Math Riddles: Numbers
and Logic Puzzles

Math riddles combine numbers with lateral thinking. They’re great for
practising arithmetic and logic in a fun way. Whether you’re a student
sharpening your skills or an adult who loves puzzles, these brain
teasers will give you a satisfying challenge.

Why Math Riddles Are
Great for Learning

Solving math riddles helps you:

• Improve problem solving skills by recognising patterns and
  relationships
• Build confidence in mental math
• See numbers in a playful context instead of a purely academic
  one

Try solving the following riddles without a calculator if you can.
Write down any patterns you notice – sometimes the key is spotting an
overlooked connection.

Math Riddles with Answers

Riddle 1

What three positive numbers give the same result when multiplied and
added together?

Answer: 1, 2 and 3. 1 × 2 × 3 = 6, and
1 + 2 + 3 = 6.

Riddle 2

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

Answer: Nine. It’s a play on arithmetic rather than
a phrase.

Riddle 3

You have two coins that add up to 30 cents, and one of them is not a
nickel. What coins do you have?

Answer: A quarter and a nickel. One of them isn’t a
nickel, but the other one is.

Riddle 4

Using only addition, how can you add eight 8s to get the number
1,000?

Answer: 888 + 88 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 1,000.

Riddle 5

A farmer has 17 sheep and all but nine die. How many are left?

Answer: Nine. “All but nine” die, so nine
remain.

Riddle 6

Take away my first letter, and I still sound the same. Take away my
last letter, I still sound the same. Even take away my letter in the
middle, I will still sound the same. I am a five‑letter word. What am
I?

Answer: Empty. Removing “E,” “Y,” or “P” leaves
“mpty,” “empt,” or “emty,” all pronounced similarly.

Riddle 7

Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?

Answer: They both weigh one pound. This riddle plays
on assumptions rather than math.

For more number fun, explore our Easy
Riddles or level up with Hard
Riddles.

Hard
Riddles: Test Your Brain With These Tough Teasers

If you’re looking for riddles that will really make you think, you’ve
come to the right place. Hard riddles use misdirection and clever
wordplay to trick your brain. Don’t feel discouraged if you need to read
them a few times – these puzzles are meant to be challenging!

Tips for Tackling Hard
Riddles

Hard riddles often rely on double meanings or unexpected
interpretations. Here’s how to approach them:

1. Look for puns or homonyms. Words with more than one
   meaning are common in tricky puzzles.
2. Consider metaphorical answers. The description
   might not be literal; think about what the clues hint at instead.
3. Break the riddle into parts. Analyse each clue
   separately before fitting them together.

Ready? Take a deep breath and see if you can solve the following
brain‑twisters!

Challenging Riddles with
Answers

Riddle 1

What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head
but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps?

Answer: A river. Rivers “run,” have a mouth and
head, and a riverbed.

Riddle 2

I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am
never released, and yet I am used by almost every person. What am I?

Answer: Pencil lead (graphite). It comes from a
mine, is encased in wood, and you use it by sharpening but never
releasing it fully.

Riddle 3

Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I?

Answer: The word “ton.” Spelled backward it becomes
“not.”

Riddle 4

What has many teeth but can’t bite?

Answer: A comb. It has teeth but doesn’t bite like
an animal.

Riddle 5

You see a boat filled with people. It has not sunk, but when you look
again you don’t see a single person on the boat. Why?

Answer: All the people were married – there wasn’t a
“single” person among them!

Riddle 6

What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a
thousand years?

Answer: The letter “m.” It appears in the words
“minute” and “moment” but not in “a thousand years.”

Riddle 7

The person who makes it has no need of it. The person who buys it has
no use for it. The person who uses it can neither see nor feel it. What
is it?

Answer: A coffin. The maker doesn’t need it, the
buyer won’t use it, and the user is no longer alive to perceive it.

If these puzzles have you hooked, try our Riddle Me This collection for more tricky
brain teasers with answers, or relax with some Easy Riddles when your brain needs a
break.

Good Riddles You
Probably Haven’t Heard Before

We all have our favourite riddles, but sometimes you want something
fresh. This collection features “good” riddles – puzzles that strike a
perfect balance between difficulty and delight. They’re not so obscure
that you’d never guess them, but they’re clever enough to feel
satisfying when you do.

What Makes a Riddle Good?

