Fun Facts (Hints)
Mathematics has an extensive history in just about every culture or civilized society known to man. Listed below are some cool facts to get those math juices flowing:
In 1852 mathematician JJ Sylvester established the "theory of algebraic invariants."
In 1995 math great Andrew Wiles, proved "Fermat's Last Theorem."
The first decimal number system is said to have been invented in Ancient Egypt around 5000BC.
The Ancient Mayan civilization located in Central America is one of the only cultures in the recorded history of the world to use a place-value number system.
The American Mathematical Society was formed in the late months of 1888 in New York.
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Riddles and Answers © 2024
Age Of Three Daughters Riddles
I was visiting a friend one evening and remembered that he had three daughters. I asked him how old they were. The product of their ages is 72, he answered. Quizzically, I asked, Is there anything else you can tell me? Yes, he replied, the sum of their ages is equal to the number of my house. I stepped outside to see what the house number was. Upon returning inside, I said to my host, Im sorry, but I still cant figure out their ages. He responded apologetically, Im sorry, I forgot to mention that my oldest daughter likes strawberry shortcake. With this information, I was able to determine all three of their ages. How old is each daughter?
Hint:
3, 3, and 8. The only groups of 3 factors of 72 to have non-unique sums are 2 6 6 and 3 3 8 (with a sum of 14). The rest have unique sums:
2 + 2 + 18 = 22
2 + 3 + 12 = 18
2 + 4 + 9 = 15
3 + 4 + 6 = 13
The house number alone would have identified any of these groups. Since more information was required, we know the sum left the answer unknown. The presence of a single oldest child eliminates 2 6 6, leaving 3 3 8 as the only possible answer. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
2 + 2 + 18 = 22
2 + 3 + 12 = 18
2 + 4 + 9 = 15
3 + 4 + 6 = 13
The house number alone would have identified any of these groups. Since more information was required, we know the sum left the answer unknown. The presence of a single oldest child eliminates 2 6 6, leaving 3 3 8 as the only possible answer. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
The Number Four Be Half Of Five Riddle
Hint:
IV, the Roman numeral for four, which is “half” (two letters) of the word five. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
Bus Driver Riddle
Ok, you're the bus driver, there were 20 kids on the bus. At the first stop, 2 kids get on but 5 kids get off. The second stop, 3 kids get off but 1 gets on. The third stop, 8 kids get off but only 3 kids get off. Who's the bus driver?
Hint:
Pearl Problems Riddle
"I'm a very rich man, so I've decided to give you some of my fortune. Do you see this bag? I have 5001 pearls inside it. 2501 of them are white, and 2500 of them are black. No, I am not racist. I'll let you take out any number of pearls from the bag without looking. If you take out the same number of black and white pearls, I will reward you with a number of gold bars equivalent to the number of pearls you took."
How many pearls should you take out to give yourself a good number of gold bars while still retaining a good chance of actually getting them?
How many pearls should you take out to give yourself a good number of gold bars while still retaining a good chance of actually getting them?
Hint: If you took out 2 pearls, you would have about a 50% chance of getting 2 gold bars. However, you can take even more pearls and still retain the 50% chance.
Take out 5000 pearls. If the remaining pearl is white, then you've won 5000 gold bars! Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
Coconut Toll Booth Riddle
There is a beautiful garden surrounded with water on three sides and only one road leading to it. This garden has thousands of coconut trees. Anyone can visit to pick coconuts.
The coconuts can be taken in boxes only. Each box can carry 20 coconuts.You can take as many boxes as you like for free but there are ten toll barriers on the road. Each toll booth collects tax in the form of you guessed it: coconuts. The number of coconuts taken is equal to the number of boxes. For example if you are carrying 50 boxes of coconut you have to pay 50 coconuts at each barrier.
If you took 10 boxes filled with coconuts from garden, tell me how many coconuts would you have remaining after crossing all ten toll booths?
The coconuts can be taken in boxes only. Each box can carry 20 coconuts.You can take as many boxes as you like for free but there are ten toll barriers on the road. Each toll booth collects tax in the form of you guessed it: coconuts. The number of coconuts taken is equal to the number of boxes. For example if you are carrying 50 boxes of coconut you have to pay 50 coconuts at each barrier.
If you took 10 boxes filled with coconuts from garden, tell me how many coconuts would you have remaining after crossing all ten toll booths?
