• Social Calendar [New]
  • Browse Team Building Experiences

Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

Here is our list of the best problem solving games, activities and exercises for adults.

Problem solving games are activities that require players to use critical thinking skills to solve puzzles. Example activities include escape rooms, Sudoku, and murder mysteries. The purpose of these exercises is to sharpen reasoning and decision-making skills in group settings and to do team building with employees.

These activities are a subset of remote team games , found in problem solving books , and are similar to team puzzles , team building brain teasers and team riddles .

problem-solving-games

This article contains:

  • team building problem solving activities for employees
  • free problem solving games for adults
  • virtual problem solving activities for students
  • group problem solving activities
  • problem solving team builders

Here we go!

List of problem solving games & activities

From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise.

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

espionage banner

For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team’s wits and instincts to the test.

Espionage! offers the following:

  • a 90-minute session led by an experienced host
  • undercover teams of agents and spies
  • challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers
  • team conversations to help uncover secret identities

The best part is we will bring all the necessary game materials to your preferred location. If you are interested in boosting communication and critical-thinking skills within your team, then consider Espionage!

Learn more about Espionage!

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

problem solving word puzzles

You can turn your team into skilled detectives with Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh! In this captivating mystery, participants will locate the stolen artwork, The Bedroom .

Key features of this experience include:

  • a 90-minute adventure led by a world-class host
  • detailed puzzles, clues, and mysteries to unravel
  • trails of evidence and hidden secrets
  • group discussions to find the art

Additionally, you can include a cocktail kit to spice up your event. Through Art Heist, you will enhance your team’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills!

Learn more about Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh .

Want some free team building tools?

$49 value (100% free).

  • 100+ fully tested icebreaker questions
  • 24+ themed Bingo generators
  • 5+ PDFs (including the 8% Rule)
  • 2024 team building calendar
  • and more...

Tool Box

Enter your email for instant access

3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

war of the wizards banner

With War of the Wizards, teams roleplay as minions of powerful wizards to vanquish forces of evil. Participants will play thrilling games and go on a quest to restore harmony to the realm!

War of the Wizards offers the following:

  • a 90-minute journey guided by a distinguished host
  • immersive storytelling that transports players into a magical realm
  • engaging activities like world-building, role-playing games, and storytelling
  • opportunities for forming alliances, facing challenges, and going on quests

Through the power of imagination and teamwork, your team can overcome tasks and participate in an epic fantasy battle. To improve communication and bonds, include War of the Wizards in your agenda!

Learn more about War of the Wizards .

Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board. Then, turn on the annotation features. Using the add text functions, participants can fill in the numbers on the grid.

We made a starter puzzle you can use in your next meeting or virtual team bonding session:

Sudoku game-board

Here are more online Sudoku puzzles .

5. Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are word games that ask players to fill in words based on clues. Words interconnect, and players must think critically about the surrounding words to select the right phrase for the space.

You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle. Here are a few themes you may want to consider:

  • teammates’ tastes and interests
  • company knowledge and history
  • industry terms and trends

Or, create a miscellaneous puzzle just for fun.

We made a sample puzzle you can use for your game:

free crossword template

To complete puzzles during online meetings, you can use the share screen function and add text through annotations.

Or, subscribers can play the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle virtually . Dictionary.com also offers a free daily online crossword puzzle .

Check out more vocabulary games .

6. Online Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are timed games that get groups working together to solve puzzles. Traditionally, players enter a locked room and must complete all puzzles in an hour or two to unlock the door. However, groups can also play escape rooms online.

Digital escape rooms typically come in one of two forms: in a Zoom room and led by a host, or in a choose-your-own adventure format via Google Forms or websites. To play escape rooms virtually, enter a video meeting and follow the prompts, or screen share the Google Form and work out the puzzles together.

Check out our full list of online escape rooms .

7. Murder Mysteries

Murder Mysteries are story-based games that ask players to take on the roles of suspects or detectives while trying to identify a killer. These games often involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, and occasionally solving puzzles to get hints.

These games make participants pay attention to conversations, analyze other characters’ behavior, and search for hidden meaning in the script. Players must use their powers of observation and logic to unravel the mystery.

Check out our list of Zoom murder mystery games .

8. Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts are scavenger hunts with intention. While virtual scavenger hunts often ask players to collect random items, treasure hunts require participants to locate clues that lead to other prompts and hints. The game typically ends with players finding a treasure or solving a mystery, sometimes both.

The treasure hunt can have a specific theme such as secret agent missions or a hunt for pirate treasure, or you can run a more general hunt. Teammates can either compete simultaneously via Zoom call, or can play the hunt on an app individually and compete to beat each other’s scores.

Check out our list of treasure hunt apps .

9. Poem or story challenge

Most team building problem solving activities for employees revolve around science, math, and logic. Poem/story challenges rely on writing skills and are sure to appeal to the language lovers on your team.

Each player receives a limited word bank to use to create a story or poem. Then, players have a few minutes to craft their pieces. Afterward, everyone reads out or screen shares their creations.

Here are a few word challenge activities you can do remotely:

  • Found poems or stories : Participants make poems or stories out of words they find by visiting websites, searching emails, glancing out the window, or taking a walk or drive around the neighborhood.
  • Random word generators : Teammates use a random word generator to populate a word bank, and must use each word in the poem or story.
  • Poetry magnets : Group members make poems using poetry magnets. You can send poetry magnet sets to employees and assemble the verses on a cookie pan during a Zoom call. Or, teammates can play with poetry magnets online .
  • Page poems: Participants receive one page of a book or magazine, and must make a poem or story by blocking out other words so only the chosen text remains visible. This activity is part storytelling, part art, since story crafters can illustrate the pages as part of the design.
  • Ransom note stories or poems : Players cut out letters from magazines and must form new words to make poems and stories. Or, players can receive a mix of random letters, form words, and run the text through a ransom note generator .

These activities are suitable for teams and individual players.

10. Moral challenge

Some problems are ethical rather than factual. Moral judgment plays just as important a role in the decision-making process as technical prowess. Players can flex their moral problem-solving skills by tackling ethical dilemmas or social puzzles.

Here are some social problem solving games online:

  • Moral machine
  • Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas
  • Morality play

To play these games, either download the apps, or pull up the website and then screen share the prompts. These games are best played when discussed as a group, because the more belief systems and opinions, the harder an issue is to resolve. These exercises provide practice for real-life conflict resolution.

You can find similar challenges on our list of online personality tests .

11. Frostbite

Frostbite is a group game that hones team leaders’ communication skills while sharpening teammates’ listening and cooperation skills. The premise behind the game is that a group of explorers gets caught in a snowstorm and must build a shelter. Frostbite has paralyzed the leaders’ hands and snow-blinded the rest of the team. The leader must give the team instructions to build a tent that can resist arctic winds.

To play Frostbite, each teammate wears a blindfold. Then, the leader gives directions. Once the structures are complete, players turn on a fan to test whether tents can withstand the wind.

Frostbite is usually an in-person game, however you can also play virtually. In the remote version of the game, teammates construct tents out of cards and tape, while the leader surveys the scene on screen.

This exercise demonstrates the challenges of leading remotely, as teams need to operate with minimal oversight or supervisor observation. Therefore, instructions need to be clear and direct to be effective.

Check out more team building games .

12. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. This type of event originated in the programming world and is often used to create new apps, however you can apply the game to any industry or school subject.

Virtual hackathons are online versions of the event. Teams enter the competition, then work with each other via virtual meeting software or remote work communication platforms to design the solution. At the end of the competition, teams pitch ideas to a panel of judges and a winner is decided.

To run a virtual hackathon, first announce the theme of the event and collect sign-ups. So that no teams work ahead, hint at the general idea of the issue, and only explain the precise problem when the event begins. Then, give teams anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete the project.

Discover more virtual hackathon ideas .

13. Improv games

Improv games are excellent problem solving activities. These exercises force participants to think and respond quickly to keep scenes moving in a logical and entertaining way.

Here are some good problem solving improv games:

Banned words : Performers cannot say certain words. Scene partners will conceive of situations that encourage the actors to use those words, and the actors must find alternatives, such as using synonyms or taking the scene in a new direction.

Scenes from a chat : Audience gives a suggestion for a scene, and players act the scene out. Though it’s a fictional and often ridiculous scenario, actors must react to the situation and solve the problem in order for the scene to end.

Miracle cure : Miracle cure is a quick-moving exercise that follows a simple format. One player declares, “I have a problem.” Another player responds, “I have a….[random object.]” The first player then replies, “great! I can use the [random object] to….” and describes how they will solve the problem.

Check out more problem-solving improv games .

14. Spaghetti Tower

The spaghetti tower is a classic team building game. Participants gather uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows, and must construct the tallest freestanding tower.

During the in-person version, players must construct one tall freestanding tower. However, for the virtual version of the game, players construct individual towers. You can send groups to breakout rooms for the build, then reconvene in the main room for judging. Teams are judged on three main factors: number of towers, height, and uniformity.

This version of the game not only tests the structural integrity of the tower, but also consistency and quality control. This exercise teaches teams to align and collaborate remotely, and produce a consistent product even when far apart.

15. What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? is a simple situational game that challenges participants to react to different circumstances. To play this game, read prompts one by one, and then ask participants to respond with gameplans. You can use the polling or raise hand feature to vote for the best option.

Here are some problem solving scenarios for adults or kids to use in the game:

  • Zombies attack and you have to find a place to hide.
  • You are at the zoo and the animals escape. Which one do you try to corral back into the pen first?
  • After waiting in line for hours, someone cuts in front of you last minute. The person appears to be visually and hearing impaired, and doesn’t notice your protests. An official announces that due to diminishing supply, this individual will be the last in line to be served.
  • You are eating a meal with important clients and/or your partner’s parents, and you want to impress. The individuals make you a dish that does not fit within your dietary restrictions, but you do not speak the same language and cannot explain why you do not want to eat.
  • An imposter has infiltrated the organization, who looks, speaks, and behaves exactly like you. How do you convince your peers that you are the original?

For similar dilemmas, check out this list of Would You Rather? questions.

16. Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a game that challenges players to prioritize. The premise is that players have been stranded on an island, and must decide what order to perform survival steps.

Here are the possible actions:

  • Set up shelter
  • Explore the island
  • Try to signal for help
  • Make weapons for self-defense
  • Build a raft to escape the island
  • Start a fire
  • Choose a group leader
  • Search for other survivors

All group members must agree on the order of the steps. Players should explain the reasoning for the order of each step while ranking the actions.

Another version of the game involves players receiving a list of 15 to 20 items, and selecting five or so to bring to the island. You can also vary the location of the game, substituting remote islands for destinations like outer space or the distant past.

17. Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure stories enable readers to determine the outcome of the story by making decisions. Each action has a consequence that takes the tale in a different direction. Participants can try to guess how the story may unfold by talking through the different choices. When completing the activity in a group setting, the majority of the team must agree on an action before moving forward in the story.

