47 brain teasers for kids with answers
Short number, order and word puzzles with explanations. Work on paper or read them aloud.
47 puzzles · Brain teasers for kids with answers · answers included
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Questions 1–20
- 1
An arithmetic sequence starts 7, 11, 15, 19. Continue it by one term.
easy
Hint: Look at how much each number goes up by.
Answer23. Add 4 each time.
The consecutive differences are 4, 4, and 4, so 19 + 4 = 23.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, Sequences https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/9-1-sequences-and-their-notations
- 2
Supply the next term of the arithmetic sequence 42, 37, 32, 27.
easy
Hint: Check the gap between neighboring numbers. Is it the same each time?
Answer22. Subtract 5 each time.
Each term is 5 less than the previous term, so 27 - 5 = 22.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, Sequences https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/9-1-sequences-and-their-notations
- 3
Extend the geometric sequence 3, 9, 27, 81 by one term.
easy
Hint: Each number is the one before it multiplied by the same amount.
Answer243. Multiply by 3 each time.
Each term divided by the previous term is 3, so 81 x 3 = 243.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, Sequences https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/9-1-sequences-and-their-notations
- 4
A geometric sequence with positive terms reads 160, 80, 40, 20. Which term is next?
easy
Hint: Compare each number with the one before it. What happens every time?
Answer10. Divide by 2 each time.
Each term is half the previous term, and half of 20 is 10.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, Sequences https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/9-1-sequences-and-their-notations
- 5
Starting with 2 and 3, each new term is the sum of the previous two. What follows 2, 3, 5, 8, 13?
easy
Hint: Add the last two numbers together.
Answer21.
The previous two terms are 8 and 13, and 8 + 13 = 21.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, Sequences https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/9-1-sequences-and-their-notations
- 6
Advance three months at a time from February to May to August to November. Name the next month.
easy
Hint: Count three months on from November, past the end of the year.
AnswerFebruary.
Three months after November is February of the next year.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, Sequences https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/9-1-sequences-and-their-notations
- 7
Perfect squares begin 1, 4, 9, 16, 25. Supply the sixth term.
easy
Hint: The fifth term is 5 times 5.
Answer36.
The terms are 1 squared, 2 squared, 3 squared, 4 squared, and 5 squared. The sixth term is 6 squared, which is 36.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, Sequences https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/9-1-sequences-and-their-notations
- 8
Reading the prime numbers in order gives 2, 3, 5, 7, 11. Which number follows?
easy
Hint: Which number after 11 can be divided only by 1 and itself?
Answer13.
The integer after 11 is 12, which has factors other than 1 and itself. The next integer, 13, has only 1 and 13 as positive factors.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, Sequences https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/9-1-sequences-and-their-notations
- 9
Cubes appear in order as 1, 8, 27, 64. Name the next cube.
easy
Hint: 64 is 4 times 4 times 4. Try 5.
Answer125.
The terms are 1 cubed through 4 cubed. The next is 5 cubed = 5 x 5 x 5 = 125.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, Sequences https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/9-1-sequences-and-their-notations
- 10
A bus leaves at 9:35 a.m. and travels for 2 hours 45 minutes. What is its arrival time?
easy
Hint: Add the 2 hours first, then the 45 minutes, and watch for noon.
Answer12:20 p.m.
9:35 plus 2 hours is 11:35, and another 45 minutes is 12:20.
Source: NRICH, Using NRICH Tasks to Develop Key Problem-Solving Skills https://nrich.maths.org/articles/using-nrich-tasks-develop-key-problem-solving-skills
- 11
Socks come in four colors. Without looking, how many socks guarantee that two share a color?
easy
Hint: Imagine the unluckiest draw: one sock of each color first.
AnswerFive socks.
The first four socks could all differ. A fifth must match one of those four colors.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra, Counting Principles https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra/pages/9-5-counting-principles
- 12
Thirteen people record only their birth month. What must be true?
easy
Hint: There are only twelve months to go around.
