealed!

For more news like this visit TOI . Get all the Latest News , City News , India News , Business News , and Sports News . For Entertainment News , TV News , and Lifestyle Tips visit Etimes

Help Me Please: Tricky Puzzles 17+

Satisfying stories for iq test, sidra sadeed, designed for ipad, screenshots, description.

Face the original problem scenarios as happen in daily life and find their solution to train your brain. The Help Me Please game serves as a gateway to free thinking, presenting different brain teasers that challenge you to find solutions by thinking outside the box. Navigate through complex and tricky problem-solving scenarios, offering a helping hand to the characters in their quest for solutions. Addictive and humorous free IQ games can be enjoyed to showcase your riddle master skills. Unleash your problem-solving skills in new brain teaser games with creativity and fun. Game Features:- - Simple, easy, and highly addictive gameplay - Real-life logic puzzles to beat the challenges - Become a riddle master with daily life riddles - Increase your free thinking with brain teasers - Think out of the box to find possible solutions - Use the given hints to use different strategies - Enjoy daily life math riddles with funny sounds

Version 0.0.5

Remove Crashes Minor Bug Fix

App Privacy

The developer, Sidra Sadeed , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

• Identifiers
• Diagnostics

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

Screw Pin: Nuts & Bolts Puzzle

Doll Fashion Makeover Run

Draw to Smash Melon: IQ Test

Mini Car Escape: Traffic Rush

Drop and Merge Fruit Candies

ASMR Water Color Sort Puzzle

You Might Also Like

Help Me - Tricky Story 2

Draw Puzzle Game: Thief Master

Help Me - Tricky Story

Hero Transform: Superhero Game

Draw to crush the bird

Mini Puzzle Challenge Game