There are a few ways to facilitate these activities online:

  • Play an online role playing video game
  • Watch an interactive movie like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
  • Read from a Choose Your Own Adventure book on Zoom
  • Click through a Choose Your Own Adventure platform
  • Create your own story using a Google Form

Whichever way you choose to do the exercise, you can use the screen share feature in your virtual meeting software so that listeners can more easily follow along.

18. MacGyver

MacGyver is a show where the hero escapes sticky situations by improvising tools out of unlikely materials. For example, in one episode the hero makes a telescope out of a newspaper, magnifying lens, and a watch crystal.

To play MacGyver, you can either list three to five objects participants can use, or challenge players to use items that are within arms reach.

Simply state a desired end result, such as “a way to open a locked door,” or “a getaway vehicle,” and then ask teams to explain what they will build and how they will build it. To make the activity more collaborative, you can give teams five or ten minutes in breakout rooms to strategize and design a prototype.

19. Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game where players pretend to be magical figures and creatures. One player serves as the dungeon master, who guides the game, while the other players pick characters and make decisions to move the story forward. Upon choosing a course of action, players roll a twenty-sided die to determine whether or not the plan succeeds. The game is story-based, the possibilities are nearly limitless, and truly creative problem solving options arise. Also, since gameplay is mostly verbal, Dungeons & Dragons is an easy activity to do over Zoom.

Here are the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons .

20. Pandemic

Pandemic is a game that pits players against the forces of nature in a race to contain and control disease outbreaks. At the beginning of the game, each player receives a role such as containment specialist or operations expert. Participants must carry out the duties of their roles by choosing appropriate actions. Pandemic is a great game for groups because each team member has a clear part to play, and players must collaborate and work together instead of competing against each other.

To play the game online, you can use a Pandemic game app , or talk through the exercise while one attendee moves and displays pieces on the board.

Note: The subject of this game might hit too close to home for some players, considering recent history. You can find games with similar mechanics that deal with different subject matter, such as Forbidden Island.

Check out more team building board games .

21. Model UN

Model UN is one of the best virtual problem solving activities for students. This exercise casts participants in the role of international diplomats who must negotiate to solve realistic problems. Each player assumes the role of a country ambassador and must form alliances and propose solutions to solve crises.

Here are some sample Model UN scenarios:

  • Human rights violation by powerful country
  • Food shortage
  • Disease epidemic
  • Technology privacy violations
  • Civil war branching into surrounding countries
  • Natural disasters

Depending on the size of the group, participants either take on the part of an entire government of a country, or play a certain role within the government. To carry out the activity on Zoom, players can take turns giving speeches, message other countries privately via the chat, meet in breakout rooms to form alliances or have more intimate discussions, and use the polling feature to vote on propositions.

If politics does not resonate with your group, then you can alter the exercise by applying the same activity structure to a different theme, such as the Justice League, movie characters, business board members, or reality TV stars.

The main purpose of the exercise is to research, talk through problems, and compromise. As long as these elements are present, then the specifics of the setup do not matter.

There are many types of problem solving activities for adults. You can do online problem solving games, which require a different skill set than in-person problem solving. For instance, communication must be much clearer and more abundant when group members are far apart and unable to demonstrate or pick up physical cues.

Though many problem solving games include props and in-person elements, there are many games you can play together online. These exercises work well as educational tools as well as team bonding accelerators. Upon completion, participants are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence. These games are also great practice for real life conflict resolution, creative thinking and team building.

Next check out this list of connection games , this collection of crime-solving games , and this post with conflict resolution games .

We also have a list of the best decision making books and a list of team building problems for work .

FAQ: Problem solving activities

Here are common answers to questions about group problem solving activities.

What are problem solving games?

Problem solving games are challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or answer riddles. Examples include sudoku, murder mysteries, and spaghetti towers. These games are also known as “problem solving exercises”, “problem and solution games” and “group problem solving activities.”

What are the best problem solving games for groups?

The best problem solving games for groups include online escape rooms, moral challenges, and improv games.

What are some good problem solving team building activities for students?

Some good problem solving activities for students include crossword puzzles, choose your own adventure stories, and model UN.

How do you play problem solving games online?

The best way to play problem solving games online is to join a video call meeting to talk through the issue. Using the screen sharing and digital whiteboard features helps participants visualize the problem more clearly. Breakout rooms give teams the chance to discuss the issue more intimately.

Author avatar

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

Get our free team building tool box

$49 value at no cost. may as well check it out.

Math and Logic Puzzles

If you REALLY like exercising your brain, figuring things 'round and 'round till you explode, then this is the page for you !

Whosoever shall solve these puzzles shall Rule The Universe!

... or at least they should ...

Jigsaw Puzzles

20 Tough Riddles for Adults That Will Have You Scratching Your Head

Put your logic and math skills to the test. No cheating!

Image no longer available

So go grab a pencil and a piece of scratch paper and prepare to rip your hair out (and we really do mean that in the best way possible). When you think you’ve got the right answer, click the link at the bottom of each riddle to find the solution. Got it wrong? No worries, you have 19 other riddles to test out.

Navigate Through Our Riddles:

Puzzmo / The King’s Orders / How Many Eggs? / The Gold Chain / Pickleball / Circuit Breaker / Two Trains, Two Grandmas / Ant Math / Peppermint Patty / Great American Rail Trail / A Cruel SAT Problem / Movie Stars Cross a River / Tribute to a Math Genius / One Belt, One Earth / Elbow Tapping / Whiskey Problem / Doodle Problem / Stumping Scientists / What ’ s On Her Forehead? / Keanu for President / Who Opened the Lockers?

decorative hr

Riddle No. 1: The King’s Orders Make for One Hell of a Brain Teaser

Difficulty: easy.

King Nupe of the kingdom Catan dotes on his two daughters so much that he decides the kingdom would be better off with more girls than boys, and he makes the following decree: All child-bearing couples must continue to bear children until they have a daughter!

But to avoid overpopulation, he makes an additional decree: All child-bearing couples will stop having children once they have a daughter! His subjects immediately begin following his orders.

After many years, what’s the expected ratio of girls to boys in Catan?

The likelihood of each baby born being a girl is, of course, 50 percent.

Ready for the solution? Click here to see if you’re right .

preview for Can You Build The Farmer's Fence? | SOLVE IT

Riddle No. 2: How Many Eggs Does This Hen Lay?

This problem is in honor of my dad, Harold Feiveson. It’s due to him that I love math puzzles, and this is one of the first problems (of many) that he gave me when I was growing up.

A hen and a half lays an egg and a half in a day and a half. How many eggs does one hen lay in one day?

Riddle No. 3: The Gold Chain Math Problem Is Deceptively Simple

Difficulty: moderate.

You’re rummaging around your great grandmother’s attic when you find five short chains each made of four gold links. It occurs to you that if you combined them all into one big loop of 20 links, you’d have an incredible necklace. So you bring it into a jeweler, who tells you the cost of making the necklace will be $10 for each gold link that she has to break and then reseal.

How much will it cost?

Riddle No. 4: Try to Solve This Pickleball Puzzle

Difficulty: 🚨hard🚨.

Kenny, Abby, and Ned got together for a round-robin pickleball tournament, where, as usual, the winner stays on after each game to play the person who sat out that game. At the end of their pickleball afternoon, Abby is exhausted, having played the last seven straight games. Kenny, who is less winded, tallies up the games played:

Kenny played eight games

Abby played 12 games

Ned played 14 games

Who won the fourth game against whom?

How many total games were played?

Riddle No. 5: Our Circuit Breaker Riddle Is Pure Evil. Sorry.

The circuit breaker box in your new house is in an inconvenient corner of your basement. To your chagrin, you discover none of the 100 circuit breakers is labeled, and you face the daunting prospect of matching each circuit breaker to its respective light. (Suppose each circuit breaker maps to only one light.)

To start with, you switch all 100 lights in the house to “on,” and then you head down to your basement to begin the onerous mapping process. On every trip to your basement, you can switch any number of circuit breakers on or off. You can then roam the hallways of your house to discover which lights are on and which are off.

What is the minimum number of trips you need to make to the basement to map every circuit breaker to every light?

The solution does not involve either switching on or off the light switches in your house or feeling how hot the lightbulbs are. You might want to try solving for the case of 10 unlabeled circuit breakers first.

Riddle No. 6: Two Trains. Two Grandmas. Can You Solve This Tricky Math Riddle?

Jesse’s two grandmothers want to see him every weekend, but they live on opposite sides of town. As a compromise, he tells them that every Sunday, he’ll head to the subway station nearest to his apartment at a random time of the day and will hop on the next train that arrives.

If it happens to be the train traveling north, he’ll visit his Grandma Erica uptown, and if it happens to be the train traveling south, he’ll visit his Grandma Cara downtown. Both of his grandmothers are okay with this plan, since they know both the northbound and southbound trains run every 20 minutes.

But after a few months of doing this, Grandma Cara complains that she sees him only one out of five Sundays. Jesse promises he’s indeed heading to the station at a random time each day. How can this be?

The trains always arrive at their scheduled times.

Riddle No. 7: Here’s a Really F@*#ing Hard Math Problem About Ants

Max and Rose are ant siblings. They love to race each other, but always tie, since they actually crawl at the exact same speed. So they decide to create a race where one of them (hopefully) will win.

For this race, each of them will start at the bottom corner of a cuboid, and then crawl as fast as they can to reach a crumb at the opposite corner. The measurements of their cuboids are as pictured:

ant riddle

If they both take the shortest possible route to reach their crumb, who will reach their crumb first? (Don’t forget they’re ants, so of course they can climb anywhere on the edges or surface of the cuboid.)

Remember: Think outside the box.

Riddle No. 8: This Peppermint Patty Riddle Is Practically Impossible

You’re facing your friend, Caryn, in a “candy-off,” which works as follows: There’s a pile of 100 caramels and one peppermint patty. You and Caryn will go back and forth taking at least one and no more than five caramels from the candy pile in each turn. The person who removes the last caramel will also get the peppermint patty. And you love peppermint patties.

Suppose Caryn lets you decide who goes first. Who should you choose in order to make sure you win the peppermint patty?

First, solve for a pile of 10 caramels.

Riddle No. 9: Can You Solve the Great American Rail-Trail Riddle?

This problem was suggested by the physicist P. Jeffrey Ungar.

Finally, the Great American Rail-Trail across the whole country is complete! Go ahead, pat yourself on the back—you’ve just installed the longest handrail in the history of the world, with 4,000 miles from beginning to end. But just after the opening ceremony, your assistant reminds you that the metal you used for the handrail expands slightly in summer, so that its length will increase by one inch in total.

“Ha!” you say, “One inch in a 4,000 mile handrail? That’s nothing!” But … are you right?

