Brain Teasers and Puzzles

Brain teasers, puzzles, riddles, and other challenges

Difficulty - Easy, Logic Puzzles

Favorite Fruit and Favorite Color

Ava, Beth, Cam, and Derek each have a different favorite fruit and favorite color. We know their favorite fruits are apple, banana, cherry, and durian, and their favorite colors are blue, green, red, and yellow. We also know:

Cam does not like apples or cherries
Derek’s favorite color is yellow and his favorite fruit is not banana
The person whose favorite fruit is cherry also likes the color green
Beth’s favorite color is red and her favorite fruit is not apple
The person whose favorite fruit is durian does not like the color blue

What is each person’s favorite fruit and favorite color?

View Solution

Difficulty - Medium, Paradox, Probability

The Monty Hall Problem Explained

The Monty Hall Problem

You are on a game show in which there are three identical doors, one with a car behind it and two with goats behind them. You must pick one door, and you win if that door has the car behind it.

After you pick a door, the host of the game show always opens a door you didn’t choose that has a goat behind it. This leaves the door you chose and one other remaining door, and you are given the option to switch your choice to the other remaining door.

Should you switch or should you stick to your original choice? What chance of winning would that give you?

The History

The Monty Hall Problem is a classic probability puzzle, named for its similarity to the game show “Let’s Make a Deal”, which was hosted by Monty Hall. The problem was made famous when Marilyn vos Savant answered it correctly in her column in a popular magazine, and thousands of readers wrote letters to the magazine arguing her solution was wrong!

The solution can be counter-intuitive, so give it some thought and then scroll down to see the Monty Hall Problem explained.

Difficulty - Medium, Matchstick Puzzles, Simple Math

7 Matchstick Equation Puzzles

In matchstick puzzles, you are presented with an incorrect equation made using matchsticks, and you must move 1 or more matchsticks to turn it into a valid equation.

You must use all of the matches, and you are not allowed to make an inequality symbol such as ≠, ≥, >, <, or ≤.

In each of these 7 fun matchstick equation puzzles, move exactly 1 match to fix the equation:

Click for Solution to 1 + 2 = 8

7 + 2 = 9

Difficulty - Medium, Interview Brain Teasers, Logic Puzzles

Color of the Last Ball

There is a bag with 20 blue balls and 13 red balls. Randomly remove 2 balls from the bag:

If they are the same color, replace them with a blue ball
If they are different colors, replace them with a red ball

Repeat this process until there is just 1 ball remaining. What is the color of the last ball?

View Solution

Riddles and Lateral Thinking

10 Clever Riddles with Answers

Do some creative thinking and try to solve these 10 clever riddles:

Riddle #1

What do you usually have to break before you can use it?

Click for the answer to #1

An egg

Riddle #2

What do you need to answer even though it never asks a question?

Click for the answer to #2

The telephone

Difficulty - Easy, Matchstick Puzzles, Simple Math

Matchstick Equation 4

Move exactly 2 matches to make this a valid equation.

Bonus: find more than one solution.

In matchstick equation puzzles, you are not allowed to make an inequality symbol such as ≠, ≥, >, <, or ≤. That would make it too easy!

Difficulty - Very Easy, Rebus

8 Easy Rebus Puzzles for Kids

A rebus is a puzzle in which words, objects, or symbols are arranged in a way to indirectly represent a commonly known word or phrase. Solving rebus puzzles can be a fun and easy way for kids to think both creatively and analytically.

Here are 8 easy rebus puzzles for kids to get started: