Ever wondered how smart you really are? Well, there’s no better way to find out than by tackling some tricky riddles! Smart riddles with answers not only test your problem-solving skills but also sharpen your mind in the process. Whether you’re new to riddles or a seasoned pro, solving these challenges will stretch your brain and maybe even make you think differently. Ready to see if you can crack these clever riddles? Let’s dive in!
Smart Riddles with Answers
45 Smart Riddles with Answers
Riddle 1: The Missing Dollar
Three friends go to a restaurant and the total bill is $30. They each contribute $10, handing the waiter $30. Later, the waiter realizes there’s a mistake, and the bill should have been only $25. He gives $5 to the bellboy to return to the friends. The bellboy keeps $2 for himself and gives $1 back to each friend. Now, each friend has paid $9 (totaling $27) and the bellboy kept $2. But where is the missing dollar?
Riddle 2: The Two Fathers and Two Sons
A grandfather, his son, and his grandson went fishing. They caught a total of three fish. When asked how many fish each person caught, they answered: “One for the grandfather, one for the father, and one for the grandson.” How is this possible?
Riddle 3: The Farmer’s Dilemma
A farmer needs to transport a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage across a river. He has a boat, but it can only carry him and one item at a time. If he leaves the wolf with the goat, the wolf will eat the goat. If he leaves the goat with the cabbage, the goat will eat the cabbage. How does he get all three across safely?
Riddle 4: The Number Puzzle
I am a three-digit number. My tens digit is five more than my ones digit, and my hundreds digit is eight less than my tens digit. What number am I?
Riddle 5: The Unbreakable Lock
You have a lock that requires a three-digit combination. The first number is one more than the second number, and the second number is two less than the third number. The sum of the three numbers is 12. What’s the combination?
Riddle 6: The Mysterious Age
I am twice as old as my sister was when I was as old as she is now. If I am 24 years old, how old is my sister?
Riddle 7: The Light Switch Dilemma
You are in a room with three light switches. Each switch controls one of three light bulbs in another room, but you can’t see the bulbs. How do you figure out which switch controls which bulb if you can only enter the room with the bulbs once?
Riddle 8: The Coin Puzzle
You have two coins that add up to 30 cents. One of them is not a nickel. What are the two coins?
Riddle 9: The Three Switches
You have three light switches in a room. Each switch controls one light bulb in another room. You can only enter the room with the bulbs once. How can you figure out which switch controls which bulb?
Riddle 10: The Stolen Necklace
A man reports that his wife’s necklace was stolen. The police question him and his wife, who says she was sitting in her living room at the time of the theft, and he was in the kitchen. The police ask the husband if he was in the kitchen, and he replies, “No.” The police arrest him immediately. Why?
Riddle 11: The Infinite Puzzle
How many months have 28 days?
Riddle 12: The Black-and-White Cat
A black cat and a white cat are sitting next to each other. How many legs are there in total?
Riddle 13: The Missing Matchstick
You have 10 matchsticks. Use all of them to create four equal squares. How do you do it?
Riddle 14: The River Crossing
A man needs to cross a river with his pet dog, a bag of grain, and a chicken. He has a boat, but it can only carry him and one item at a time. If he leaves the dog with the chicken, the dog will eat the chicken. If he leaves the chicken with the grain, the chicken will eat the grain. How does he get all three across safely?
Riddle 15: The Famous Puzzle
Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?
Riddle 16: The Time Riddle
A clock chimes every hour. It chimes for the number of hours in the day. How many times will the clock chime in 24 hours?
Riddle 17: The Egg and the Basket
How many eggs can you put into an empty basket?
Riddle 18: The Family Riddle
A mother has five children. Half of them are boys, and half of them are girls. How many children does she have?
Riddle 19: The Four-Person Puzzle
There are four people in a room. They are all wearing hats. There are no mirrors in the room. How do they know how many hats they are wearing?
Riddle 20: The Price Puzzle
A man buys a coat for $100, sells it for $200, and then buys it back for $150. How much money did he make or lose?
Riddle 21: The Dice Riddle
What’s the smallest number you can roll on two dice that’s divisible by 4?
Riddle 22: The Broken Window
A window is broken, but no one is near it. How did it break?
Riddle 23: The Sequence Puzzle
What comes next in this sequence: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30?
Riddle 24: The Word Riddle
What is as light as a feather but can’t be held for long?
Riddle 25: The Birthday Puzzle
If a person is born on the 29th of February, what day is their birthday in non-leap years?
Riddle 26: The Man in the Mirror
A man looks at a picture and says, “Brothers and sisters, I have none. But the father of that man in the picture is my father’s son.” Who is the man in the picture?
Riddle 27: The No-Letter Puzzle
Which letter of the alphabet has the most water?
Riddle 28: The Ball Puzzle
A ball is dropped from a height of 10 meters. After each bounce, it rises 50% of its previous height. How high will it bounce on the 4th bounce?
Riddle 29: The Water Puzzle
If you have a container that holds 7 liters and one that holds 4 liters, how do you measure exactly 5 liters of water?