AnswerAt least two people recorded the same month.
Twelve labels cannot hold 13 records with at most one record per label.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra, Counting Principles https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra/pages/9-5-counting-principles
- 13
Every amber token is round, and no round token is wooden. Could an amber token be wooden?
easy
Hint: An amber token is round. What do we know about round tokens?
AnswerNo.
Amber implies round, and round excludes wooden, so amber excludes wooden.
Source: Open Logic Project, forall x: Calgary https://forallx.openlogicproject.org/html/Ch11.html
- 14
Some poets are cyclists, and all cyclists wear helmets. What follows about the poets who are cyclists?
easy
Hint: Follow the chain from poet-cyclist to cyclist to helmet.
AnswerThose poets wear helmets.
Every member of the cyclist set wears a helmet, including the poets in that set.
Source: Open Logic Project, forall x: Calgary https://forallx.openlogicproject.org/html/Ch11.html
- 15
You pass the runner currently in second place. Which place do you now hold?
easy
Hint: You did not pass the leader.
AnswerSecond place.
Passing the second-place runner puts you in that runner's former position.
Source: NRICH, Using NRICH Tasks to Develop Key Problem-Solving Skills https://nrich.maths.org/articles/using-nrich-tasks-develop-key-problem-solving-skills
- 16
One match is available beside a candle, a lantern, and a fireplace. What must be lit first?
easy
Hint: What do you need before you can light anything at all?
AnswerThe match.
The match must be burning before it can light any listed object.
Source: NRICH, Using NRICH Tasks to Develop Key Problem-Solving Skills https://nrich.maths.org/articles/using-nrich-tasks-develop-key-problem-solving-skills
- 17
Rearrange LISTEN into a word associated with quiet.
easy
Hint: Use all six letters. A quiet room is...
AnswerSILENT.
LISTEN and SILENT each contain E, I, L, N, S, and T exactly once.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "silent" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silent
- 18
The letters of EARTH can name a body organ. Name it.
easy
Hint: It beats in your chest.
AnswerHEART.
EARTH and HEART use the same letters: A, E, H, R, and T.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "heart" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heart
- 19
Turn COLD into a precious metal by changing one letter.
easy
Hint: Change the first letter.
AnswerGOLD.
Replacing C with G changes COLD to GOLD.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "gold" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gold
- 20
A one-letter change turns MOUSE into a building. Which word results?
easy
Hint: Change the first letter to make somewhere people live.
AnswerHOUSE.
Replacing M with H changes MOUSE to HOUSE.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "house" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/house
Questions 21–40
- 21
Delete the first letter of PLANE to name a narrow road.
easy
Hint: Think of a narrow country road.
AnswerLANE.
PLANE without its first letter P is LANE.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "lane" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lane
- 22
From TRAIN remove one letter to get precipitation.
easy
Hint: It falls from clouds.
AnswerRAIN.
Removing T from TRAIN leaves RAIN.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "rain" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rain
- 23
Insert one letter into PLAN to make a flying vehicle.
easy
Hint: The new letter goes on the end.
AnswerPLANE.
Adding E after PLAN produces PLANE.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "plane" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plane
- 24
Which letter can be added to STAR to mean the beginning of something?
easy
Hint: A race has one of these, and so does a film.
AnswerAdd T to make START.
Appending T to STAR spells START.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "start" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/start
- 25
Tooth, hair, and paint share which following word?
easy
Hint: You hold one in your hand for all three jobs.
AnswerBRUSH: toothbrush, hairbrush, and paintbrush.
Appending BRUSH forms TOOTHBRUSH, HAIRBRUSH, and PAINTBRUSH.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "toothbrush" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toothbrush
- 26
An animal is hidden in eduCATION. Which one?
easy
Hint: Look at the capital letters.
