30 math riddles for kids: Age-based, fun & challenging

Most of the kids find mathematics as their enemy and don’t get good marks in it. This is because maths is the one that demands understanding or practice, but kids find it an extra burden. Thus, to make mathematics interesting and fun, you can make use of math riddles for kids.

So, in this guide, we’ll suggest you almost 30 different math riddles based on the age groups of kids. So, keep reading!

Why are riddles about mathematics great for kids?

• Make learning fun: First of all, for most of the kids, maths is a very boring or complex subject, right? However, it doesn’t mean that you would give a free hand to your kids regarding this. But you have to do your best to make it interesting. Thus, math riddles for kids being a fun or gaming activity would help kids learn basic math without  even realizing that it’s part of education. According to the survey report published by Research Gate they conducted a survey on eighty grade students. According to the findings, mathematics, being a dry subjec,t can be made interesting by integrating riddles or math puzzles.

• Improve problem-solving skills: Next, you know to solve math logic puzzles, kids basically break down the question into small chunks. Then, they basically put pressure on their minds. Hence, this practice wouldn’t just help them in their education but also in real-life problems whether family-related or business one.
• Boost memory and focus: Moreover, the next point is that to get a correct answer to riddles, always guessing does not work. There are math rules and formulas that must be in the kids’ minds to solve these puzzles. So, in this fun activity, kids would also memorize such rules. This thing helps boost their memory (holding and use of information step-by-step).  
• Spark creative thinking: Last but not least, don’t think that math riddles are just a part of their syllabus. Actually, to solve them sometimes they have to think out-of-the-box. As a result, they attain creativity among themselves and, thus they would do wonders in other real-life fields.

How can parents apply math riddles to encourage kids to spend less time on screen?

You know the excessive screen time is really harmful to kids’ health. So, to prevent this, parents make use of math riddles for kids as a game, which not only reduces their screen time but also gives kids educational benefits. For instance;

• Create a riddle jar: You can write different kinds of math riddles on simple paper pieces. Then fold them and put them in the jar. After this, ask your kids to solve each puzzle a day. At the end, if they come out with 5 out of 10 right answers or more, then there would be surprise for them.
• Arrange mini-competitions: Furthermore, to reduce the screen time, instead you can play with your kids using math riddles. In this way, they don’t use their gadgets to play games. Like you can arrange a competition, like whoever solves the most math riddles will be the winner.

However, to balance the kids’ digital lives you can use the third-party parental control tool like FlashGet Kids as an additional tool. You know this app is most parents’ favourite as it keeps them updated about kids’ digital whereabouts in real-time.

For instance, it allows you to set screen time, screen mirror, and also block harmful apps or websites. Hence it ensures kids use screen media but in a healthy and balanced way.

Math riddles for kids (ages 5-7)

Riddle1

• I am basically an odd number. However, when you remove one letter from me I become even. So, think and answer who am I?
• Answer: Seven ( This is because if you focus then you would find that it’s telling you to remove a letter, so from seven if you remove S then what would be left? Definitely even. That’s the riddle!)

Riddle 2

• I have two hands but no arms. I show numbers all the time. What am I?
• Answer: A clock

Riddle 3

• I am a number between 5 and 7. What number am I?
• Answer: Six

Riddle 4

• I am double of three but half of twelve. What number am I?
• Answer: Six

Riddle 5

• If you have two apples and I give you three more, how many apples do you have?
• Answer: Five

Riddle 6

• I am the number of sides on a triangle. What number am I?
• Answer: Three because when you draw the shape you would count its sides.

