Math Riddles for Kids

How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25?

You start with 20. Take 4 out. Now you have 16. Can you still subtract from 20?

Hint: After the first time, you’re working with a new number.

• Aidan has some turtles and tanks.
• One per tank leaves an extra turtle.
• Two per tank leaves an extra tank.
• The numbers are small.
• Can you find both?

Hint: Try guessing small numbers like 2, 3, or 4 turtles.

• Prices seem random: a tie is $15, a shirt $25.
• A skirt is also $25, and trousers are $40.
• The owner uses a secret rule for pricing.
• It’s not based on fabric or style.
• Figure out the pattern, then find the coat’s price.

Hint: Count the letters in each word.

Two friends pool their money. Together they have 100 dollars. One has 40 dollars more than the other. What is the smaller amount?

Hint: Split the total and half the difference.

I am six letters. When you take one away I am twelve. What am I?

I am thin, tall and I cannot walk but I have a tilted head . What am I!?

Hide me inside hundreds, tens, and ones. Stack other eights beside me. Together we reach a round thousand.

Hint: Look for the biggest chunk of eight-hundred-something.

I’ve got ten or more daughters. I’ve got less than ten daughters. I’ve got at least one daughter. If only one of these statements is true, how many daughters have I got?

Hint: I’ve got ten or more daughters…

• A weird pattern appears: 2+2 gives 44.
• 3+3 is 96, 4+4 is 168, 5+5 is 2510.
• Look closely at how the answers form.
• They combine two operations.
• Apply the same logic to 6+6.

Hint: The result combines multiplication and addition: 6×6=36, 6+6=12 makes 3612.

If a wheel has 64 spokes, how many spaces are there between the spokes?

If someone says to you, “I’ll bet you $1 that if you give me $2, I will give you $3 in return“, would this be a good bet for you to accept?

Hint: If someone says to you…

If three cats catch three mice in three minutes, how many cats would be needed to catch 100 mice in 100 minutes?

Hint: If three cats catch three mice in three minutes…

If two is company and three is a crowd, what are four and five?

If you go to the movies and you’re paying, is it cheaper to take one friend to the movies twice, or two friends to the movies at the same time?

Hint: If you go to the movies and you’re paying…

If you have three oranges and you take away two, how many will you have?

If you’re 8 feet away from a door and with each move you advance half the distance to the door. How many moves will it take to reach the door.

Hint: If you’re 8 feet away from a door and with each move you advance half the distan…

If you spell out all the numbers, how far do you have to go until you use the letter a?

Hint: If you spell out all the numbers…

In a contest, four fruits (an apple, a banana, an orange, and a pear) have been placed in four closed boxes (one fruit per box). People may guess which fruit is in which box. 123 people participate in the contest. When the boxes are opened, it turns out that 43 people have guessed none of the fruits correctly, 39 people have guessed one fruit correctly, and 31 people have guessed two fruits correctly. The Question: How many people have guessed three fruits correctly, and how many people have guessed four fruits correctly?

Hint: In a contest…

• A hotel has many floors with more guests higher up.
• But everyone must start on the same level.
• To go up, you call the elevator from the bottom.
• Think about which floor is busiest.
• It’s not the top floor.

Hint: Where does every ride begin?