Let’s suppose when the handrail expands, it buckles upward at its weakest point, which is in the center. How much higher will pedestrians in the middle of the country have to reach in summer to grab the handrail? That is, in the figure below, what is h ? (For the purposes of this question, ignore the curvature of the Earth and assume the trail is a straight line.)

great american rail trail riddle

Pythagoras is a fascinating historical figure.

Riddle No. 10: This Riddle Is Like an Especially Cruel SAT Problem. Can You Find the Answer?

Amanda lives with her teenage son, Matt, in the countryside—a car ride away from Matt’s school. Every afternoon, Amanda leaves the house at the same time, drives to the school at a constant speed, picks Matt up exactly when his chess club ends at 5 p.m., and then they immediately return home together at the same constant speed. But one day, Matt isn’t feeling well, so he leaves chess practice early and starts to head home on his portable scooter.

After Matt has been scooting for an hour, Amanda comes across him in her car (on her usual route to pick him up), and they return together, arriving home 40 minutes earlier than they usually do. How much chess practice did Matt miss?

Consider the case where Amanda meets Matt exactly as she’s leaving their house.

Riddle No. 11: Can You Get These 3 Movie Stars Across the River?

Three movie stars, Chloe, Lexa, and Jon, are filming a movie in the Amazon. They’re very famous and very high-maintenance, so their agents are always with them. One day, after filming a scene deep in the rainforest, the three actors and their agents decide to head back to home base by foot. Suddenly, they come to a large river.

On the riverbank, they find a small rowboat, but it’s only big enough to hold two of them at one time. The catch? None of the agents are comfortable leaving their movie star with any other agents if they’re not there as well. They don’t trust that the other agents won’t try to poach their star.

For example, Chloe’s agent is okay if Chloe and Lexa are alone in the boat or on one of the riverbanks, but definitely not okay if Lexa’s agent is also with them. So how can they all get across the river?

There isn’t just one way to solve this problem.

Riddle No. 12: This Ludicrously Hard Riddle Is Our Tribute to a Late Math Genius. Can You Figure It Out?

On April 11, John Horton Conway , a brilliant mathematician who had an intense and playful love of puzzles and games, died of complications from COVID-19. Conway is the inventor of one of my favorite legendary problems (not for the faint of heart) and, famously, the Game of Life . I created this problem in his honor.

Carol was creating a family tree, but had trouble tracking down her mother’s birthdate. The only clue she found was a letter written from her grandfather to her grandmother on the day her mother was born. Unfortunately, some of the characters were smudged out, represented here with a “___” . (The length of the line does not reflect the number of smudged characters.)

“Dear Virginia,

Little did I know when I headed to work this Monday morning, that by evening we would have a beautiful baby girl. And on our wedding anniversary, no less! It makes me think back to that incredible weekend day, J___ 27th, 19___ , when we first shared our vow to create a family together, and, well, here we are! Happy eighth anniversary, my love.

Love, Edwin”

The question: When was Carol’s mother born?

This problem is inspired by Conway’s Doomsday Rule .

Riddle No. 13: To Solve This Twisty Math Riddle, You Just Need One Belt and One Earth

Imagine you have a very long belt. Well, extremely long, really … in fact, it’s just long enough that it can wrap snugly around the circumference of our entire planet. (For the sake of simplicity, let’s suppose Earth is perfectly round, with no mountains, oceans, or other barriers in the way of the belt.)

Naturally, you’re very proud of your belt. But then your brother, Peter, shows up—and to your disgruntlement, he produces a belt that’s just a bit longer than yours. He brags his belt is longer by exactly his height: 6 feet.

If Peter were also to wrap his belt around the circumference of Earth, how far above the surface could he suspend the belt if he pulled it tautly and uniformly?

Earth’s circumference is about 25,000 miles, or 130 million feet … but you don’t need to know that to solve this problem.

Riddle No. 14: This Elbow Tapping Riddle Is Diabolical. Good Luck Solving It.

In some future time, when the shelter-in-place bans are lifted, a married couple, Florian and Julia, head over to a bar to celebrate their newfound freedom.

They find four other couples there who had the same idea.

Eager for social contact, every person in the five couples enthusiastically taps elbows (the new handshake) with each person they haven’t yet met .

It actually turns out many of the people had known each other prior, so when Julia asks everyone how many elbows they each tapped, she remarkably gets nine different answers!

The question: How many elbows did Florian tap?

What nine answers did Julia hear?

Riddle No. 15: You’ll Need a Drink After Trying to Solve This Whisky Riddle

Alan and Claire live by the old Scottish saying, “Never have whisky without water, nor water without whisky!” So one day, when Alan has in front of him a glass of whisky, and Claire has in front of her a same-sized glass of water, Alan takes a spoonful of his whisky and puts it in Claire’s water. Claire stirs her whisky-tinted water, and then puts a spoonful of this mixture back into Alan’s whisky to make sure they have exactly the same amount to drink.

So: Is there more water in Alan’s whisky, or more whisky in Claire’s water? And does it matter how well Claire stirred?

The size of the spoon does not matter.

Riddle No. 16: The Doodle Problem Is a Lot Harder Than It Looks. Can You Solve It?

This week’s riddle is relatively simple—but sinister all the same.

The question: Can you make 100 by interspersing any number of pluses and minuses within the string of digits 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1? You can’t change the order of the digits! So what’s the least number of pluses and minuses needed to make 100?

Text, Font, Logo, Graphics, Smile,

For instance, 98 - 7 - 6 + 54 - 32 shows one way of interspersing pluses and minuses, but since it equals 107, it’s not a solution.

I call this a “doodle problem”: one that’s best worked on during meetings where you might be doodling otherwise.

You might want to start looking for solutions that use a total of seven pluses and minuses (although there are ways to use fewer).

Ready for the solution? Click here to see if you’re right.

Riddle No. 17: This Math Puzzle Stumped Every Scientist but One. Think You Can Crack It?

Difficulty: hard.

In honor of Freeman Dyson, the renowned physicist who died last month , here’s a legendary tale demonstrating his quick wit and incredible brain power.

One day, in a gathering of top scientists, one of them wondered out loud whether there exists an integer that you could exactly double by moving its last digit to its front. For instance, 265 would satisfy this if 526 were its exact double—which it isn’t.

After apparently just five seconds , Dyson responded, “Of course there is, but the smallest such number has 18 digits.”

This left some of the smartest scientists in the world puzzling over how he could have figured this out so quickly.

So given Dyson’s hint, what is the smallest such number?

My second grader has recently learned how to add a 3-digit number to itself using the classic vertical method:

Font, Text, Calligraphy, Line, Art, Writing,

18-digit numbers, of course, can be added in the same way.

Riddle No. 18: Figure Out What’s on Her Forehead

Cecilia loves testing the logic of her very logical friends Jaya, Julian, and Levi, so she announces:

“I’ll write a positive number on each of your foreheads. None of the numbers are the same, and two of the numbers add up to the third.”

She scribbles the numbers on their heads, then turns to Jaya and asks her what her number is. Jaya sees Julian has 20 on his forehead, and Levi has 30 on his. She thinks for a moment and then says, “I don’t know what my number is.” Julian pipes in, “I also don’t know my number,” and then Levi exclaims, “Me neither!” Cecilia gleefully says, “I’ve finally stumped you guys!”

“Not so fast!” Jaya says. “Now I know my number!”

What is Jaya’s number?

Jaya could be one of two numbers, but only one of those numbers would lead to Julian and Levi both not knowing their numbers. Why?

Riddle No. 19: Can You Get Keanu Reeves Elected As President?

It’s 2024, and there are five candidates running in the democratic primary: Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Cuban, Keanu Reeves, and Dwayne Johnson. (Hey, it could happen.) As usual, the first primary is in Iowa.

In an effort to overcome its embarrassment after the 2020 caucus debacle , the Iowa Democratic Party has just announced a new, foolproof way of finding the best candidate: there will be four consecutive elections.

First, candidate 1 will run against candidate 2. Next, the winner of that will run against candidate 3, then that winner will run against candidate 4, and finally the winner of that election will run against the final candidate. By the transitive property, the winner of this last election must be the best candidate ... so says the Iowa Democratic Party.

Candidate Keanu has been feeling pretty low, as he knows he is ranked near the bottom by most voters, and at the top by none. In fact, he knows the Iowa population is divided into five equal groups, and that their preferences are as follows:

Text, Font, Line, Organism, Document, Number, Handwriting, Calligraphy, Smile, Art,

Keanu is childhood friends with Bill S. Preston, Esq., the new head of the Iowa Democratic Party. Preston, confident that the order of the candidates doesn’t matter for the outcome, tells Keanu he can choose the voting order of the candidates.

So what order should Keanu choose?

How would Keanu fare in one-to-one races against each candidate?

Riddle No. 20: Who Opened All These Damn Lockers?

There are 100 lockers that line the main hallway of Chelm High School. Every night, the school principal makes sure all the lockers are closed so that there will be an orderly start to the next day. One day, 100 mischievous students decide that they will play a prank.

The students all meet before school starts and line up. The first student then walks down the hallway, and opens every locker. The next student follows by closing every other locker (starting at the second locker). Student 3 then goes to every third locker (starting with the third) and opens it if it’s closed, and closes it if it’s open. Student 4 follows by opening every fourth locker if it’s closed and closing it if it’s open. This goes on and on until Student 100 finally goes to the hundredth locker. When the principal arrives later in the morning, which lockers does she find open?

Make sure you pay attention to all of the factors.

Headshot of Laura Feiveson

Laura Feiveson is an economist for the government, a storyteller, and a lifelong enthusiast of math puzzles.  She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two daughters. 

.css-cuqpxl:before{padding-right:0.3125rem;content:'//';display:inline;} Pop Mech Pro .css-xtujxj:before{padding-left:0.3125rem;content:'//';display:inline;}

dog marking territory on a yellow wall

Why This Armored Vehicle Is the Army’s Unsung Hero

unidentified flying objects, illustration

What Do Alien Space Probes Look Like?

a joby aviation, inc experimental electronic vertical take off and landing aircraft is parked at taxi way following a ground test at edwards air force base, california, sept 20 air force photo by harlan huntington

Why the U.S. Air Force Wants Flying Jeeps

how scissors are made

Watch: How Handmade Scissors Are Produced

a british army sniper team dressed in ghillie suits

Everything You Need to Know About Camouflage

dead outlet

Now What? Dealing With DIY Fixes

a nuclear powered us navy submarine cruises into the navy

Can We Turn Subs Into Undersea Aircraft Carriers?

a light fixture from a ceiling

Increase Your Home’s Water Pressure

the aircraft carrier uss john c stennis cvn 74 fires a phalanx close in weapons system ciws in the atlantic ocean, sept 25, 2019 the john c stennis is underway conducting routine operations in support of commander, naval air force atlantic us navy photo by mass communication specialist 3rd class jarrod a schad

The Navy’s Killer Gatling Gun Finally Scored

a warp speed tunnel

Physicists Are Pretty Sure We Can Reach Warp Speed

alien corpses are displayed to the media in mexico city

5 Alien Hoaxes That Prove We Truly Want to Believe

LOGIC PUZZLES

Test your ingenuity and knowledge with these logic puzzles. Deduction is the key so get your thinking cap dusted off and start logically working through our puzzling content. Sharpen Your Mind and Put Your Problem Solving Skills to Work.