Hint:
Going To The Picnic
Mr and Mrs Smith went for a picnic. Mrs. Smith has 5 sons and each son has a sister who has 5 daughters each of whom have 1 brother each. How many of them went for the picnic?
Hint:
2 people.
It is stated clearly that Mr. and Mrs. Smith went for a picnic. It does not say that the others accompanied them. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
It is stated clearly that Mr. and Mrs. Smith went for a picnic. It does not say that the others accompanied them. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
The Weight Of A Melon Riddle
Hint: We are to determine X the total mass of melon after the drying.
The Dry weight, DW is 1lb both before and after the drying.
The New Water weight, WNW is clearly X - DW or X - 1
A Lady Steals $100
A. $30
B. 70
C. $100
D. $130
E. $170
F. $200
DO NOT OVER THINK IT!
Hint:
The best answer from the choices is the owner lost $100. The $100 bill that was stolen was then given back to the owner. What the owner loses is the $70 worth of goods and the $30 in change, which makes for a total of $70 + $30 = $100. The owner has lost $100.
Technically, the owner lost $30 plus the value, V, of the $70 of goods. Since stores typically sell goods at a markup, the value may be less than $70. But in the case of a loss leader, the owner may have lost more than $70. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Technically, the owner lost $30 plus the value, V, of the $70 of goods. Since stores typically sell goods at a markup, the value may be less than $70. But in the case of a loss leader, the owner may have lost more than $70. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Prince Age Riddle
What are their ages?
Hint:
Current Future Past
Princess x 2z (x+y)/2
Prince y x z
I then created three equations, since the difference in their age will always be the same.
d = the difference in ages
x y = d
2z x = d
x/2 + y/2 z = d
I then created a matrix and solved it using row reduction.
x y z
1 -1 0 d
-1 0 2 d
.5 .5 -1 d
It reduced to:
x y z
1 0 0 4d
0 1 0 3d
0 0 1 5d/2
This means that you can pick any difference you want (an even one presumably because you want integer ages).
Princess age: 4d
Prince age: 3d
Ages that work
Princess:
4
8
16
24
32
40
48
56
64
72
80
Prince:
3
6
12
18
24
30
36
42
48
54
60 Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Princess x 2z (x+y)/2
Prince y x z
I then created three equations, since the difference in their age will always be the same.
d = the difference in ages
x y = d
2z x = d
x/2 + y/2 z = d
I then created a matrix and solved it using row reduction.
x y z
1 -1 0 d
-1 0 2 d
.5 .5 -1 d
It reduced to:
x y z
1 0 0 4d
0 1 0 3d
0 0 1 5d/2
This means that you can pick any difference you want (an even one presumably because you want integer ages).
Princess age: 4d
Prince age: 3d
Ages that work
Princess:
4
8
16
24
32
40
48
56
64
72
80
Prince:
3
6
12
18
24
30
36
42
48
54
60 Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
2 4 12 48 240 Riddle
Hint:
240. To get the number, multiply the previous number in the series by its position. 48 is in the 5th position, so 48 � 5 = 240 Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
Missing Dollar Riddle
Hint: Make a list of all of the people involved and how much money they ended up with/spent.
The $9 paid by each guest accounts for the $2 that went to the bellhop. So rather than adding $27 to the $2 kept by the bellhop, the $27 accounts for the bellhops money. The $27 plus the $3 kept by the guests does add up to $30. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
Carton Of Eggs Riddle
Hint:
5 eggs are taken by the first 5 people, then the 6th person takes the egg , while its still in the carton!! Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
YES NO
Finding The Angles
Hint:
47
Explanation:
At first look, it seems pretty easy but on the contrary, it is pretty tricky a question. So let us simplify it by dividing the triangle into three equal triangles (the triangles so formed if outer side is connected to the center of the circle) and then count the number of triangles in each part by taking two or more parts together.
First, let us take the triangles in one part. There are 4 non-overlapping and 3 overlapping triangles.
4 + 3 = 7
7 * 3 = 21
Next, if we take number of triangles by taking two parts together, there are 8 in total.
8 * 3 = 24
Lastly, the number of triangles if all three parts are taken together, there are a total of 2.
21 + 24 + 2 = 47. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Explanation:
At first look, it seems pretty easy but on the contrary, it is pretty tricky a question. So let us simplify it by dividing the triangle into three equal triangles (the triangles so formed if outer side is connected to the center of the circle) and then count the number of triangles in each part by taking two or more parts together.
First, let us take the triangles in one part. There are 4 non-overlapping and 3 overlapping triangles.