A good riddle:

• Uses concise wording
• Includes fair clues without giving away the answer
• Surprises you with an unexpected twist

Think of a good riddle as a mini story – there’s a setup, a hint and
a reveal. Ready to try some? Let’s go!

Good Riddles with Answers

Riddle 1

I’m not alive, but I grow; I don’t have lungs, but I need air; I
don’t have a mouth, but water kills me. What am I?

Answer: Fire. It needs oxygen to grow but is
extinguished by water.

Riddle 2

The person who makes it, sells it. The person who buys it never uses
it. The person who uses it never knows they are. What is it?

Answer: A coffin. The maker sells it, the purchaser
buys it for someone else and the user is deceased.

Riddle 3

I’m always hungry and must always be fed. The finger I touch will
soon turn red. What am I?

Answer: Fire. It devours fuel and burns anything it
touches.

Riddle 4

The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?

Answer: Footsteps. As you walk you leave a path
behind.

Riddle 5

A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid.
What am I?

Answer: An egg. The shell hides the yolk and white
inside.

Riddle 6

I have towns without people, forests without trees, and rivers
without water. What am I?

Answer: A map. It depicts features without
containing them physically.

Riddle 7

I come from a mine and am surrounded by wood. Everyone uses me. What
am I?

Answer: Pencil lead (graphite). Extracted from a
mine and encased in wood.

Want more challenge? Try our Hard
Riddles or get silly with Funny
Riddles.

Funny Riddles That Will
Make You Laugh

Not all riddles are serious. Some are written just to make you smile!
These funny riddles combine witty questions with punchline‑style
answers. Share them with friends or family for a quick laugh and a great
conversation starter.

Why We Love Funny Riddles

Humour reduces stress and helps people bond. A silly riddle turns the
act of solving a puzzle into an opportunity to share a giggle. Many of
these jokes rely on puns or unexpected twists, so they also encourage
flexible thinking.

Our Funniest Riddles

Riddle 1

Why did the scarecrow win an award?

Answer: Because he was outstanding in his field!

Riddle 2

Why can’t a bicycle stand up by itself?

Answer: Because it’s two‑tired.

Riddle 3

What do you call a fish wearing a bow tie?

Answer: Sofishticated.

Riddle 4

I’m tall when I’m young and short when I’m old. What am I?

Answer: A candle. This classic riddle has a simple
yet charming twist.

Riddle 5

Why did the math book look sad?

Answer: Because it had too many problems.

Riddle 6

How does a penguin build its house?

Answer: Igloos it together.

Riddle 7

Why did the tomato turn red?

Answer: Because it saw the salad dressing! Classic
pun jokes never get old.

Riddle 8

What did one wall say to the other wall?

Answer: “I’ll meet you at the corner.”

Riddle 9

Why don’t scientists trust atoms?

Answer: Because they make up everything.

Laughing at silly puzzles is a wonderful way to lighten the mood.
When you’re ready for something more mind‑bending, try our Hard Riddles or Math Riddles collections.

Easy Riddles
with Answers: Perfect for Beginners

Just getting into riddles? These easy puzzles are a great place to
start. They’re short, straightforward and ideal for building confidence
before moving on to more difficult brain teasers. Each riddle includes
an answer and explanation so you can learn how to think through similar
puzzles.

Beginner Riddles

Riddle 1

What has many needles but doesn’t sew?

Answer: A Christmas tree. Its branches are covered
in pine needles.

Riddle 2

What has a thumb and four fingers but is not alive?

Answer: A glove. It fits over your hand but isn’t a
person.

Riddle 3

What has one eye but can’t see?

Answer: A needle. The hole you thread is called the
eye.

Riddle 4

What can you catch but not throw?

Answer: A cold. You can “catch” an illness but can’t
throw it like a ball.

Riddle 5

What belongs to you but is used more by others?

Answer: Your name. Other people use it to address
you more often than you do.

Riddle 6

What has legs but doesn’t walk?

Answer: A table. It stands on legs but doesn’t move
itself.

Riddle 7

What gets wetter the more it dries?

Answer: A towel. It absorbs water while drying you
off.

Short and Easy Riddles

Sometimes the best riddles are one‑liners. Try these quick brain
ticklers:

• What comes down but never goes up? Answer:
  Rain.
• The more there is, the less you see. What is it?
  Answer: Fog.
• What has words but never speaks? Answer: A
  book.
• What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?
  Answer: A postage stamp.

After mastering these, challenge yourself with our Riddle of the Day or jump into Math Riddles.