Riddle 30: The Family Age Riddle
A father is 45 years old. His son is 15 years old. How many years ago was the father three times the age of the son?
Riddle 31: The Locked Door
You’re locked in a room with two doors. One door leads to safety, the other leads to danger. There are two guards. One always tells the truth, the other always lies. You don’t know which is which. You can ask only one question. What question do you ask to find the door to safety?
Riddle 32: The Triangle Puzzle
How many triangles are in this figure?
Riddle 33: The Walk Puzzle
A man walks 1 mile south, 1 mile east, and 1 mile north. Where is he?
Riddle 34: The Fruit Riddle
I am an odd number. Take away one letter, and I become even. What number am I?
Riddle 35: The Weather Riddle
What is the coldest city in the world?
Riddle 36: The Penny Riddle
A penny dropped in water is worth 1 cent. How much would 100 pennies be worth in water?
Riddle 37: The Box Puzzle
How can you make a box disappear with no magic?
Riddle 38: The Color Riddle
What color is a mirror?
Riddle 39: The Fire Puzzle
I can burn without fire. What am I?
Riddle 40: The Hair Puzzle
How many hairs does an average human head have?
Riddle 41: The Paper Puzzle
How do you cut a piece of paper in half with just one cut?
Riddle 42: The Mouse and Cheese Puzzle
A mouse is trapped inside a box with a piece of cheese in the corner. The mouse wants the cheese but doesn’t know how to get it. What should the mouse do?
Riddle 43: The Ocean Puzzle
What is as big as the ocean, but weighs nothing?
Riddle 44: The Building Puzzle
How can you make a building disappear in plain sight?
Riddle 45: The Stone Puzzle
What weighs more, a pound of stones or a pound of feathers?
Smart Riddles with Answers
45 Smart Riddles with Answers and Explanations
Answer to Riddle 1: The Missing Dollar
There’s no missing dollar. The trick lies in the way the total is miscalculated. The three friends collectively paid $27, of which $25 went to the restaurant and $2 was kept by the bellboy. The confusion arises when you mistakenly add the $2 to the $27, which makes it seem like there’s a missing dollar.
Answer to Riddle 2: The Two Fathers and Two Sons
The solution is that the grandfather is also a father, and the father is also a son. Therefore, there are only three people: the grandfather (who is a father), the father (who is both a son and a father), and the grandson (who is a son). Together, they make up two fathers and two sons, but only three individuals.
Answer to Riddle 3: The Farmer’s Dilemma
The farmer solves the problem as follows:
- First, he takes the goat across the river and leaves it on the other side.
- Then, he goes back and takes the wolf across the river, but he brings the goat back with him.
- He leaves the goat on the starting side and takes the cabbage across.
- Finally, he goes back and gets the goat. Now, all three (the wolf, goat, and cabbage) are safely across the river!
Answer to Riddle 4: The Number Puzzle
The number is 194.
- The ones digit is 4.
- The tens digit is 9 (which is 5 more than 4).
- The hundreds digit is 1 (which is 8 less than 9).
So, the number is 194.
Answer to Riddle 5: The Unbreakable Lock
The combination is 3-4-5.
- The second number is 4 (the second number is two less than the third).
- The third number is 5.
- The first number is 3 (which is one more than the second).
Thus, the combination is 3-4-5.
Answer to Riddle 6: The Mysterious Age
The sister is 18 years old.
Explanation: If you are 24 years old, your sister was 12 years old when you were 12. That’s because there’s a 12-year difference between your ages. When you were 12, your sister was half your age, so she’s now 18 years old.
Answer to Riddle 7: The Light Switch Dilemma
Here’s how you solve it:
- Turn on the first switch and leave it on for a few minutes.
- Turn it off and immediately turn on the second switch.
- Enter the room with the bulbs.
- The bulb that is on corresponds to the second switch.
- The bulb that is off but warm corresponds to the first switch.
- The bulb that is off and cold corresponds to the third switch.
Answer to Riddle 8: The Coin Puzzle
The two coins are a quarter and a nickel.
One of them is not a nickel (the quarter), but the other coin is a nickel. They add up to 30 cents.
Answer to Riddle 9: The Three Switches
The trick is the same as in Riddle 7.
- Turn on the first switch and leave it on for a few minutes.
- Turn it off and immediately turn on the second switch.
- Enter the room with the bulbs.
- The bulb that is on corresponds to the second switch.
- The bulb that is off but warm corresponds to the first switch.
- The bulb that is off and cold corresponds to the third switch.
Answer to Riddle 10: The Stolen Necklace
The husband was lying. The wife said she was sitting in the living room, but the husband denied being in the kitchen, even though he was there. He was caught because he tried to lie about his whereabouts, and the police caught him in the lie.
Answer to Riddle 11: The Infinite Puzzle
All 12 months of the year have at least 28 days. Every month has at least 28 days, so the answer is 12 months.
Answer to Riddle 12: The Black-and-White Cat
The total number of legs is 8. A black cat has 4 legs, and a white cat has 4 legs, so there are 4 + 4 = 8 legs in total.