Logic Puzzles

  • Logic Puzzles

Logic Puzzles to Solve

You'll like these riddle puzzles on days that end with Y. You'll like these logic puzzles are available on days that end with Y. How many days can you try out our logic puzzles? Answer: Every day!

You Walk Up To A Mountain That Has Two Paths

problem solving word puzzles

What Weighs More A Pound Of Feathers Or A Pound Of Stones?

A logician with some time to kill in a small town decided to get a haircut.

Logic Puzzles

George, Helen, And Steve Are Drinking Coffee

Little tommy tittletat riddle.

Logic Puzzles

A Fox, A Goose And A Sack Of Corn

Math equation riddle.

Logic Puzzles

Which One Does Not Belong?

If you have two coins which total 35 cents and one of the coins is not a dim, i am a 5 letter word take away the first letter and i am a place's name, open me, and you can me without a mirror riddle, redo what has been undone, what only works the first time you use it, most feathers, bus stop riddle, what's 3/7 chicken, 2/3 cat, and 2/4 goat, number of chairs, i can hold you prisoner, the wise daughter riddle, if you see me, i see you. if you move, then i'll move too, search riddles, follow riddles, share riddles.

Riddles Master

Link to Logic Puzzles.

Copy the code below and add to your website or blog., like us on facebook, link to logic puzzles.

If you would like to use this content on this page for your website or blog, we only ask that you reference content back to us. Use the following code to link this page: <a href="https://www.riddles.com/logic-puzzles" >Logic Puzzles</a>

Featured Quizzes

  • VALENTINES RIDDLES
  • NEW YEARS RIDDLES
  • CHRISTMAS RIDDLES
  • DOWNLOAD PRINT
  • JOIN RIDDLES
  • USER RIDDLES

RIDDLES BOOK

Picture of riddles.com Riddles Book

SUBSCRIBE TO RIDDLES

  • Get our Weekly Riddles Round Up sent direct to your email inbox every week!
  • The last 7 Riddle Of The Day's ,
  • Current Problem of the Week and
  • Current Weekly Challenge .

Subscribe to Riddles Weekly Weekly Weekly Newsletter

Want more fun? Try these 150 Puns or Online Games .

  • Best Riddles
  • Funny Riddles
  • Easy Riddles
  • Math Riddles
  • Riddles for Adults
  • Riddles for Kids

Problem-Solving Initiative

Test your mind!

The Problem-Solving Initiative will collect and publish many interesting puzzles and mind-bending challenges designed to test and hone your logic and problem-solving skills. They will be suitable for all ages, depending on their difficulty.

Note – the solution is on the second page of each puzzle. Don’t scroll too far down if you don’t want to spoil the challenge!

Logicpuzzles.

missing-money

the-four-friends

cinema-queuing

Mathematical Puzzles

grid-addition

olympic-sum

Word Puzzles

alphabet-words-1

alphabet-words-2

Code Puzzles

binary-cypher

morse-cypher-1

Codebreaker!

Linguistics Puzzles – AILO

Want to try decoding the languages of the world?

For a large variety of puzzles from the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad and the International Linguistics Olympiad, visit http://adaptcentre.ie/ailo/sample-puzzles/

  • 2 letter words
  • 3 letter words
  • 4 letter words
  • All consonant words
  • One vowel words
  • One consonant words
  • All vowel words
  • Words that have a Q without U
  • Words starting DE ,   RE ,   UN ,   X ;
  • Words ending EST ,   ING ,   J ,   NESS ,   Q ,   TED ,   V ,   X ,   Z ;

This website uses Cookies. For more information please see our Privacy Policy .

Build 20230802.1032, contact: admin at wordsolver.net WORDSOLVER is a registered trademark.

Problem Solving  Word Search

Problem Solving Word Search

Description.

Conflict Resolution Closed Questions Active Listneing Common Interest shared interst Open qUESTION Brainstorming Body language Cooperation Competition resolution Compromise Mediation Deesalate Avoidance positive interest Conflict resolve value trust Bias

Conflict Resolution Word Search

Conflict Resolution

Word Search

Conflict, Compromise and Lots More Words Word Search

Conflict, Compromise and Lots More Words

Social Skills Bingo

Social Skills Bingo

Conflict Management Word Search

Conflict Management

Chapter 8 Intelligent Crossword

Chapter 8 Intelligent

Parenting Crossword

Parenting Crossword

Word of the Day Crossword

Word of the Day

Drama Keywords Word Search

Drama Keywords

More similar puzzles, frequently asked questions, what is a word search.

A word search is a puzzle where there are rows of letters placed in the shape of a square, and there are words written forwards, backwards, horizontal, vertical or diagonal. There will be a list of words for the player to look for and the goal of the player is to find those words hidden in the word search puzzle, and highlight them.

How do I choose the words to use in my word search?

Once you’ve picked a theme, choose words that have a variety of different lengths, difficulty levels and letters. You don’t need to worry about trying to fit the words together with each other because WordMint will do that for you!

How are word searches used in the classroom?

Word search games are an excellent tool for teachers, and an excellent resource for students. They help to encourage wider vocabulary, as well as testing cognitive abilities and pattern-finding skills.

Because the word search templates are completely custom, you can create suitable word searches for children in kindergarten, all the way up to college students.

Who is a word search suitable for?

One of the common word search faq’s is whether there is an age limit or what age kids can start doing word searches. The fantastic thing about word search exercises is, they are completely flexible for whatever age or reading level you need.

Word searches can use any word you like, big or small, so there are literally countless combinations that you can create for templates. It is easy to customise the template to the age or learning level of your students.

How do I create a word search template?

For the easiest word search templates, WordMint is the way to go!

Pre-made templates

For a quick an easy pre-made template, simply search through WordMint’s existing 500,000+ templates . With so many to choose from, you’re bound to find the right one for you!

Create your own from scratch

  • Log in to your account (it’s free to join!)
  • Head to ‘My Puzzles’
  • Click ‘Create New Puzzle’ and select ‘Word Search’
  • Select your layout, enter your title and your chosen words
  • That’s it! The template builder will create your word search template for you and you can save it to your account, export as a Word document or PDF and print!

How can I print my word search template?

All of our templates can be exported into Microsoft Word to easily print, or you can save your work as a PDF to print for the entire class. Your puzzles get saved into your account for easy access and printing in the future, so you don’t need to worry about saving them at work or at home!

Can I create a word search in other languages?

Word searches are a fantastic resource for students learning a foreign language as it tests their reading comprehension skills in a fun, engaging way.

We have full support for word search templates in Spanish, French and Japanese with diacritics including over 100,000 images.

Jumble Solver

Solve jumble/anagram word puzzles.

Jumble is a word puzzle which is played by scrambling the letters to make an anagram, based on some clue. Jumble Solver helps you solve such puzzles faster by using some clue such as scrambled letters or so.

What is Jumble ?

A Jumble or Scramble Word Game is a game where a mixed up set of letters are provided and you have to unscramble the letters to find the word. Sometimes, clues are provided to help you figure out the puzzle. Other times, all you have are the jumbled letters.

Jumble games involve the skill of solving anagrams. Anagrams are all the words that can be created with the letters of one word or phrase. The difference between an anagram and a word jumble is that with an anagram you start with an existing word and you jumble the letters to create new ones. With a word jumble puzzle, you start with a random scramble of letters and you have to find the word within the jumble.

These types of puzzles will help you develop your skills and get better at games like Words with Friends and Scrabble. In those games, you’re theoretically always solving a word jumble puzzle. You get a rack of 7 random letters and you have to unscramble the letters to find the best word for your turn. Solving word jumble games will sharpen your ability to unscramble words quickly and sufficiently.

How does the Jumble Solver work ?

You enter the jumbled/scrambled words and it tells you the possible words or answers, that can be made from those letters (think of it like a single word anagram). So, if you frequently play daily jumble (or similar word puzzle), this little site might come in handy when you're stuck for long, use it as a learning tool or to solve disputes among your friends. Or maybe you could use this to cheat (sometimes) and win :-)

Tips to Excel at Jumble Word Games

Whether or not the jumble word game your playing provides any images or clues, here are some tips to be an excellent puzzle solver.

Get to Know Prefixes and Suffixes

It’s incredibly helpful when solving a word jumble to first identify all the prefixes and suffixes. Some of the most common prefixes are:

And some of the most common suffixes are:

Once you identify whatever prefixes and/or suffixes are in your jumble, it will be simple from you to solve the puzzle from there. It will help you easily identify the word lost within the scramble of letters.

Understand Common Letter Combinations

Noticing patterns of letters in words will help you quickly and efficiently solve jumble word puzzles. Once you identify these letter patterns in a puzzle, you will be able to quickly solve the puzzle after. Once again, this skill helps you when playing Words with Friends and Scrabble, too.

What patterns am I talking about? For example, look for double consonants like LL or SS, because there’s a good chance they might be together in the word. If there’s a Q, there is most likely a U, and that will also give you a jump start on the solution. Some other common patterns and letter combinations are ST, PH, and CK.

Use a Sheet of Paper

When it comes to solving word scramble puzzles, a piece of scrap paper can be a major help to you. When you write out the letters of the puzzle, it will help your brain make all the possible letter combinations to solve the puzzle. Also, writing helps cement the puzzle into your memory, so you will start to better understand patterns that will help you succeed at Words with Friends and Scrabble in the future.

Why It’s Great to Play Word Jumble Games

Aside from just being fun and mentally stimulating, solving word jumbles has a variety of other benefits. The consistent practice of noticing patterns of letters and words will help you be a better player in Scrabble, Boggle, Words With Friends, and more! Keep solving and playing jumble word games, it’s a fun and beneficial way to spend your time.

Here is a simple example to help you understand how this solver works. You enter elvi and hit the "Solve it" button. It will display the following words containing all the input letters.

Note: The top row on jumble solver displays only the words matching exactly with the letters, except when you use the advanced options or if you make use of any blank tiles (represented by space or ?). Below that, you see words with all combination of letters ( three letter and two letter words ), you may use this text twist solver , that also unjumble words for for text twist, scrabble, words with friends etc or this one for solving crossword puzzles .

If the number of words are way less than expected on the finder page, please make sure you're not applying too much filter via advanced options. Some words might get filtered as offensive words and they're displayed separately at the bottom of the page.

