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 6 of 9. Tap a riddle for the answer, or open it for the full explanation.
A bag has 20 pieces of candy. You eat 6 and give 4 away. How many are left?
There are 28 pumpkins in a box and 4 are taken out. How many pumpkins are left?
3 elves each wrap 8 presents an hour. How many presents do they wrap in 2 hours?
Lily puts 6 seeds in each of 6 boxes. How many seeds is that altogether?
Mia has 6 turkeys. Max has twice as many. How many turkeys do they have together?
Half of the 12 flowers on the table are taken away. How many flowers are left on the table?
Ida gets 6 mittens on Monday and 6 mittens on Tuesday, then gives away 6. How many mittens are left?
Leo has 11 sand castles. Zoe has twice as many. How many sand castles do they have together?
One countdown card costs 5 dollars. How many dollars do 5 countdown cards cost?
Ava counts shells in a pattern: 2, 6, 10, 14. How many shells come next?
Lily has 4 fireworks and finds 7 more. How many fireworks does Lily have now?
There are 12 snowballs in a box and 5 are taken out. How many snowballs are left?
Max puts 5 waves in each of 6 boxes. How many waves is that altogether?
Eli gets 7 clocks on Monday and 8 clocks on Tuesday, then gives away 6. How many clocks are left?
Omar has 6 icicles. Ava has twice as many. How many icicles do they have together?
Half of the 12 ice cream cones on the table are taken away. How many ice cream cones are left on the table?
Half of the 28 desks on the table are taken away. How many desks are left on the table?
Leo has 18 party hats and Ava has 6. How many more party hats does Leo have?
There are 22 picnic baskets in a box and 7 are taken out. How many picnic baskets are left?
Kai makes 4 rows of 3 rulers and adds 3 more at the end. How many rulers are there in all?
There are 25 calendars in a box and 5 are taken out. How many calendars are left?
Sam has 3 fireworks. Mia has twice as many. How many fireworks do they have together?
20 erasers are shared equally among 4 friends. How many erasers does each friend get?
Lily counts parade floats in a pattern: 5, 7, 9, 11. How many parade floats come next?
Max puts 6 sparklers in each of 4 boxes. How many sparklers is that altogether?
Eli has 8 pencils and finds 4 more. How many pencils does Eli have now?
Half of the 8 green hats on the table are taken away. How many green hats are left on the table?
Noah makes 2 rows of 4 gold coins and adds 4 more at the end. How many gold coins are there in all?
15 leprechauns are shared equally among 3 friends. How many leprechauns does each friend get?
Noah has 3 baskets. Ben has twice as many. How many baskets do they have together?
One autumn leaf costs 3 dollars. How many dollars do 5 autumn leaves cost?
Kai counts chicks in a pattern: 2, 6, 10, 14. How many chicks come next?
Kai has 5 clovers and finds 5 more. How many clovers does Kai have now?
Ava has 7 scarecrows and finds 3 more. How many scarecrows does Ava have now?
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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.