AnswerCAT.
eduCATION contains C, A, T consecutively.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "cat" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat
- 27
Decode alphabet positions 8-5-1-20 as a word.
easy
Hint: 8 is H, the eighth letter.
AnswerHEAT.
Alphabet positions 8, 5, 1, and 20 are H, E, A, and T.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "heat" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat
- 28
Using A=1 through Z=26, what word is 13-1-16?
easy
Hint: 13 is M, the thirteenth letter.
AnswerMAP.
Alphabet positions 13, 1, and 16 are M, A, and P.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "map" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/map
- 29
Rearrange BELOW to name a joint in the arm.
easy
Hint: It bends in the middle of your arm.
AnswerELBOW.
BELOW and ELBOW each contain B, E, L, O, and W exactly once.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "elbow" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elbow
- 30
Reverse DRAW to name an area in a hospital.
easy
Hint: Read the word from right to left.
AnswerWARD.
Reading the letters D-R-A-W from right to left gives W-A-R-D.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "ward" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ward
- 31
Take the first letters of Bright Owls Observe Keenly. What word appears?
easy
Hint: Read only the capital letters.
AnswerBOOK.
The initial letters of Bright, Owls, Observe, and Keenly are B, O, O, and K.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "book" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/book
- 32
A word meaning to observe sounds like a large body of salt water. Give both spellings.
easy
Hint: What do you do with your eyes?
AnswerSEE and SEA.
SEE means to perceive or observe, while SEA names a large body of salt water; both are pronounced the same way.
Source: Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, "see" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/see
- 33
Choose one of 3 shirts, one of 4 pairs of trousers, and one of 2 hats. How many outfits are possible?
easy
Hint: Multiply the numbers of choices together.
Answer24 outfits.
The multiplication principle gives 3 x 4 x 2 = 24.
Source: OpenStax, College Algebra, Counting Principles https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra/pages/9-5-counting-principles
- 34
A recipe uses 240 grams of flour for 6 muffins. At the same rate, how much flour makes 15 muffins?
easy
Hint: Work out the flour for one muffin first.
Answer600 grams.
240 / 6 = 40 grams per muffin, and 40 x 15 = 600 grams.
Source: OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, Proportions https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/6-5-solve-proportions-and-their-applications
- 35
On a map, 3 centimeters represents 12 kilometers. What distance does 8 centimeters represent?
easy
Hint: How many kilometers does 1 centimeter stand for?
Answer32 kilometers.
12 / 3 = 4 kilometers per centimeter, and 8 x 4 = 32 kilometers.
Source: OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, Proportions https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/6-5-solve-proportions-and-their-applications
- 36
Triple a number and add 4 to get 31. What is the number?
easy
Hint: Take away the 4 first, then undo the tripling.
Answer9.
3x + 4 = 31, so 3x = 27 and x = 9.
Source: OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, Solving Equations https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/8-1-solve-equations-using-the-subtraction-and-addition-properties-of-equality
- 37
A rectangle has perimeter 38 units and length 12 units. Find its width.
easy
Hint: The two lengths use 24 units of the perimeter.
Answer7 units.
2 x (12 + width) = 38, so 12 + width = 19 and the width is 7.
Source: OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, Rectangles, Triangles, and Trapezoids https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/9-4-use-properties-of-rectangles-triangles-and-trapezoids
- 38
The base of a triangle is 14 units and its perpendicular height is 9 units. What is its area?
easy
Hint: A triangle is half of a rectangle with the same base and height.
Answer63 square units.
Triangle area is one-half x base x height, so 14 x 9 / 2 = 63.
Source: OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, Rectangles, Triangles, and Trapezoids https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/9-4-use-properties-of-rectangles-triangles-and-trapezoids
- 39
A bag holds 5 red, 3 blue, and 2 green counters. What is the probability of drawing green once?
easy
Hint: How many counters are green, out of how many in all?
Answer1/5.
There are 2 green counters among 10 total, and 2/10 simplifies to 1/5.
