I love brain teasers because they push me to see things in ways I wouldn’t have imagined. They test not only my logic and creativity but also my patience—and I’m all for it! There’s something especially satisfying about tackling a really tough puzzle. It’s not just the moment of finding the answer that excites me; it’s the entire journey of how I got there.
For me, the fun is in the process, even when I get stumped along the way. If you’re like me and enjoy a good mental workout, here are 10 brain teasers that might just have you scratching your head or maybe even grinning when you finally solve them. Ready to test yourself?
1. The Missing Pound Riddle
Three friends go out for dinner and split a £30 bill evenly. Each pays £10. Later, the waiter realizes they were overcharged by £5. He gives £1 back to each friend and keeps the remaining £2 as a tip. Now, each friend paid £9, totaling £27, plus the £2 the waiter kept makes £29. But they started with £30—where’s the missing pound?
Answer
The riddle tricks you by making you think there’s a missing pound, but the real issue is the misdirection in the math. The friends paid £27, which includes the £2 kept by the waiter, and the remaining £3 was returned to them. There’s no missing pound—it’s a misunderstanding of how the amounts are added.
2. The Coin and the Hole
Imagine you have a coin with a hole perfectly drilled through its center, right along the diameter. The coin has a thickness to it, and you’re asked this: if you could magically make the hole bigger by expanding it, what would happen to the size of the metal coin surrounding it?
Answer
As the hole expands, the outer diameter of the coin actually decreases. This is because the metal surrounding the hole is stretched, reducing the overall size of the coin.
3. A Man Walks Into A Town
A man walks into a town on Friday. He stays for three days and leaves on Friday. How is this possible?
Answer
It’s all in the name. The man’s horse is named “Friday.”
4. The Water Jug Problem
You have two jugs: one that holds exactly 5 liters and one that holds 3 liters. You need to measure out exactly 4 liters of water, but you don’t have any other tools to help. How can you do it?
Answer
To get exactly 4 liters, you fill the 5-liter jug, pour it into the 3-liter jug (leaving 2 liters in the 5-liter jug), empty the 3-liter jug, pour the remaining 2 liters from the 5-liter jug into the 3-liter jug, and then refill the 5-liter jug. Now you have exactly 4 liters in the 5-liter jug.
5. The Man in the Mask
A man is found dead in a cabin on a mountain. The only clue is a mask next to him. What happened?
Answer
The man was a pilot, and the cabin refers to the cockpit of his plane. The mask was his oxygen mask.
6. Two Fathers and Two Sons
Two fathers and two sons go fishing together, and all catch one fish. In total, they bring home three fish. How is this possible?
Answer
There are only three people! A grandfather, his son, and his grandson. They’re the two fathers and two sons.
7. The River Crossing Puzzle
A farmer needs to bring a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage across a river. But his boat can only carry one at a time, and if left alone, the wolf will eat the goat, and the goat will eat the cabbage. How can the farmer get all three safely across the river?
Answer
The solution is to take the goat across first, return for the cabbage, take the cabbage across, bring the goat back, then take the wolf across, and finally return for the goat.
8. The Candle Problem
You are given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches. Your task is to attach the candle to a wall in such a way that the wax won’t drip onto the table below. How do you do it?
Answer
You solve this problem by tacking the box to the wall and using it as a platform to hold the candle, preventing the wax from dripping onto the table.
9. The Light Switches Puzzle
You are in a room with three light switches, each controlling one of three bulbs in the next room. You can’t see the bulbs from where you stand, and you can only enter the room with the bulbs once. How do you figure out which switch controls which bulb?
Answer
Turn on one switch and leave it on for a while, then turn it off and quickly turn on another switch. Enter the room. The warm, unlit bulb is connected to the first switch, the lit bulb to the second switch, and the cold, unlit bulb to the third.
10. The Paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise
Achilles races a tortoise, who gets a head start. The tortoise moves slowly, but Achilles is fast. However, no matter how fast Achilles runs, the tortoise seems to stay ahead because by the time Achilles reaches where the tortoise was, the tortoise has moved a little farther ahead. How is this paradox resolved?
Answer
Despite the infinite sequence of points Achilles must reach, he eventually overtakes the tortoise. The paradox is a misunderstanding of how infinite sequences work in reality.
18 Everyday Things Amish Women Aren’t Allowed to Do
The Amish culture is known for its simple way of life and adherence to traditional values. While this lifestyle may seem appealing to some, there are certain restrictions that Amish women face that most modern women do not. Take a look at these things that we take for granted that are off-limits to Amish women.
Read More: 18 Everyday Things Amish Women Aren’t Allowed to Do
Ellen has been obsessed with logic puzzles, jigsaws, and cryptograms since she was a kid. After learning she was taught how to play chess wrong by a family friend (so they could win), she joined her school chess club and the rest is history.
