The best way to approach these printable brain teaser worksheets is to start with the Occam's razor technique which tells us that simplicity is often overlooked. Usually the simplest (, but not obvious) answer is often the correct one. You should first make sure you understand what the question is looking for. If you see any holes in the question, look for sense of clarity. Many of these problems will have several acceptable answers. Ask yourself if this question is one of those circumstances. When reading the question look for words that may have multiple meanings, the answer or path toward the solution often resides within those words or concepts. Have fun with all the brain teasers that you will find below. We offer answers for them, but in many cases another answer may suit it as well.
Printable Brain Teaser Worksheets
Click the buttons to print each worksheet and answer key.
Who Won?
Jack and Jill both told their parents about the results of the marathon. Their friends Bill, George, and Karen were all in the race. Jack told his parents that Bill won the race and George came in second.
Dylan's Dogs
Dylan has seven dogs, but they don't always all get along. Draw three straight lines that will separate Dylan's dogs into their own yards.
Campsite
Remove sticks to solve the puzzles. Circle the sticks you would remove. Each exercise has a different series of tasks.
Magic Square
Place one of the numbers one through nine in each square so that the sum of each row of numbers - horizontally, vertically, and diagonally - equals 15.
Empty Jars
If you put a bead in an empty jar and screw the top on the jar, how can you get the bead back out without breaking the jar?
Associated Word Riddles
What four-letter word can you add to each set of words to create three compound words for each set? Write the word in the box.
Riddle Time
The man who built it doesn't want it. The man who bought it doesn't need it. The man who needs it doesn't know it. What is it?
Picture Math
Solve for each picture. This involves some algebra and critical thinking skills in order to solve them.
What Is It?
Sometimes I get ahead of you. Sometimes I fall behind you. I come and go. Some you won’t see me at all.
The Dots
Draw four straight lines to connect all the dots WITHOUT lifting your pencil from the paper. You can only pass through each dot once!
How To Solve Brain Teasers
Solving a brain teaser is all fun and enjoyment. It is easy to work on your creative, analytical, and logical thinking. The only trick is to think smartly!
Here’s how you can solve a brain teaser:
- Slowly read the brain teaser more than once.
- Make sure you understand the question correctly.
- Ask for more clarity on the question.
- Break down the problem into small, easy steps.
- Think outside the box loudly yet critically.
- Ponder over all possible logical answers.
- Pick out the most accurate and realistic solution.
However, there are different kinds of brain teasers that need different types of approaches. So, for a detailed guide to these techniques, keep reading.
Slowly Read the Teaser More Than Once
The first step to solving any brain teaser is always to read the question first. Keep in mind, however, that a single reading might not be enough to comprehend. It is best to read the question at least twice to grasp the meaning.
Slow and steady reading is always helpful.
Make Sure To Understand the Question Properly
Whether it is a pattern-based or a riddle, or a mathematical and logical question, make sure you understand the actual problem asked therein.
Scheme through the most significant and relevant points in the question and find meaning.
Ask for More Clarity on the Question
Next, check for more clarifying information on the problem to verify if you've understood it correctly. If you have the teacher in front of you, ask them probable questions related to the puzzle to get clarification.
Double-check your doubts before jumping to any conclusion.
Break Down the Problem Into Small, Easy Steps
When tackling a brain teaser, it helps to treat every part of the question separately and try to find the missing link afterward.
It is easier to break down the problem into small significant steps to justify the meaning you’ve been looking for.
Think Outside the Box Loudly Yet Critically
The trick is to predict as fast and critically as you can. So think out loud with your common sense to come up with a solution.
In this case, the lateral thinking process or solving problems with an indirect yet creative approach is a sure shot.
Ponder Over All Possible Logical Answers
Brain teasers are nothing but common logical predictions. Try to find as many possible outcomes as possible logically, analytically, or hypothetically.
In the case of a pattern/trend-based brain teaser, look for possible patterns to fit into the series.
If you've got an illusion-based question, realize the illusion first and then pinpoint the most relevant details.
The wording questions always bear incomprehensible effects on your mind with confusing meanings of a word. The key is always to find the most appropriate meaning of the word concerned.
If you come across the "how many" questions, it is wise to consider it a real problem and guess the most suitable and easy-to-calculate value. Use your imagination to solve riddles and root-cause problems.
Alternatively, in letter or trick questions, always look into the arrangement of the letters or the words to find the correct answer.
Pick Out the Most Accurate As Well as Realistic Solution
Accumulate all possible conclusions you need to figure out the most critical yet realistic solution to the question. Finally, pick the one that feels the most reasonable to you.
However, in the case of riddles or imagination-based brain teasers, the answer may be logical but not realistic as such.
Final Thoughts
Brain teasers can be very predictable. If you learn the correct method and practice till you make it perfect, there’s no way you can find it difficult to crack a brain teaser.
When you want to solve a problem, you must look at the pieces and figure out how they fit together. You could start with the details that look the most promising and then work your way through the parts until you find the right ones.
When students really want to challenge themselves, we encourage them to try these activities. Brain teasers are puzzle or short questions that require you to think in an unconventional manner. This will help you develop strong skills that require to pay attention to simple details that most people will often overlook. These are great for helping students to learn analytical skills. You will be required to really understand what is being asked of you and the answer that you devise must be defensible. Once you come up with a solution, test it. Are there instances where solution does not hold up to reason. How to Solve Brain Teasers
Who does not like brain teasers? We all do. Though sometimes it difficult to even comprehend them, but they still are favorites of everybody. Brainteaser is a question that requires you to use your logic and analysis, and comprehend a hypothetical situation to give an answer to it. It uses abstract information, and they are thrown at you to assess your capability to solve a problem via the correct answer.
To approach a brain-teaser, do the following: Make sure you are clear about the question. If not, then read it again and make sure that you understand it correctly. Think about it. When you come across a brain teaser, don't be tempted to say the first answer that comes to your mind. Take some time and think about it, then give the answer. Begin your answer following a logical sequence. Make sure to understand the logic in the brain teaser. Emphasize on your thought process more than the final answer.