Math Riddles With Answers
These riddles hide a calculation inside a short story. Slow down, pull out the numbers and the question, and decide which operation connects them. Many have a trick, such as a unit change or a number that is not what it first seems.
Tip: Write the numbers down. Seeing them on paper often exposes the trick.
350 riddles in this collection, page 1 of 9. Tap a riddle for the answer, or open it for the full explanation.
Ida puts 3 dinner rolls in each of 6 boxes. How many dinner rolls is that altogether?
A pack of 12 candy canes is shared equally by 4 children. How many does each get?
18 bees are shared equally among 3 friends. How many bees does each friend get?
Half of the 8 pies on the table are taken away. How many pies are left on the table?
Santa delivers 9 presents on each of 5 streets. How many presents is that?
Noah has 3 flowers and finds 4 more. How many flowers does Noah have now?
Max has 4 sleds. Noah has twice as many. How many sleds do they have together?
Half of the 12 waves on the table are taken away. How many waves are left on the table?
Lily counts mittens in a pattern: 1, 4, 7, 10. How many mittens come next?
Mia makes 2 rows of 3 ice cream cones and adds 5 more at the end. How many ice cream cones are there in all?
There are 27 party hats in a box and 3 are taken out. How many party hats are left?
Ben puts 6 snowmen in each of 4 boxes. How many snowmen is that altogether?
20 swimmers are shared equally among 4 friends. How many swimmers does each friend get?
Ben has 5 calendars. Ana has twice as many. How many calendars do they have together?
Half of the 12 snowballs on the table are taken away. How many snowballs are left on the table?
Ben counts fireworks in a pattern: 2, 6, 10, 14. How many fireworks come next?
One sand castle costs 4 dollars. How many dollars do 8 sand castles cost?
Mia counts countdown cards in a pattern: 4, 8, 12, 16. How many countdown cards come next?
Eli puts 8 parade floats in each of 6 boxes. How many parade floats is that altogether?
Omar has 5 shells and finds 5 more. How many shells does Omar have now?
Kai puts 5 fireworks in each of 3 boxes. How many fireworks is that altogether?
Half of the 16 sparklers on the table are taken away. How many sparklers are left on the table?
Zoe gets 7 rulers on Monday and 7 rulers on Tuesday, then gives away 6. How many rulers are left?
Omar makes 2 rows of 2 flags and adds 1 more at the end. How many flags are there in all?
Omar has 14 erasers and Lily has 5. How many more erasers does Omar have?
12 picnic baskets are shared equally among 3 friends. How many picnic baskets does each friend get?
There are 12 books in a box and 6 are taken out. How many books are left?
A class of 24 students each gives a valentine to every other student... if each student gives 2, how many valentines are given in total?
One leprechaun costs 2 dollars. How many dollars do 5 leprechauns cost?
Leo has 7 rainbows and finds 7 more. How many rainbows does Leo have now?
Max gets 7 clovers on Monday and 5 clovers on Tuesday, then gives away 5. How many clovers are left?
Half of the 12 carrots on the table are taken away. How many carrots are left on the table?
Lily has 18 green hats and Omar has 8. How many more green hats does Lily have?
Ava makes 4 rows of 2 baskets and adds 1 more at the end. How many baskets are there in all?
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Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a calculator?
- No. Every math riddle here can be solved in your head or with a quick note on paper.