Updates from Blog

  • Bananagrams Rules and Tips n Tricks
  • Crossword Apps for Android
  • Wordle Alternatives
  • 7 Tips for Winning at Monopoly

Help us improve this site If you have any suggestion/idea for improving this website or adding new feature or something, feel free to email us.

Update : Recently, we made some drastic changes to this website. Any feedback or comment is highly appreciated.

Jumble® is a registered trademark of Tribune Media Services, Inc. JumbleSolver.me is not affiliated with Jumble® or Tribune Media Services, Inc in any way. This site is for entertainment purposes only.

Back Home

  • Search Search Search …
  • Search Search …

Critical thinking puzzles for adults (with answers)

critical thinking puzzles

Critical thinking can help to better navigate the information-dense and complex world we live in. By thinking critically we can better identify priorities, take a sensible approach to problem-solving and reach conclusions logically in line with evidence. Puzzles are an excellent way both to learn and practice critical thinking skills.

If you’d like to learn more about critical thinking or simply practice your skills with some puzzles, then this is the article for you. Read a little bit more about critical thinking skills and how to apply them first, or just skip straight to the puzzles and see how you get on.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is a broad approach to problem solving and analysis based on logic and evidence. It brings together a wide range of intellectual competences and the ability to combine and cross-reference them. Some of the most important elements of a critical thinking approach include:

Analytical skills:

  • understanding of questions and concepts
  • differentiation of relevant / irrelevant evidence and information
  • identification of similarities, connections and differences
  • use of metaphors or analogies to communicate ideas

Powers of inference:

  • extraction of meaning from data using inductive or deductive reasoning
  • extrapolation of data or abstraction into concepts and patterns
  • correct identification and deployment of analogies and assumptions
  • grasp of causal relationships, allowing development of conclusions and theories.

Data and theory evaluation:

  • assessment of how strong, important or credible a theory might be
  • taking on board new data and new arguments which alter understanding of ideas and theory

Rational decision-making:

– application of all the skills and competences above in order to come to a rational conclusion.

Problem-solving attitude: In addition to being able to think critically, you must also be personally inclined to think critically when facing a difficult or complex challenge. Developing qualities including curiosity and fairness, while distancing yourself from ideologies and group-think, should all help to create the kind of psychological landscape where critical thinking can flourish.

How can I learn critical thinking?

Critical thinking skills are hard to develop from only reading books or listening to lectures. The most effective way to sharpen and deepen critical thinking faculties is to practice critical thinking . Critical thinking puzzles offer a fun way to learn and the eight critical thinking puzzles we’ve chosen for this article should help you make a good start.

problem solving word puzzles

The aMAZEing PuzzleBox

Level 7 sequential discovery puzzle box​

Made from original LEGO® bricks​

Find the  GOLDEN BAR  to complete the challenge

CAN YOU HANDLE IT?..

Eight critical thinking puzzles – with answers

Puzzle 1 – letter puzzles.

What common feature do the following words share?

Answer: All of these words begin with a vowel. This type of puzzle may send your mind off in the wrong direction, thinking about the objects or concepts described by the words, and the properties they might share. In fact, the solution lies in a far more simple consideration of the alphabet. Puzzle 1 is a simple example of a common type of letter or word puzzle.

Puzzle 2 – Commonalities and differences

What do the following items have in common and which is the odd one out?

Orange Juice

Answer: These items are all liquids and the odd one out is petrol, since all the others are drinkable liquids.

Puzzle 3 – Falling on his feet

A man who lives in a high-rise building decides to exit through the window one morning rather than using the door. Somehow he survives the fall without a scratch and walks away to work. How did this happen?

Answer: The man lived on the ground or first floor and merely stepped or jumped down to the pavement outside. By stating early on that the building in question was a high-rise building, it’s easy for someone reading quickly to assume that the man jumped from a window on a high store but this it s not necessarily the case.

Puzzle 4 – Walk this way

A group of five people enter a windowless meeting room together. An hour later when the meeting ends, four walk out of the door, leaving the room empty. What has happened to the fifth member of the group?

Answer: The fifth person was in a wheelchair and wheeled out of the room rather than walked. Solving this puzzle requires you to think laterally about the question and the possible solutions. The answer can be found by asking yourself whether the emphasis of the question is on the emptiness of the room or the means by which the other four people left.

Puzzle 5 – Shapes and symbols

When lying on my side, I am everything, but when cut in half, I am nothing. What am I?

Answer: The number 8. This puzzle requires that you think about a shape being repositioned or cut in a way that can change it to “everything” or “nothing”. Number 8 on its side is the mathematical symbol for infinity (i.e. everything) and also shaped like two small number 0s put together.

Puzzle 6 – Three hard options

The hero is escaping the lair of an evil super-villain and is faced with three possible exits:

  • Door A leads into a pit of bubbling lava
  • Door B leads to a room housing a deadly hitman
  • Door C leads to the den full of lions that haven’t had a meal for a year.

Which door should the hero choose?

Answer: Door C. If the lion hasn’t eaten in a year, it will definitely be dead by now. This type of puzzle requires you to consider the full implications of the information given, rather than being drawn into a comparison of the relative dangers of lava, hitmen and lions…

Puzzle 7 – The bus driver’s eyes

You are a bus driver. Today the bus is empty at the start of your route but at the first stop, four people get onto the bus. Eight people get on at the second stop, while three alight. When the bus reaches the third stop, one more gets off, and three get on.

At the fourth stop, two people get off the bus and one gets on. The bus is traveling at an average speed of 30mph and its tires are new.  What color are the bus driver’s eyes?

Answer: You are the bus driver so the color will be the color of your own eyes. This type of puzzle tries to confuse you and obscure the single piece of relevant information by presenting large quantities of irrelevant information.

Puzzle 8 – Losing weight

A man walks into a room, closes the doors behind him and presses a button. In a matter of seconds the man is 20lb lighter. Despite this, he leaves the room at the same weight he entered it.

Answer: The room in question is actually an elevator. When the man gets in and presses the button, the elevator moves downwards with an acceleration that reduces the effect of gravity and makes the man temporarily 20lb lighter. Once the lift stops moving, the man’s weight is subject to normal gravity, just the same as before. Solving this puzzle requires a small piece of general physics knowledge.

A final word…

We hope you’ve enjoyed our critical thinking puzzles for adults and that your critical thinking skills are feeling refreshed and sharpened after reading our article. Whether at school, in the workplace, or in general life, critical thinking can be a valuable tool for success and anyone can learn to use it.

Get more critical thinking puzzles on our Youtube channel:

20 Challenging Lateral Thinking Puzzles That Are Harder Than They Seem

You may also like

communication and critical thinking

Critical Thinking and Effective Communication: Enhancing Interpersonal Skills for Success

In today’s fast-paced world, effective communication and critical thinking have become increasingly important skills for both personal and professional success. Critical thinking […]

Examples of Critical Thinking in Everyday

Examples of Critical Thinking in Everyday

Most people think of high academia when they hear the phrase “critical thinking.” They have a natural tendency to associate it with […]

critical thinking for investing

Critical Thinking for Investing: How to use Critical Thinking to Get the Best Results

Have you ever wondered how you can improve your investing? You can use critical thinking for investing to get better returns, mitigate […]

What is historical thinking

Solver Title

Practice

Generating PDF...

  • Pre Algebra Order of Operations Factors & Primes Fractions Long Arithmetic Decimals Exponents & Radicals Ratios & Proportions Percent Modulo Number Line Mean, Median & Mode
  • Algebra Equations Inequalities System of Equations System of Inequalities Basic Operations Algebraic Properties Partial Fractions Polynomials Rational Expressions Sequences Power Sums Interval Notation Pi (Product) Notation Induction Logical Sets Word Problems
  • Pre Calculus Equations Inequalities Scientific Calculator Scientific Notation Arithmetics Complex Numbers Polar/Cartesian Simultaneous Equations System of Inequalities Polynomials Rationales Functions Arithmetic & Comp. Coordinate Geometry Plane Geometry Solid Geometry Conic Sections Trigonometry
  • Calculus Derivatives Derivative Applications Limits Integrals Integral Applications Integral Approximation Series ODE Multivariable Calculus Laplace Transform Taylor/Maclaurin Series Fourier Series Fourier Transform
  • Functions Line Equations Functions Arithmetic & Comp. Conic Sections Transformation
  • Linear Algebra Matrices Vectors
  • Trigonometry Identities Proving Identities Trig Equations Trig Inequalities Evaluate Functions Simplify
  • Statistics Mean Geometric Mean Quadratic Mean Average Median Mode Order Minimum Maximum Probability Mid-Range Range Standard Deviation Variance Lower Quartile Upper Quartile Interquartile Range Midhinge Standard Normal Distribution
  • Physics Mechanics
  • Chemistry Chemical Reactions Chemical Properties
  • Finance Simple Interest Compound Interest Present Value Future Value
  • Economics Point of Diminishing Return
  • Conversions Radical to Exponent Exponent to Radical To Fraction To Decimal To Mixed Number To Improper Fraction Radians to Degrees Degrees to Radians Hexadecimal Scientific Notation Distance Weight Time
  • Pre Algebra
  • One-Step Addition
  • One-Step Subtraction
  • One-Step Multiplication
  • One-Step Division
  • One-Step Decimals
  • Two-Step Integers
  • Two-Step Add/Subtract
  • Two-Step Multiply/Divide
  • Two-Step Fractions
  • Two-Step Decimals
  • Multi-Step Integers
  • Multi-Step with Parentheses
  • Multi-Step Rational
  • Multi-Step Fractions
  • Multi-Step Decimals
  • Solve by Factoring
  • Completing the Square
  • Quadratic Formula
  • Biquadratic
  • Logarithmic
  • Exponential
  • Rational Roots
  • Floor/Ceiling
  • Equation Given Roots
  • Newton Raphson
  • Substitution
  • Elimination
  • Cramer's Rule
  • Gaussian Elimination
  • System of Inequalities
  • Perfect Squares
  • Difference of Squares
  • Difference of Cubes
  • Sum of Cubes
  • Polynomials
  • Distributive Property
  • FOIL method
  • Perfect Cubes
  • Binomial Expansion
  • Negative Rule
  • Product Rule
  • Quotient Rule
  • Expand Power Rule
  • Fraction Exponent
  • Exponent Rules
  • Exponential Form
  • Logarithmic Form
  • Absolute Value
  • Rational Number
  • Powers of i
  • Partial Fractions
  • Is Polynomial
  • Leading Coefficient
  • Leading Term
  • Standard Form
  • Complete the Square
  • Synthetic Division
  • Linear Factors
  • Rationalize Denominator
  • Rationalize Numerator
  • Identify Type
  • Convergence
  • Interval Notation
  • Pi (Product) Notation
  • Boolean Algebra
  • Truth Table
  • Mutual Exclusive
  • Cardinality
  • Caretesian Product
  • Age Problems
  • Distance Problems
  • Cost Problems
  • Investment Problems
  • Number Problems
  • Percent Problems
  • Addition/Subtraction
  • Multiplication/Division
  • Dice Problems
  • Coin Problems
  • Card Problems
  • Pre Calculus
  • Linear Algebra
  • Trigonometry
  • Conversions

Click to reveal more operations

Most Used Actions

Number line.

