Are you ready to exercise your brain? Check out these ten brain teasers that are sure to get you thinking.
- The Missing Number
Can you guess the missing number in this sequence?
1 2 4 7 11 ?
Take a moment to think about it before scrolling down for the answer.
Did you guess 16? If so, you’re correct! The sequence adds 1, then 2, then 3, then 4, and so on, so the missing number is 16.
- Hidden Meanings
Can you find the hidden meanings in these phrases?
1. HE’S / HE’S
2. a road / ard
3. n life / life
Take your time and see how many you can get before you peek at the answer below.
The answers are:
1. He’s beside himself
2. Forward
3. In for a penny, in for a pound
- The Angel and the Devil
An angel and a devil are standing in front of two doors. One door leads to Heaven and the other leads to Hell. However, you don’t know which door leads to which place. The catch is, one of them always lies and the other always tells the truth. You’re allowed to ask only one question to determine which door leads to Heaven. What do you ask?
Think you know the answer? Scroll down to see if you’re right.
You ask one of them, “If I were to ask the other one which door leads to Heaven, which one would they say?” Then, choose the opposite door of the one they indicate.
- The Missing Dollar
Three friends go out for dinner and the bill comes out to $30. They each contribute $10. However, the waiter made a mistake and charged them only $25. The friends decide to give the waiter a $2 tip and keep the remaining $3 for themselves. Each person ends up paying $9 for the dinner. $9 x 3 = $27 + $2 for the tip = $29. Where did the remaining dollar go?
Take a moment to try and figure it out before scrolling down to see the answer.
The trick to this one is not to add the $2 tip to the $27 that the friends paid for dinner. The $27 they paid includes the $2 tip, so they actually paid $25 for dinner and gave the waiter $2 for a total of $27. The remaining $3 is accounted for and there is no missing dollar.
- The Liar and the Truth Teller
You come across two people on a path. One is a liar and one always tells the truth. One path leads to treasure and the other to certain death. You’re allowed to ask only one question to determine which path to take. What do you ask?
Take a moment to think about it before scrolling down for the answer.
You ask one of them, “Which path would the other person tell me to take?” Then, choose the opposite path of the one they indicate.
- The Puzzle Cubes
You have three cubes. One cube has all six sides painted red, one cube has all six sides painted green, and one cube has three sides painted red and three sides painted green. You choose one cube at random, roll it, and get a red side facing up. What are the chances that the cube you rolled is the cube with all six sides painted red?
Think you know the answer? Scroll down to see if you’re right.
The answer is 1 in 3. It’s tempting to think the chances are 1 in 2 because you rolled a red side, but this isn’t the case. You could have rolled a red side on the cube with three red sides and three green sides, which would make it impossible for that cube to have all six sides painted red. So, the chances are still 1 in 3.
- The Number Sequence
Can you figure out the next number in this sequence?
8, 5, 4, 9, 1, 7, ?
Take a moment to think about it before scrolling down for the answer.
The next number in the sequence is 6. The sequence alternates between numbers that have the letters “e” or “t” in them (eight, five, nine, seven) and numbers that don’t (four, one). The next number in the sequence should have a “t,” so the answer is 6.
- The Coin Flip
You flip a coin three times and get three heads. What are the chances of getting tails on the next flip?
Do you think the chances are 50/50? Scroll down to see if you’re right.
The answer is still 50/50. The coin has no memory of the previous flips and the result of each flip is independent of the others.
- The Forbidden Word
You’re playing a game where you’re not allowed to say a certain word. The word is not “a,” “an,” or “the.” What is the word?
Take a moment to think about it before scrolling down for the answer.
The word is “said.” If you’re not allowed to say “a,” “an,” or “the,” then you would have to say “said” when referring to something someone said.
- The Word Relationship
What word relates to these five words:
1. gun
2. shoe
3. picture
4. music
5. computer
Ready for the answer? Scroll down to see if you’re right.
The answer is “key.” There are a few different ways to interpret this one, but one possible answer is:
1. A gun has a trigger, which is a type of key.
2. A shoe has a shoelace, which you tie in a knot, similar to how you turn a key.
3. A picture has a frame, which often has a keyhole and can be locked.
4. Music can be played in a certain key.
5. A computer has a keyboard, which is similar to a key.
How did you do? Did you exercise your brain and get all the answers right? Try these brain teasers on your friends and see if they can solve them too.