Answer to Riddle 13: The Missing Matchstick
You can form four equal squares by arranging the matchsticks in a 3D shape like a pyramid or cube. There are multiple ways to do this depending on the arrangement.
Answer to Riddle 14: The River Crossing
The man first takes the chicken across the river, goes back, takes the grain across, but brings the chicken back. Then, he takes the dog across and finally returns for the chicken. All three—dog, chicken, and grain—are safely across.
Answer to Riddle 15: The Famous Puzzle
Neither weighs more; a pound of feathers weighs the same as a pound of bricks. Both are 1 pound.
Answer to Riddle 16: The Time Riddle
The clock will chime 78 times in 24 hours. It chimes once for each hour, so for 24 hours, it will chime 1 + 2 + 3 + … + 24 = 78 times.
Answer to Riddle 17: The Egg and the Basket
You can put one egg in the empty basket. After that, the basket isn’t empty anymore, so only one egg can be put into the basket.
Answer to Riddle 18: The Family Riddle
The mother has five children. The phrase “half of them are boys and half of them are girls” refers to the fact that there are both boys and girls, but the exact number of boys and girls is not specified.
Answer to Riddle 19: The Four-Person Puzzle
They each see one hat on the others and know that they all must be wearing hats, so each person realizes they’re wearing one.
Answer to Riddle 20: The Price Puzzle
The man loses $50.
He bought the coat for $100, sold it for $200, then bought it back for $150, and sold it for $200 again. His profit is $200 – $150 = $50, but he lost $50 on the initial $100.
Answer to Riddle 21: The Dice Riddle
The smallest number you can roll that is divisible by 4 is 4.
Answer to Riddle 22: The Broken Window
The window was broken by a rock or a ball being thrown through it.
Answer to Riddle 23: The Sequence Puzzle
The next number in the sequence 2, 6, 12, 20, 30 is 42.
The difference between consecutive numbers increases by 2 each time (4, 6, 8, 10, so the next difference is 12).
Answer to Riddle 24: The Word Riddle
The answer is breath. It’s as light as a feather, but you can’t hold it for long.
Answer to Riddle 25: The Birthday Puzzle
If a person is born on the 29th of February, their birthday in non-leap years is celebrated on February 28th.
Answer to Riddle 26: The Man in the Mirror
The man in the picture is his son. He says, “the father of that man in the picture is my father’s son”—which means the man is looking at a picture of himself as a child.
Answer to Riddle 27: The No-Letter Puzzle
The letter with the most water is C (as in “sea”).
Answer to Riddle 28: The Ball Puzzle
After the 4th bounce, the ball will bounce to a height of 1.25 meters (50% of the previous height after each bounce).
Answer to Riddle 29: The Water Puzzle
To measure exactly 5 liters:
- Fill the 7-liter container completely.
- Pour water from the 7-liter container into the 4-liter container until the 4-liter container is full.
- This leaves exactly 3 liters in the 7-liter container.
- Empty the 4-liter container and pour the remaining 3 liters into it.
- Fill the 7-liter container again and pour water into the 4-liter container until it’s full.
- Now, exactly 5 liters will remain in the 7-liter container.
Answer to Riddle 30: The Family Age Riddle
The father was three times the age of the son 15 years ago.
Answer to Riddle 31: The Locked Door
You ask the guard, “If I were to ask the other guard which door leads to safety, which door would they point to?”
Then, you choose the opposite door. The lying guard will point to the dangerous door, and the truth-teller will point to the dangerous door as well (because the liar would lie about it). So, you choose the other door.
Answer to Riddle 32: The Triangle Puzzle
There are 16 triangles in the figure.
Answer to Riddle 33: The man is back where he started. This is a common riddle where the man starts at the North Pole, walks in a square path, and ends up at the same spot.
Answer to Riddle 34: The answer is seven. The number seven is an odd number, and when you remove the “s,” it becomes the word “even.”
Answer to Riddle 35: The coldest city in the world is Yakutsk in Russia, known for its freezing temperatures.
Answer to Riddle 36: 100 pennies would still be worth one dollar in water. The riddle plays on the idea that pennies’ worth doesn’t change just because they are submerged in water.
Answer to Riddle 37: You can make the box disappear by imagining it disappears. The answer lies in a conceptual trick, not a physical one.
Answer to Riddle 38: A mirror is colorless. It reflects the color of whatever is in front of it.
Answer to Riddle 39: The answer is “ice.” Ice can burn, but it is cold to the touch.
Answer to Riddle 40: The average human head has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs, though this can vary.
Answer to Riddle 41: To cut a piece of paper in half with just one cut, fold it in half and then cut through the fold.
Answer to Riddle 42: The mouse can simply crawl toward the cheese and take it, since the solution to the puzzle involves the mouse learning to make the move itself.
Answer to Riddle 43: The answer is “the shadow of the ocean.” It’s as big as the ocean, but it weighs nothing.
Answer to Riddle 44: You can make the building disappear by removing it entirely with demolition or another drastic measure, in a metaphorical sense.
Answer to Riddle 45: A pound of stones and a pound of feathers both weigh the same—one pound.