  • \mathrm{Lauren's\:age\:is\:half\:of\:Joe's\:age.\:Emma\:is\:four\:years\:older\:than\:Joe.\:The\:sum\:of\:Lauren,\:Emma,\:and\:Joe's\:age\:is\:54.\:How\:old\:is\:Joe?}
  • \mathrm{Kira\:went\:for\:a\:drive\:in\:her\:new\:car.\:She\:drove\:for\:142.5\:miles\:at\:a\:speed\:of\:57\:mph.\:For\:how\:many\:hours\:did\:she\:drive?}
  • \mathrm{The\:sum\:of\:two\:numbers\:is\:249\:.\:Twice\:the\:larger\:number\:plus\:three\:times\:the\:smaller\:number\:is\:591\:.\:Find\:the\:numbers.}
  • \mathrm{If\:2\:tacos\:and\:3\:drinks\:cost\:12\:and\:3\:tacos\:and\:2\:drinks\:cost\:13\:how\:much\:does\:a\:taco\:cost?}
  • \mathrm{You\:deposit\:3000\:in\:an\:account\:earning\:2\%\:interest\:compounded\:monthly.\:How\:much\:will\:you\:have\:in\:the\:account\:in\:15\:years?}
  • How do you solve word problems?
  • To solve word problems start by reading the problem carefully and understanding what it's asking. Try underlining or highlighting key information, such as numbers and key words that indicate what operation is needed to perform. Translate the problem into mathematical expressions or equations, and use the information and equations generated to solve for the answer.
  • How do you identify word problems in math?
  • Word problems in math can be identified by the use of language that describes a situation or scenario. Word problems often use words and phrases which indicate that performing calculations is needed to find a solution. Additionally, word problems will often include specific information such as numbers, measurements, and units that needed to be used to solve the problem.
  • Is there a calculator that can solve word problems?
  • Symbolab is the best calculator for solving a wide range of word problems, including age problems, distance problems, cost problems, investments problems, number problems, and percent problems.
  • What is an age problem?
  • An age problem is a type of word problem in math that involves calculating the age of one or more people at a specific point in time. These problems often use phrases such as 'x years ago,' 'in y years,' or 'y years later,' which indicate that the problem is related to time and age.

word-problems-calculator

  • High School Math Solutions – Inequalities Calculator, Exponential Inequalities Last post, we talked about how to solve logarithmic inequalities. This post, we will learn how to solve exponential... Read More

Please add a message.

Message received. Thanks for the feedback.

word scramble solver

Additional Options

Find us faster, bookmark this page, the web's most comprehensive word solver site.

This word solver is intended to help you unscramble letters to make words. This is part of our larger collection of puzzle solver tools. This particular word solver is designed to help you unscramble words for a word jumble puzzle, word puzzle, or scrabble game. In addition to this word unscrambler, we have other tools you can use to guess missing letters, solve boggle, and crack letter codes & ciphers. Works for word scramble puzzles as well.

To use the word solver, enter your letters in the big friendly green box. The anagram solver behind the scenes will generate a list of words you can create from those letters. The results will be sorted by word length, in descending order (so 5 letter words, then 4 letter words, etc.) The word maker will usually give you multiple word options for each word length, if you are trying to fit a word into a word puzzle.

The solver supports wildcards (blank tile if you are playing a scrabble game). These are considered to be any possible letter and the letter in the result will be highlighted in the answer. This word maker should be enough to solve any word scramble puzzle.

We have created several versions of the jumbled word solver to help you with different challenges. These word finder tools are a powerful extension to our jumble word solver. Just another way to unscramble word ideas.

First, there is our scrabble solver. This scrabble word finder takes the same dictionary and anagram engine behind the word solver and adapts it into a scrabble cheat tool. The results are ranked by points, so the highest scoring words are shown first. The same engine also works as text twist solver or words with friends cheat (with different scrabble word points values). These anagram tools are enough to give you a commanding advantage in any word game you wish to deploy them in. No matter how much opponents jumble the rules.

Moving to Hangman and crossword puzzle games, we have a hangman solver which can double as a crossword tool. Enter the pattern from the crossword (letters you know and missing letters) and the word generator will present you with a list of options. Use the crossword clue to narrow your guess. If the clue isn't enough, consider solving part of the word (via another word) and revisiting your results with fewer missing letters. This should cover your crossword solver needs. These use the same dictionary as the jumble word tools.

For advanced pattern matching (multiple word puzzles, substitution ciphers), we have other tools. Check out our word solver for wheel of fortune that can handle multiple words. Filter the multiple word answers by what sounds most natural in a sentence. (Assessing if an answer would fit into meaningful sentences is a great solution filter; that's how many machine code-breakers work). If you are trying to match a pattern of unknown letters (eg. an 5 letter word, first and last letter the same), check out our cryptogram solver. This can be used to get help with cryptic crossword puzzles and similar advanced word puzzles. You can use this to solve puzzles where you know the vowel positions but not the other letters.

If you want to step up from our jumble solver think in more than one dimension, check out our boggle word solver. We have three versions - varying by the size of the word grid which you are searching. These are fed into our anagram engine to look for possible words. When you think about it, boggle is just a multi-dimensional jumble word puzzle. Same dictionary, different layout.

Word Game Design Applications (Word Maker Tools)

If you like solving word scramble puzzles, check out our new word scramble game . We did give a little additional help by color-coding the correct letters (green means you got it, red means keep trying). By the way, these are designed to make it hard to use a word solver to cheat. (the upside of being a wordsolver; you know how to block another wordsolver).

We actually do timed research on the human ability to solve scrambled word puzzles. Many of the best word solvers have worked out human versions of computer algorithms for searching a large set of valid word possibilities (dictionary x board) for fitting a word into an established puzzle space. This applies to all kinds of puzzles based on scrambled letters, ranging from the daily jumble to multi-dimensional scrabble games.

This type of thinking becomes extremely important when you're working on game design and usability. Ever have someone give you a puzzle that was just impossible to crack? Even with a solver tools such as a scrabble word finder or similar word maker? Puzzle difficulty is actually a big deal for game designers. On one hand, you want to give the audience enough of a challenge so they don't get bored. On the other, you want to avoid failure on the first pass, before someone gets invested in solving the app. Word finder tools are a mixed blessing in this environment, since they help with the latter but hurt you on the former. Sometimes the longest word isn't the best word for a jumble answer.

We've actually done studies to "calibrate" the degree of difficulty in a puzzle game. This comes from showing jumbled word or cipher puzzles to people and watching how often they are solved. Along with testing changes in the word list (scrabble dictionary). You can give the audience hints (a piece of the pattern or a clue) that help them get started with solving the puzzle. Remember, if you make the jumbled letters too hard they'll start using a solver tool (a word finder tool).

Bet you didn't know there was all this science in word jumbles and crossword answers....

Other Word Solver Tools

We have other tools, particularly if you are trying to find words with these letters in them. This word scramble solver shows you the word jumble solution, where you unscramble letters to make words. If you are trying to pattern match, we have other tools (beyond the jumble solver). Use it to up your scrabble game. If you are trying to guess a missing letter, check out our hangman solver . The hangman solver also works fairly well as a crossword solver if you know some of the letters (pattern matching). We also have another word solver for wheel of fortune that can handle multiple words. If you are trying to match a pattern of unknown letters (eg. an 5 letter word, first and last letter the same), check out our cryptogram helper .

Word Solver Games & Puzzles

If you like solving word scramble puzzles, check out our new word scramble game . We did give a little additional help by color-coding the correct letters (green means you got it, red means keep trying).

We're more than just a word unscrambler site, by the way. We've also got a cryptogram solving game. These puzzles are based on substitution cipher codes, where each letter has been swapped with another letter. Your job is to figure out which letter is which and decode the message. The game keeps track of how long it takes to solve each puzzle and lets you know how your score compares with others. This article about how to solve a cryptogram may also be helpful.

The next step up from using our word puzzle solver is outright code cracking. If you like cracking codes, you may also find our article about pen and paper cryptograph interesting. We walk through some of the building blocks of manual cryptography (pre-World War I) and how these codes were broken. Those with a technical bent may find our presentation on breaking substitution ciphers via computer to be interesting as well (to a wordsolver).

Word Search Puzzles

Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to pass the time? Word search puzzles are an excellent way to keep your mind active and entertained. With their simple yet challenging format, these puzzles can help sharpen your problem-solving skills while also providing hours of brain-boosting fun. So if you’re looking for a great way to while away the hours and get some mental exercise at the same time, word search puzzles are a great solution!

Word search puzzles are a powerful tool for sharpening one’s brain. By actively engaging with the shapes and patterns that these puzzles offer, it can stimulate our neurons to increase their connectivity, thus enhancing cognitive functions such as memory recall and problem-solving capacity

We have free online word search puzzles for adults and kids alike with a variety of subjects!

Word Search Categories

Animals

Celebrities

Cities

Foreign Language Word Search

Russian

We hope that playing these word search puzzles will help to sharpen minds and increase vocabulary. With various topics to choose from, there is something for everyone. Challenge yourself today with one of these entertaining word search challenges!

Printable Word Search

Every puzzle has an online game, a printable word search version. To print a puzzle, you can navigate to the page of the subject that interests you, and you’ll find a link that will print that puzzle.

Downloadable Word Search

Each puzzle offers downloadable files in either PDF or MS Word formats. You can print these, edit them, or share them as you wish! However you like your word searches, we’ve got you covered!

Tips to solve the word search

  • Start with the most prominent words first – these are usually longer words that stand out easily within the grid.
  • Check for any letters that have only one possible match in a row or column – this can help you narrow down your search and find more words quickly.
  • Look for patterns of letters in the puzzle and try to use those as clues to find other words in the same pattern.
  • Take note of any letter pairs, like “ee” or “th” which can help you locate multiple words at once by searching along the same line they appear on.
  • Try searching diagonally; if there are no apparent matches, go horizontally or vertically – many puzzles contain hidden diagonal words!
  • Don’t forget to look for backward words, too – some puzzles will include them as an extra challenge!

Benefits of Word Search Games

Improved cognitive skills.

Playing a word search puzzle helps to improve your mental capabilities, such as concentration, problem-solving, and memory.

Boosts creativity

Word search puzzles help you think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to everyday problems.

Increased vocabulary

As you complete more puzzles, you will be exposed to new words, which can help increase your overall vocabulary.

Reduced stress levels

Finding words in a puzzle can distract from stressful situations and allow the mind to relax while still being engaged in something productive.