Riddle 7

• If today is Monday, then tell me after two days, what will be the day?
• Answer: Wednesday

Riddle 8

• I am the smallest two-digit number. So, think and answer who I am !
• Answer: Ten

Riddle 9

• If your mother gives you $2 and to your elder brother $5. Then how much money bot of you have?
• Answer: $7 ( $2+$5=7)

Riddle 10

• I am round, I have no beginning and no end. What number am I?
• Answer: Zero

Riddles of mathematics for older kids (ages 8-12)

Riddle 11:

• I am basically an even number. But if you double me and add 6 you get 34. So, think and answer who  I am?
• Answer: 14 (Suppose the even number is x; So, 2x + 6 = 34 → x = 14)

Riddle 12:

• If you are twice the age of your sister. And both of you are now 18 years old. So, how old are you?
• Answer: 12 years old ( as sister age = x ; your age = 2x;  So, x+2x = 18;  3x= 18; x = 18/3; x= 6; So sister age = 6, your age= 12)

Riddle 13:

• I’m a three-digit number. My digits add up to 12. The tens digit is twice the ones digit. The hundreds digit is half the tens digit. So, pause and answer!
• Answer: 363 ( Think logically)

Riddle 14:

• If you buy a cookie jar and eat half of them in the way. So, when you reach home you eat 2 more, then you will find that there are only 6 left in the jar. So, how many cookies were in the jar at first?
• Answer: 16 ( you can solve this like first make double of 6 like 12 then add 2 more = 14. So, if you make it half and remove 2, then it would be 5. But there are 6 remaining, so at first it would be 16, right?)

Riddle 15:

• I’m a three-digit odd number. My hundreds digit is 3, my tens digit is 4, less than my hundreds digit. If you take the sum of all digits, it would come to be 12. So, what number I am?
• Answer: 357.

Riddle 16:

• Suppose you visit a farmer’s house where there are chickens and cows. Well! Together there are 20 heads and 56 legs. So,  how many chickens and cows does the farmer have?
• Answer: 12 chickens and 8 cows. This is so because suppose if all were chickens having 2 legs, then 20*2= 40 legs. However, the legs are 56; it means 16 legs are of a cow and a cow having 4 so, 16/2= 8. It means 8 are cows and 12 are chickens. You can counter check this.

Riddle 17:

• In the pattern of 2, 4, 8, 14, 22, …what comes next?
• Answer: 32 (Hint: Look at how much the sequence increases each time (2, 4, 6, 8, …).

Riddle 18:

• I am a 4-digit number. My digits multiply to 24. The thousands digit is 1. The last digit is 4. The middle two digits add up to 6. What number  I am?
• Answer: 1234.

Riddle 19:

• I’m thinking of a number. Add twice the number to 9 and you get 35. What’s the number?
• Answer: 13 (because 2x + 9 = 35 → 2x = 26 → x = 13).

Riddle 20:

• If you see 4 kids at night who want to cross the bridge and have only one torch.  If 2 cross at one time and each kid takes 1, 2, 7, or 10 minutes of time respectively. Then, what is the shortest time for all to cross?
• Answer: 17 minutes ( As 1 & 2 cross (2 mints) → 1 returns ( takes 1 minute) → 7 & 10 cross (10 minutes) → 2 returns (2 minutes) → 1 & 2 cross (2 minutes) So, 2+1+10+2+2=17 mints.

Math puzzles for teens (ages 13+)

Riddle 21

• I’m a two-digit number and for your hint when you add these 2 digits, it would give you 9. Also, the tens digit is 3x of one digit. So, think and tell what number I am?

• Answer: 63 ( Always start from small number!)

• Explanation:

Let’s call the ones digit = x. Then the tens digit = x + 3 (because the tens digit is 3 more). The two digits together add up to 9: (x)+(x+3)=9

• Simplify:

2x+3=9

2x = 6

x=6/2

x=3  (ones digit =3;   tens digit= x + 3; 3+3 = 6)

Riddle 22

• A rectangle has a perimeter of 36. Its length is 2 more than its width. What is its area?
• Answer: 80

• Explanation:

Let width = x, length = x + 2.

Perimeter = 2(x + (x + 2)) = 36 → 2(2x + 2) = 36 → 4x + 4 = 36 → 4x = 32 → x = 8.

