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Mathematical Puzzles and Riddles
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I speak all languages and am able to stay hidden where no man can see me. But you see me every day. What am I?
A Letter. Individual letters of the alphabet can be found in every language and can be 'hidden' in words, yet you see them every day.
If two's company, and three's a crowd, what are four and five?
Nine. The phrase 'two's company, three's a crowd' is unrelated to the mathematical sum of four and five, which is nine.
What has many teeth but cannot bite?
A Comb. A comb has 'teeth' - the narrow, pointed parts that you use to comb your hair, but it cannot bite.
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?
All the people were married. The riddle plays on the interpretation of 'single' as meaning unmarried rather than alone.
If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you no longer have me. What am I?
A Secret. Once you tell a secret, it is no longer a secret.
What 4-letter word can be written forward, backward or upside down, and can still be read from left to right?
The word 'NOON'. It is the same when written forward, backward, or upside down.
What is full of holes but still holds water?
A sponge. Despite having many holes, a sponge can absorb and hold water within them.
The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Footsteps. The more steps you take, the more footprints you leave behind.
What can you catch but not throw?
A Cold. You can 'catch' a cold (become sick with it), but you cannot throw it like a physical object.
I am always hungry and will die if not fed, but whatever I touch will soon turn red. What am I?
Fire. Fire consumes fuel to keep burning. Anything that it touches gets burned and can turn red or black.
What has a bottom at the top?
A leg. The bottom of your leg is at the top of your foot.
What has one eye, but can't see?
A Needle. A needle has an 'eye' which is the hole through which the thread passes, but it cannot see.
What has keys but can't open locks?
A Piano. Pianos have keys which are used to produce music, but they cannot open locks.
I am 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?
Fire. Fire grows and spreads but is not a living creature. It needs oxygen (air) to continue burning but can be extinguished with water.
What is 3/7 chicken, 2/3 cat and 2/4 goat?
Chicago. The word 'Chicago' is made up of parts of the words 'chicken', 'cat', and 'goat' (chi-ca-go).
What has a heart that doesn't beat?
An Artichoke. An artichoke has a part called the 'heart', but it does not pulsate like a living heart.
What is seen in the middle of March and April that can't be seen at the beginning or end of either month?
The letter 'R'. The letter 'R' is in the middle of 'March' and 'April' but not at the beginning or end of those words.
A certain five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it. What is the word?
Short. When you add 'er' to the end, making it 'shorter'.
When I am filled, I can point the way. When I am empty, nothing moves me. What am I?
A Glove. When a hand is in a glove, it can point. Without a hand, it does not move.
What can travel around the world while staying in a corner?
A Stamp. A stamp is placed in the corner of an envelope and can travel to any destination around the world.
I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?
An Echo. An echo is a sound that is reflected off a surface and heard again. It does not have a physical form and tends to be heard well in windy conditions or open areas.
Which word in the dictionary is spelled incorrectly?
Incorrectly. The word 'incorrectly' itself is always spelled 'incorrectly'.
You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I'm quick when I'm thin and slow when I'm fat. The wind is my enemy. What am I?
A Candle. A candle burns (expires) to give light, burning quickly when thin and slowly when thick. A strong wind can extinguish a candle's flame.
Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I?
The word 'ton'. When the letters are reversed, it spells 'not', which is not heavy.
Which number does not belong in the following series: 2 - 3 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 14 - 15 - 30
The number '8'. All other numbers are either prime or can be multiplied or divided by the preceding number to give the next number (3 x 2 = 6, 7 x 2 = 14, etc.), but '8' does not fit this pattern.
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