Source: OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, Averages and Probability https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/5-5-averages-and-probability
- 40
Uma finishes before Rae, Rae before Sol, and Sol before Tia. Who finishes first?
easy
Hint: Who is never said to finish after anyone?
AnswerUma.
The clues form the order Uma, Rae, Sol, Tia.
Source: Open Logic Project, forall x: Calgary https://forallx.openlogicproject.org/html/Ch11.html
Questions 41–47
- 41
Dena is taller than Eli. Farah is shorter than Dena but taller than Eli. Order them from tallest to shortest.
easy
Hint: Farah fits between the other two.
AnswerDena, Farah, Eli.
Dena is above both others, and Farah is explicitly above Eli.
Source: Open Logic Project, forall x: Calgary https://forallx.openlogicproject.org/html/Ch11.html
- 42
Four lockers stand left to right. P is at the far left, Q is immediately right of P, and S is at the far right. Where is R?
easy
Hint: Place the three named lockers first. One spot is left.
AnswerThird from the left.
P occupies 1, Q occupies 2, and S occupies 4, leaving position 3 for R.
Source: NRICH, Using NRICH Tasks to Develop Key Problem-Solving Skills https://nrich.maths.org/articles/using-nrich-tasks-develop-key-problem-solving-skills
- 43
Art, music, and science talks occur at 1, 2, and 3 o'clock, one per hour. Science is at 3, and art is before music. When is music?
easy
Hint: Science takes 3 o'clock, which leaves 1 and 2.
Answer2 o'clock.
With science at 3, art and music occupy 1 and 2. Art must be earlier, so music is at 2.
Source: NRICH, Using NRICH Tasks to Develop Key Problem-Solving Skills https://nrich.maths.org/articles/using-nrich-tasks-develop-key-problem-solving-skills
- 44
A code replaces each letter with the next letter of the alphabet. Decode DBU.
easy
Hint: Move each letter one place back in the alphabet.
AnswerCAT.
Moving D, B, and U back one letter gives C, A, and T.
Source: NRICH, Using NRICH Tasks to Develop Key Problem-Solving Skills https://nrich.maths.org/articles/using-nrich-tasks-develop-key-problem-solving-skills
- 45
Box A contains the key to B, B contains the key to C, and C holds the prize. Which box must be opened first?
easy
Hint: Which box can you open without a key from another box?
AnswerBox A.
Opening B requires A's key, and opening C requires B's key, so A must precede both.
Source: Open Logic Project, forall x: Calgary https://forallx.openlogicproject.org/html/Ch11.html
- 46
A three-digit password has a first digit twice its second and a third digit one less than its second. The second digit is 3. What is the password?
easy
Hint: The second digit is 3, so the first digit is twice 3.
Answer632.
Twice 3 is 6, and one less than 3 is 2.
Source: OpenStax, Prealgebra 2e, Solving Equations https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra-2e/pages/8-1-solve-equations-using-the-subtraction-and-addition-properties-of-equality
- 47
A meeting is after Monday but before Thursday, and it is not on Wednesday. Which day is it?
easy
Hint: List the days between Monday and Thursday.
AnswerTuesday.
The days after Monday and before Thursday are Tuesday and Wednesday; excluding Wednesday leaves Tuesday.
Source: NRICH, Using NRICH Tasks to Develop Key Problem-Solving Skills https://nrich.maths.org/articles/using-nrich-tasks-develop-key-problem-solving-skills
Timer and team scores
8 turns × 60 seconds = 8 minutes of play, plus instructions and breaks.
60
Pause whenever the group needs more time.
Team Lime's turn
Team Lime: 0
Team Violet: 0
Team Tangerine: 0
Team Sky: 0
Team Lemon: 0
Team Bubblegum: 0
Use this set with a group
Read a prompt, allow thinking time, then invite an answer or a pass. For a timed round, choose a turn length before starting. A host can keep the printed answers out of view until the round ends.