  • Math for Kids
  • Parenting Resources
  • ELA for Kids
  • Teaching Resources

SplashLearn Blog

5 Easy Tips & Tricks to Learn the 13 Time Table for Kids

How to Teach Number Sense to Kids: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Teach Decimals: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Teach Fraction to Kids – 11 Best Activities

27 Best Math Brain Teasers for Kids [with answers]

How to Choose Best School For Your Kid: 12 Best Tips

Why Kids Get Bored at School: 10 Tips to Keep Them Interested

11 Best Writing Apps for Kids

Homeschool vs Public School: 12 Tips on How to Choose One

15 Essential Life Skills Activities for Kids: Beyond ABCs

60 Best Essay Topics for Kids: Nurturing Young Minds

How to Teach Sentence Structure to Kids: The Ultimate Guide

72 Best G words for Kids in 2024

How to Teach Idioms to Kids: 11 Effective Activities & Tips

72 Best Words That Start with D for Kids in 2024

How to Prevent Teacher’s Burnout – 11 Top Ways

10 best strategies for solving math word problems in 2024.

46 Best Teaching Tools for Teachers in 2024

How to Teach 3rd Grade Kids: 25 Tips for a Successful Year

12 Best Online Tutoring Websites for All Grades

Solving word problem chart

1. Understand the Problem by Paraphrasing

2. identify key information and variables, 3. translate words into mathematical symbols, 4. break down the problem into manageable parts, 5. draw diagrams or visual representations, 6. use estimation to predict answers, 7. apply logical reasoning for unknown variables, 8. leverage similar problems as templates, 9. check answers in the context of the problem, 10. reflect and learn from mistakes.

Have you ever observed the look of confusion on a student’s face when they encounter a math word problem ? It’s a common sight in classrooms worldwide, underscoring the need for effective strategies for solving math word problems . The main hurdle in solving math word problems is not just the math itself but understanding how to translate the words into mathematical equations that can be solved.

SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5

Product logo

SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.

Generic advice like “read the problem carefully” or “practice more” often falls short in addressing students’ specific difficulties with word problems. Students need targeted math word problem strategies that address the root of their struggles head-on. 

A Guide on Steps to Solving Word Problems: 10 Strategies 

One of the first steps in tackling a math word problem is to make sure your students understand what the problem is asking. Encourage them to paraphrase the problem in their own words. This means they rewrite the problem using simpler language or break it down into more digestible parts. Paraphrasing helps students grasp the concept and focus on the problem’s core elements without getting lost in the complex wording.

Original Problem: “If a farmer has 15 apples and gives away 8, how many does he have left?”

Paraphrased: “A farmer had some apples. He gave some away. Now, how many apples does he have?”

This paraphrasing helps students identify the main action (giving away apples) and what they need to find out (how many apples are left).

Play these subtraction word problem games in the classroom for free:

Card Image

Students often get overwhelmed by the details in word problems. Teach them to identify key information and variables essential for solving the problem. This includes numbers , operations ( addition , subtraction , multiplication , division ), and what the question is asking them to find. Highlighting or underlining can be very effective here. This visual differentiation can help students focus on what’s important, ignoring irrelevant details.

  • Encourage students to underline numbers and circle keywords that indicate operations (like ‘total’ for addition and ‘left’ for subtraction).
  • Teach them to write down what they’re solving for, such as “Find: Total apples left.”

Problem: “A classroom has 24 students. If 6 more students joined the class, how many students are there in total?”

Key Information:

  • Original number of students (24)
  • Students joined (6)
  • Looking for the total number of students

Here are some fun addition word problems that your students can play for free:

Card Image

The transition from the language of word problems to the language of mathematics is a critical skill. Teach your students to convert words into mathematical symbols and equations. This step is about recognizing keywords and phrases corresponding to mathematical operations and expressions .

Common Translations:

  • “Total,” “sum,” “combined” → Addition (+)
  • “Difference,” “less than,” “remain” → Subtraction (−)
  • “Times,” “product of” → Multiplication (×)
  • “Divided by,” “quotient of” → Division (÷)
  • “Equals” → Equals sign (=)

Problem: “If one book costs $5, how much would 4 books cost?”

Translation: The word “costs” indicates a multiplication operation because we find the total cost of multiple items. Therefore, the equation is 4 × 5 = $20

Complex math word problems can often overwhelm students. Incorporating math strategies for problem solving, such as teaching them to break down the problem into smaller, more manageable parts, is a powerful approach to overcome this challenge. This means looking at the problem step by step rather than simultaneously trying to solve it. Breaking it down helps students focus on one aspect of the problem at a time, making finding the solution more straightforward.

Problem: “John has twice as many apples as Sarah. If Sarah has 5 apples, how many apples do they have together?”

Steps to Break Down the Problem:

Find out how many apples John has: Since John has twice as many apples as Sarah, and Sarah has 5, John has 5 × 2 = 10

Calculate the total number of apples: Add Sarah’s apples to John’s to find the total,  5 + 10 = 15

By splitting the problem into two parts, students can solve it without getting confused by all the details at once.

Explore these fun multiplication word problem games:

Card Image

Diagrams and visual representations can be incredibly helpful for students, especially when dealing with spatial or quantity relationships in word problems. Encourage students to draw simple sketches or diagrams to represent the problem visually. This can include drawing bars for comparison, shapes for geometry problems, or even a simple distribution to better understand division or multiplication problems .

Problem: “A garden is 3 times as long as it is wide. If the width is 4 meters, how long is the garden?”

Visual Representation: Draw a rectangle and label the width as 4 meters. Then, sketch the length to represent it as three times the width visually, helping students see that the length is 4 × 3 = 12

Estimation is a valuable skill in solving math word problems, as it allows students to predict the answer’s ballpark figure before solving it precisely. Teaching students to use estimation can help them check their answers for reasonableness and avoid common mistakes.

Problem: “If a book costs $4.95 and you buy 3 books, approximately how much will you spend?”

Estimation Strategy: Round $4.95 to the nearest dollar ($5) and multiply by the number of books (3), so 5 × 3 = 15. Hence, the estimated total cost is about $15.

Estimation helps students understand whether their final answer is plausible, providing a quick way to check their work against a rough calculation.

Check out these fun estimation and prediction word problem worksheets that can be of great help:

Card Image

When students encounter problems with unknown variables, it’s crucial to introduce them to logical reasoning. This strategy involves using the information in the problem to deduce the value of unknown variables logically. One of the most effective strategies for solving math word problems is working backward from the desired outcome. This means starting with the result and thinking about the steps leading to that result, which can be particularly useful in algebraic problems.

Problem: “A number added to three times itself equals 32. What is the number?”

Working Backward:

Let the unknown number be x.

The equation based on the problem is  x + 3x = 32

Solve for x by simplifying the equation to 4x=32, then dividing by 4 to find x=8.

By working backward, students can more easily connect the dots between the unknown variable and the information provided.

Practicing problems of similar structure can help students recognize patterns and apply known strategies to new situations. Encourage them to leverage similar problems as templates, analyzing how a solved problem’s strategy can apply to a new one. Creating a personal “problem bank”—a collection of solved problems—can be a valuable reference tool, helping students see the commonalities between different problems and reinforcing the strategies that work.

Suppose students have solved a problem about dividing a set of items among a group of people. In that case, they can use that strategy when encountering a similar problem, even if it’s about dividing money or sharing work equally.

It’s essential for students to learn the habit of checking their answers within the context of the problem to ensure their solutions make sense. This step involves going back to the original problem statement after solving it to verify that the answer fits logically with the given information. Providing a checklist for this process can help students systematically review their answers.

Checklist for Reviewing Answers:

  • Re-read the problem: Ensure the question was understood correctly.
  • Compare with the original problem: Does the answer make sense given the scenario?
  • Use estimation: Does the precise answer align with an earlier estimation?
  • Substitute back: If applicable, plug the answer into the problem to see if it works.

Problem: “If you divide 24 apples among 4 children, how many apples does each child get?”

After solving, students should check that they understood the problem (dividing apples equally).

Their answer (6 apples per child) fits logically with the number of apples and children.

Their estimation aligns with the actual calculation.

Substituting back 4×6=24 confirms the answer is correct.

Teaching students to apply logical reasoning, leverage solved problems as templates, and check their answers in context equips them with a robust toolkit for tackling math word problems efficiently and effectively.

One of the most effective ways for students to improve their problem-solving skills is by reflecting on their errors, especially with math word problems. Using word problem worksheets is one of the most effective strategies for solving word problems, and practicing word problems as it fosters a more thoughtful and reflective approach to problem-solving

These worksheets can provide a variety of problems that challenge students in different ways, allowing them to encounter and work through common pitfalls in a controlled setting. After completing a worksheet, students can review their answers, identify any mistakes, and then reflect on them in their mistake journal. This practice reinforces mathematical concepts and improves their math problem solving strategies over time.

3 Additional Tips for Enhancing Word Problem-Solving Skills

Before we dive into the importance of reflecting on mistakes, here are a few impactful tips to enhance students’ word problem-solving skills further:

1. Utilize Online Word Problem Games

A word problem game

Incorporate online games that focus on math word problems into your teaching. These interactive platforms make learning fun and engaging, allowing students to practice in a dynamic environment. Games can offer instant feedback and adaptive challenges, catering to individual learning speeds and styles.

Here are some word problem games that you can use for free:

Card Image

2. Practice Regularly with Diverse Problems

Word problem worksheet

Consistent practice with a wide range of word problems helps students become familiar with different questions and mathematical concepts. This exposure is crucial for building confidence and proficiency.

Start Practicing Word Problems with these Printable Word Problem Worksheets:

Card Image

3. Encourage Group Work

Solving word problems in groups allows students to share strategies and learn from each other. A collaborative approach is one of the best strategies for solving math word problems that can unveil multiple methods for tackling the same problem, enriching students’ problem-solving toolkit.

Conclusion 

Mastering math word problems is a journey of small steps. Encourage your students to practice regularly, stay curious, and learn from their mistakes. These strategies for solving math word problems are stepping stones to turning challenges into achievements. Keep it simple, and watch your students grow their confidence and skills, one problem at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can i help my students stay motivated when solving math word problems.

Encourage small victories and use engaging tools like online games to make practice fun and rewarding.

What's the best way to teach beginners word problems?

Begin with simple problems that integrate everyday scenarios to make the connection between math and real-life clear and relatable.

How often should students practice math word problems?

Regular, daily practice with various problems helps build confidence and problem-solving skills over time.

problem solving word puzzles

Most Popular

A working mom and her daughter in the bedroom, Mom is working while daughter is playing with her toys.

101 Best Riddles for Kids (With Explanation)

problem solving word puzzles

15 Best Report Card Comments Samples

Good vibes quotes by SplashLearn

40 Best Good Vibes Quotes to Brighten Your Day

Recent posts.