4 + 3 = 7
7 * 3 = 21
Next, if we take number of triangles by taking two parts together, there are 8 in total.
8 * 3 = 24
Lastly, the number of triangles if all three parts are taken together, there are a total of 2.
21 + 24 + 2 = 47. Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Finding The Value Riddle
1. Horse
2. Cowboy boot
3. Horseshoe
4. The last equation.
Hint:
Horse = 10
Cowboy-Boot = 1
HorseShoe= 2
The Last equation = 21
Detailed Explanation :
Equation1:
3Horse = 30
=> Horse = 10 .....(1)
Equation2:
1Horse + 2HorseShoe + 2HorseShoe = 18
10 + 4HorseShoe =18
HorseShoe = 2 .....(3)
Equation3:
2HorseShoe - 2Cowboy-Boot = 2
4 - 2Cowboy-Boot = 2
=> Cowboy-Boot = 1 ... (2)
Equation4:
Cowboy-Boot+Horse*HorseShoe = 1+10*2
=>21 Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Cowboy-Boot = 1
HorseShoe= 2
The Last equation = 21
Detailed Explanation :
Equation1:
3Horse = 30
=> Horse = 10 .....(1)
Equation2:
1Horse + 2HorseShoe + 2HorseShoe = 18
10 + 4HorseShoe =18
HorseShoe = 2 .....(3)
Equation3:
2HorseShoe - 2Cowboy-Boot = 2
4 - 2Cowboy-Boot = 2
=> Cowboy-Boot = 1 ... (2)
Equation4:
Cowboy-Boot+Horse*HorseShoe = 1+10*2
=>21 Did you answer this riddle correctly?
YES NO
Joe's 10 Coins Riddle
Joe has ten coins totaling $1.19. From these coins, he cannot make exact change for a dollar, half-dollar, quarter, dime, or nickel.
What are the coins?
What are the coins?
Hint:
Post Your Math Brain Teasers Puns Below
Can you come up with a cool, funny or clever Math Brain Teasers of your own? Post it below (without the answer) to see if you can stump our users.
1. Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems.
2. Why did the math teacher break up with the geography teacher? They were in different planes.
3. What kind of music do math teachers listen to? Alge-brahms.
4. What did one math book say to the other? Don't bother me, I've got my own problems.
5. How many mathematicians does it take to change a light bulb? None. It's left to the reader as an exercise.
6. Why did the math teacher go to the beach? To test the waters.
7. Why did the student bring a ladder to math class? To help with the high, exponents.
8. Why don't math teachers tell jokes? Because they always fall flat.
9. What did the circle say to the tangent line? Stop touching me!
10. What do you call it when you take a calculator to a party? A math function.
11. Why did the student eat his math homework? Because the teacher told him it was a piece of cake.
12. What's a math teacher's favorite movie? Pi.
13. Why was the math book sad? Because it had too many problems to solve.
14. Why was the math book always unhappy? Because it had too many pages and no cover
15. What does a math teacher say when chasing a thief stealing a couple of books? "Stop, you're confusing the issues!"
16. Why do mathematicians hate the numbers 6 and 28? Because they are perfect numbers, and nothing in math is perfect.
17. Did you hear about the math professor who's afraid of negative numbers? He'll stop at nothing to avoid them.
18. What do you call a numbers addict? A Numeraholic.
19. Why did the math teacher break up with her boyfriend? He was too irrational.
20. Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven eight nine!