Length = 10, Width = 8 → Area = 8 × 10 = 80.

Riddle 23

• I’m a fraction, I become 1 when you add 1 to its numerator. Also, when you add 1 to my denominator, then I become ½. So, can you guess my identity like number?
• Answer: ⅔.

• Explanation:

Let fraction = a/b.

(a+1)/b = 1 → a + 1 = b → a = b – 1.

a/(b+1) = 1/2 → 2a = b + 1.

Substitute a = b – 1 → 2(b – 1) = b + 1 → 2b – 2 = b + 1 → b = 3.

Then a = 2 → fraction = 2/3.

Riddle 24

• Using only 10-rupee and 5-rupee coins, make 55 rupees with exactly 7 coins. How many of each coin?
• Answer: Four 10s and three 5s

• Explanation:

Let 10-rupee coins = x;   5-rupee coins = y.

x + y = 7 → total coins.

10x + 5y = 55 → total money.

Simplify second: 2x + y = 11.

Subtract equations: (2x + y) – (x + y) = 11 – 7 → x = 4.

Then y = 3.

Riddle 25

• In 5 years, I will be twice as old as I was 5 years ago. How old am I now?
• Answer: 15

• Explanation:

Let age now = x.

In 5 years → x + 5.

5 years ago → x – 5.

Equation: x + 5 = 2(x – 5).

x + 5 = 2x – 10 → 15 = x.

Riddle 26

• I’m a two-digit prime number. Flip my digits around, and suddenly I become 18 less than before. Who am I?
• Answer: 31

Riddle 27

• If you visit a stationery shop who basically sells pens/$3 each and notebooks/$5 each. You actually buy a total of 7 items for $29. So, how many pens did you buy from there?
• Answer: 3 pens ( Hint: p+n=7; 3p+5n=29, solve these 2 equations and get your answer)

Riddle 28

• If there are 100 lockers in a row. And every student takes turns flipping open/closed (1st every door, 2nd every 2nd, 3rd every 3rd, and so on). After 100 rounds, which lockers are still open?
• Answer: The perfect squares → 10 lockers

Riddle 29

• You’ve got 10 different books. How many ways can you choose some of them, but always in even numbers?
• Answer: 512

Riddle 30

• What’s the first prime number greater than 100 that reads the same backward and forward?
• Answer: 101 ( Think logically)

Parental tips: how to motivate kids to solve riddles related to mathematics?

If being a parent you are worried about how you can convince your kids to solve the math riddles. Then don’t worry! I know it’s a tricky task but not impossible. Here, I’m sharing with you simple tricks that would definitely help you a lot in encouraging kids to solve math riddles!

• Offer small rewards: First and foremost, you can turn solving riddles into a game that gives them rewards. Keep in mind that whether it’s kids or even adults, they always love to achieve rewards. So, in this greed, they would at least try to solve the puzzles and that’s enough. As with passage of time, they would automatically develop interest in them.
• Connect riddles to real life: The next important thing that you can do is relate the math puzzles to their daily activities. For instance, you can say if you are going shopping with 30$ in your wallet. So, when you return home, you have 10$. So, how much have you spent? Thus, such questions would definitely develop interest among kids, and they more lively to solve them.
• Celebrate effort, not just answers: Moreover, the most important thing is your attitude, like how you would treat your kids on their success or failure. I would say one thing: never judge them or say anything bad if they don’t get the right answer. This is because it would dishearten them and they would never make a 2nd try.

Wrap up

So, now after reading throughout the article, you may have developed an idea about what kind of riddles related to mathematics you can choose according to your kid’s age. However if you want to find some more riddles, than be happy as there are many resources available.

For instance, you can visit different websites especially educational ones like Coolmath4kids and also there are apps or even e-books available. So for your kids’ future’s sake add such riddles in their daily routines. Thus they do wonders not in education but in their real-life.

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