Teacher laying head on papers under stress

13 Best Spring Bulletin Board Ideas: Spring into Creativity

Math & ela | prek to grade 5, kids see fun., you see real learning outcomes..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

Parents, try for free Teachers, use for free

Banner Image

  • Games for Kids
  • Worksheets for Kids
  • Math Worksheets
  • ELA Worksheets
  • Math Vocabulary
  • Number Games
  • Addition Games
  • Subtraction Games
  • Multiplication Games
  • Division Games
  • Addition Worksheets
  • Subtraction Worksheets
  • Multiplication Worksheets
  • Division Worksheets
  • Times Tables Worksheets
  • Reading Games
  • Writing Games
  • Phonics Games
  • Sight Words Games
  • Letter Tracing Games
  • Reading Worksheets
  • Writing Worksheets
  • Phonics Worksheets
  • Sight Words Worksheets
  • Letter Tracing Worksheets
  • Prime Number
  • Order of Operations
  • Long multiplication
  • Place value
  • Parallelogram
  • SplashLearn Success Stories
  • SplashLearn Apps
  • [email protected]

© Copyright - SplashLearn

Screen Rant

Today's wordle answer & hints for february 13, 2024 (puzzle #969).

February 13th’s Wordle answer is one of the easier ones to solve; however, there is still a chance that some players might use random guesses.

February 13th’s Wordle answer is not the hardest to solve as it does not contain a repeating letter and only one vowel. While the answer can be solved in less than six attempts, you still need to be careful if you tend to use random guesses. It is very important that players do not get carried away with their guesses, as there are many possible answers.

However, if you use Wordle ’s hard mode , you might be able to develop a strategy that can work well in the regular mode. Since there are many possible answers, it is imperative that you do not waste attempts on random words and instead rely on hints that will give you more context about the answer.

Wordle on an old tv with Wordle box wallpaper

5 Letter Words Wordle Hasn't Used Yet (Updated Daily)

Today's wordle hints, february 13th #969.

13th February 2024 Wordle hints with a person scramming from the forest in the background

If you are on your last few attempts, using relevant hints might be a better idea instead of using random guesses. These clues are somewhat similar to hints seen in other games as they do not spoil the answer. However, they give enough information so that you can solve February 13th’s Wordle answer with attempts to spare.

Today's Wordle Answer

13th February 2024 Wordle answer with a person scramming from the forest in the background

The February 13th Wordle answer is SCRAM .

We were able to solve today’s Wordle answer in about three attempts, as our first two guesses were spot on. We used the words SCORE and SCRAP, which revealed the correct positions of four letters from today’s answers. While there are other words with similar spellings, we luckily solved today’s Wordle answer with SCRAM on our third attempt.

Wordle Poster

IMAGES

  1. Problem Solving Word Search

    problem solving word puzzles

  2. Hands with Puzzle Making PROBLEM SOLVING Word Stock Photo

    problem solving word puzzles

  3. Bear counter problem solving activity

    problem solving word puzzles

  4. Learning Through Puzzles : A Children's Activity Book with a Problem

    problem solving word puzzles

  5. Problem Solving Word Search

    problem solving word puzzles

  6. Solving Word Problems Chart Grade 2-8

    problem solving word puzzles

VIDEO

  1. Can You Solve This Problem? I Math Puzzle

  2. word puzzle solved

  3. Word puzzles that you can understand?🤯 #shorts

  4. A Nice Math Problem

  5. Solving coded word puzzles with STYLE

  6. math puzzle|math problem|how to solve puzzle #shorts

COMMENTS

  1. 25 Logic Puzzles (with Answers) for Adults

    Answer: CABDE. Putting the first three in order, A finished in front of B but behind C, so CAB. Then, we know D finished before B, so CABD. We know E finished after D, so CABDE. 3. Logic Puzzle:...

  2. 58 Brain Teasers & Answers: Mind Puzzles To Stump You

    Brain teasers are more than just simple puzzles and riddles. Technically, a brain teaser is a type of puzzle or brain game, often involving lateral thinking. That means to solve it, you'll...

  3. Fun Brain Games, Quizzes and Puzzles for Everyone

    Oh, right—a puzzle! You may have heard that puzzles and other brain games sharpen your mind—boosting memory, attention span, thinking speed, creativity and problem-solving skills—and that ...

  4. Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

    1. Espionage! (Team Favorite) For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team's wits and instincts to the test. Espionage! offers the following: a 90-minute session led by an experienced host undercover teams of agents and spies challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers

  5. Math and Logic Puzzles

    If you REALLY like exercising your brain, figuring things 'round and 'round till you explode, then this is the page for you ! Whosoever shall solve these puzzles shall Rule The Universe! ... or at least they should ... Starter Puzzles Puzzle Games Measuring Puzzles Symmetry Jigsaw Puzzles Logic Puzzles Sam Loyd Puzzles Shape Puzzles

  6. Play Word Search Puzzles Online

    Keep your mind sharp and play free word games at Arkadium to enhance your problem-solving skills and verbal fluency! Playing word puzzle games ensures you're prepared with much more than a fighting chance. You can conquer any puzzle or vocabulary addition before you if you've committed to regular practice. 3 Tips to Solve Word Puzzles

  7. 20 Hard Riddles for Adults: Best Brain Teasers for Adults

    Who says mind-bending logic puzzles are just for kids? We've come up with 20 brand-new riddles for adults to test your critical thinking, mathematics, and logic skills. With difficulties...

  8. Word Puzzles That Will Leave You Stumped

    Stepdown. Beginning at the top of the upside down pyramid, remove one letter from the word "strides" and rearrange the remaining letters to build a new six-letter word beneath. Continue the ...

  9. Logic Puzzles

    LOGIC PUZZLES. Test your ingenuity and knowledge with these logic puzzles. Deduction is the key so get your thinking cap dusted off and start logically working through our puzzling content. Sharpen Your Mind and Put Your Problem Solving Skills to Work.

  10. 10 Strategies to Help You Solve Word Search Puzzles

    Tip 1: Ignore the Word List To start the puzzle, I ignore the word list at first and just search out all the words I can find, focusing on the larger words, as they are the ones usually in the list.

  11. Puzzles

    The Problem-Solving Initiative will collect and publish many interesting puzzles and mind-bending challenges designed to test and hone your logic and problem-solving skills. They will be suitable for all ages, depending on their difficulty. ... Word Puzzles. alphabet-words-1. alphabet-words-2. word-grid. Code Puzzles. binary-cypher. morse-cypher-1.

  12. 68 Best Brain Teaser Puzzles With Answers

    Crossword Brain Teaser Puzzle. Our next question is a crossword brain teaser puzzle. If you are creative and like to play with words, you will love this one. Begin at one of the corner squares, move clockwise around the perimeter, and finish in the center square to spell a nine-letter word. You must fill in the empty squares with your own ...

  13. WordSolver

    WordSolver makes words from letters and helps with anagram word games such as scrabble, words with friends, draw something.

  14. 9 Tricky Puzzles to Test Your Problem Solving Skills

    Here is the solution if you want to test your workings. 2. The rope bridge at night problem. Source: Frerk Meyer/Flickr. Frerk Meyer/Flickr. This next puzzle is another head-scratcher. Suppose ...

  15. Problem Solving Word Search

    resolution Compromise Mediation Deesalate Avoidance positive interest Conflict resolve value trust Bias Show More... Customize Add, edit, delete clues, and customize this puzzle. Print copies for an entire class. Print / Download Conflict Resolution Word Search Customize Print / Download Conflict, Compromise and Lots More Words Word Search

  16. Logic Grid Puzzles

    Printable Logic Grid Puzzles. Visit our Printable Logic Grid Puzzles page to download a PDF version of any of these puzzles. Each puzzle has also a link to download their printable version. These Logic Grid Puzzles require that you fill the grid based on the clues to solve them. The puzzles can be challenging even for experienced players.

  17. 12 Logic Puzzles That Will Test Your Smarts

    Answer: Saber is taking a nap, ­Ginger is getting her ears scratched, Nutmeg is ­going for a walk, Pepper is burying a chew toy, and Bear is playing catch. Check out these brain games that'll ...

  18. Jumble Solver

    Jumble is a word puzzle which is played by scrambling the letters to make an anagram, based on some clue. Jumble Solver helps you solve such puzzles faster by using some clue such as scrambled letters or so. What is Jumble ?

  19. Critical thinking puzzles for adults (with answers)

    1 What is critical thinking? 2 The aMAZEing PuzzleBox 3 Eight critical thinking puzzles - with answers 3.1 Puzzle 1 - Letter puzzles 3.2 Puzzle 2 - Commonalities and differences 3.3 Puzzle 3 - Falling on his feet 3.4 Puzzle 4 - Walk this way 3.5 Puzzle 5 - Shapes and symbols 3.6 Puzzle 6 - Three hard options 4 Puzzle 7 - The bus driver's eyes

  20. Word Problems Calculator

    To solve word problems start by reading the problem carefully and understanding what it's asking. Try underlining or highlighting key information, such as numbers and key words that indicate what operation is needed to perform. Translate the problem into mathematical expressions or equations, and use the information and equations generated to ...

  21. Word Solver

    First, there is our scrabble solver. This scrabble word finder takes the same dictionary and anagram engine behind the word solver and adapts it into a scrabble cheat tool. The results are ranked by points, so the highest scoring words are shown first.

  22. Word Search Puzzles

    Word search puzzles are a powerful tool for sharpening one's brain. By actively engaging with the shapes and patterns that these puzzles offer, it can stimulate our neurons to increase their connectivity, thus enhancing cognitive functions such as memory recall and problem-solving capacity. We have free online word search puzzles for adults ...

  23. Visual Puzzles & Brain Teasers That Will Challenge Your Mind

    A visual puzzle, also called a visual brain teaser, is any logic or reasoning problem that is expressed and solved using drawings and/or images. However, even though they all have the visual...

  24. 10 Best strategies for solving math word problems in 2024

    6. Use Estimation to Predict Answers. Estimation is a valuable skill in solving math word problems, as it allows students to predict the answer's ballpark figure before solving it precisely. Teaching students to use estimation can help them check their answers for reasonableness and avoid common mistakes.

  25. 'Wordle' #969 clues, tips and answer for Tuesday, February 13 puzzle

    Wordle #969, Answer for Tuesday, February 13 Puzzle. The answer to today's Wordle puzzle is "Scram." Merriam-Webster defines scram as "to go away at once," which is the definition most will be ...

  26. Today's Wordle Answer & Hints For February 13, 2024 (Puzzle #969)

    February 13th #969. The February 13th Wordle answer is SCRAM. We were able to solve today's Wordle answer in about three attempts, as our first two guesses were spot on. We used the words SCORE and SCRAP, which revealed the correct positions of four letters from today's answers. While there are other words with similar spellings, we luckily ...