21. Why was the math book unhappy? Because it had too many problems to solve.
22. What does the number 7 like to talk about? Himself! He's always got something prime to say.
23. Why is 6 afraid of 7? Cause seven eight nine!
24. How do mathematicians keep warm in winter? They put their hands in their pocket and feel for the roots.
25. What did the number 0 say to the number 8? Nice belt!
26. What do you call a number that just can't stay in one place? A wandering numeral.
27. What did the math book say to the student? I've got problems.
28. Why do math teachers love geometry students? Because they always have their angles covered.
29. What does the number 2 say after a workout? I'm two-tally awesome!
30. Why did the math book ask for a new page? It couldn't stop calculating.
31. What does a math teacher call a parrot? A polynomial.
32. How can you tell if a math book is sick? It has a measuring fever.
33. Why did the math teacher divorce the science teacher? The constant arguing over significant digits.
34. What do you get when you cross a math teacher and a clock? Time tables.
35. What do math teachers serve for dessert? Pi ala mode.
36. Why did the math teacher always carry a calculator? To make multiply plans.
37. What does the mathematician say when arriving at the airport? Square root of my destination, please!
38. What did the math teacher say to the difficult student? You're eXcellent!
39. Why did the mathematician retire to Hawaii? To work on his tanGent.
40. Why did the chicken prefer to do math? Because pecking order is a strategy.
41. What makes math so rich? All the Numbers in the bank.
42. What did the number 9 say to 5 when asked if he was even or odd? "I'm odd."
43. Why did the students fall asleep in math? Because it was a snooze X's exercise.
44. What's the difference between a math teacher and a train? One calculates figures and the other figures calculations.
45. What makes math the cutest? It's the Square Roots.
46. Why was the geometry book sad? Because it had too many problems.
47. What does one math book say to the other math book? I'll meet you at the Calculus.
48. Why was the math book sad? Because it had too many logarithms.
49. Why did the calculus student skip class? He wanted to get an INTEGRAL education.
50. What do you call the worst kind of math student? A sine-er.
1. Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems.
2. Why did the math teacher break up with the geography teacher? They were in different planes.
3. What kind of music do math teachers listen to? Alge-brahms.
4. What did one math book say to the other? Don't bother me, I've got my own problems.
5. How many mathematicians does it take to change a light bulb? None. It's left to the reader as an exercise.
6. Why did the math teacher go to the beach? To test the waters.
7. Why did the student bring a ladder to math class? To help with the high, exponents.
8. Why don't math teachers tell jokes? Because they always fall flat.
9. What did the circle say to the tangent line? Stop touching me!
10. What do you call it when you take a calculator to a party? A math function.
11. Why did the student eat his math homework? Because the teacher told him it was a piece of cake.
12. What's a math teacher's favorite movie? Pi.
13. Why was the math book sad? Because it had too many problems to solve.
14. Why was the math book always unhappy? Because it had too many pages and no cover
15. What does a math teacher say when chasing a thief stealing a couple of books? "Stop, you're confusing the issues!"
16. Why do mathematicians hate the numbers 6 and 28? Because they are perfect numbers, and nothing in math is perfect.
17. Did you hear about the math professor who's afraid of negative numbers? He'll stop at nothing to avoid them.
18. What do you call a numbers addict? A Numeraholic.
19. Why did the math teacher break up with her boyfriend? He was too irrational.
20. Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven eight nine!
21. Why was the math book unhappy? Because it had too many problems to solve.
22. What does the number 7 like to talk about? Himself! He's always got something prime to say.
23. Why is 6 afraid of 7? Cause seven eight nine!
24. How do mathematicians keep warm in winter? They put their hands in their pocket and feel for the roots.
25. What did the number 0 say to the number 8? Nice belt!
26. What do you call a number that just can't stay in one place? A wandering numeral.
27. What did the math book say to the student? I've got problems.
28. Why do math teachers love geometry students? Because they always have their angles covered.
29. What does the number 2 say after a workout? I'm two-tally awesome!
30. Why did the math book ask for a new page? It couldn't stop calculating.
31. What does a math teacher call a parrot? A polynomial.
32. How can you tell if a math book is sick? It has a measuring fever.
33. Why did the math teacher divorce the science teacher? The constant arguing over significant digits.
34. What do you get when you cross a math teacher and a clock? Time tables.
35. What do math teachers serve for dessert? Pi ala mode.
36. Why did the math teacher always carry a calculator? To make multiply plans.
37. What does the mathematician say when arriving at the airport? Square root of my destination, please!
38. What did the math teacher say to the difficult student? You're eXcellent!
39. Why did the mathematician retire to Hawaii? To work on his tanGent.
40. Why did the chicken prefer to do math? Because pecking order is a strategy.
41. What makes math so rich? All the Numbers in the bank.
42. What did the number 9 say to 5 when asked if he was even or odd? "I'm odd."
43. Why did the students fall asleep in math? Because it was a snooze X's exercise.
44. What's the difference between a math teacher and a train? One calculates figures and the other figures calculations.
45. What makes math the cutest? It's the Square Roots.
46. Why was the geometry book sad? Because it had too many problems.
47. What does one math book say to the other math book? I'll meet you at the Calculus.
48. Why was the math book sad? Because it had too many logarithms.
49. Why did the calculus student skip class? He wanted to get an INTEGRAL education.
50. What do you call the worst kind of math student? A sine-er.