MATH

BRAIN TEASERS
Susan Conover
MATH
BRAIN TEASERS
Susan Conover
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Table of Contents
Dai l y Warm-Ups: Math Brai n Teasers
Numbers, Numeration, Operations, and Patterns . . . . . . 1
Geometry and the Coordinate Plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Data Analysis, Statistics, Combinations,
and Probability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Fractions, Ratios, Decimals, and Percents . . . . . . . . . . 156
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Table of Contents
Dai l y Warm-Ups: Math Brai n Teasers
Numbers, Numeration, Operations, and Patterns . . . . . . 1
Geometry and the Coordinate Plane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Data Analysis, Statistics, Combinations,
and Probability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Fractions, Ratios, Decimals, and Percents . . . . . . . . . . 156
If today is April 23, 2006, write the exact age of a person
born on March 9, 2001, using the Mayan method of calendar
time. (Assume there are no leap years.)
The Mayans of Mexico used a method of dots and lines to show a
period of time. Each dot represents a unit, and each bar represents
5 units. From the bottom position to the top position, the symbols
refer to the number of days, months, and years, respectively. The
example below shows 15 years, 11 months, and 8 days.
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Numbers, Numerati on, Operati ons, and Patterns
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Th Th
(15 years)
(2 5 + 1 = 11 months)
(3 + 5 = 8 days)
If today is April 23, 2006, write the exact age of a person
born on March 9, 2001, using the Mayan method of calendar
time. (Assume there are no leap years.)
The Mayans of Mexico used a method of dots and lines to show a
period of time. Each dot represents a unit, and each bar represents
5 units. From the bottom position to the top position, the symbols
refer to the number of days, months, and years, respectively. The
example below shows 15 years, 11 months, and 8 days.
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Numbers, Numerati on, Operati ons, and Patterns
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Th Th
(15 years)
(2 5 + 1 = 11 months)
(3 + 5 = 8 days)
Prime factorization is finding the factors of a number that are all
prime numbers.
To find the prime factors of a number, you start by finding two
factors. If either factor is not a prime number, find factors for that
factor. Continue the process until all your factors are prime.
Find factors and multiples that will correctly complete the prime
factorization diamond below. Hint: The same number appears in
the boxes at both ends.

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Numbers, Numerati on, Operati ons, and Patterns
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Prime factorization is finding the factors of a number that are all
prime numbers.
To find the prime factors of a number, you start by finding two
factors. If either factor is not a prime number, find factors for that
factor. Continue the process until all your factors are prime.
Find factors and multiples that will correctly complete the prime
factorization diamond below. Hint: The same number appears in
the boxes at both ends.

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Numbers, Numerati on, Operati ons, and Patterns
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It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes, you
can make words act like pictures. This shows their meanings
visually. For example, perpendicular lines are lines at right angles
to each other. So you might write the term like this:
Try your hand at being clever. Think of a fun way to write the
following words.
obtuse perimeter
acute volume
equilateral triangle

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Geometry and the Coordi nate Pl ane
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It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes, you
can make words act like pictures. This shows their meanings
visually. For example, perpendicular lines are lines at right angles
to each other. So you might write the term like this:
Try your hand at being clever. Think of a fun way to write the
following words.
obtuse perimeter
acute volume
equilateral triangle

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Geometry and the Coordi nate Pl ane
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perpendi cul ar
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Leon was preparing drawings for a new building. He had to draw
four separate views: one from directly in front; one from directly
above; one directly from the side; and one at an angle, showing
the building in perspective.
Leon has done the first three views. Can you combine them to do
the fourth view, showing the completed building?

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Geometry and the Coordi nate Pl ane
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Front Top Side
Leon was preparing drawings for a new building. He had to draw
four separate views: one from directly in front; one from directly
above; one directly from the side; and one at an angle, showing
the building in perspective.
Leon has done the first three views. Can you combine them to do
the fourth view, showing the completed building?

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Geometry and the Coordi nate Pl ane
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Front Top Side
What is the measure of the exterior angle of the isosceles-shaped
tepee?
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What is the measure of the exterior angle of the isosceles-shaped
tepee?
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If the crank is turned clockwise, which way should the hamster run?

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If the crank is turned clockwise, which way should the hamster run?

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The rules of a coin game state that a move is a jump over one or
two coins at a time. What is the smallest number of moves it
would take to get the following coins in the order PPPNNN,
with no gaps between coins?
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Money
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The rules of a coin game state that a move is a jump over one or
two coins at a time. What is the smallest number of moves it
would take to get the following coins in the order PPPNNN,
with no gaps between coins?
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A counterfeiter was trying to print his own money, and he came
up with this version of a dollar bill. However, he has made a few
mistakes. Can you find four errors on this fake bill?

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Money
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A counterfeiter was trying to print his own money, and he came
up with this version of a dollar bill. However, he has made a few
mistakes. Can you find four errors on this fake bill?

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Money
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Little Red Riding Hoods grandmother has given her a big jar that
she has been using to collect coins. Among the coins are 18
quarters. Her grandmother says that she can have all the coins if
of the quarters go into her college savings account, of
them go toward a new CD player, and go toward something
fun. After happily agreeing to this, Little Red digs through the
quarters and finds that one quarter is actually a subway token.
How many quarters should go in each category?
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Little Red Riding Hoods grandmother has given her a big jar that
she has been using to collect coins. Among the coins are 18
quarters. Her grandmother says that she can have all the coins if
of the quarters go into her college savings account, of
them go toward a new CD player, and go toward something
fun. After happily agreeing to this, Little Red digs through the
quarters and finds that one quarter is actually a subway token.
How many quarters should go in each category?
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You may have heard the story of how Hannibal crossed the Alps
with an army and a number of elephants. To move all his supplies,
he must have used carts as well as elephants.
Imagine that some of Hannibals carts had three wheels, one in the
front and two in the back. For safety, each had a spare wheel, and
the wheels were rotated so that all four wheels got the same
amount of wear.
If Hannibals entire route was 1,000 miles long, how many miles of
wear were put on each wheel?
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You may have heard the story of how Hannibal crossed the Alps
with an army and a number of elephants. To move all his supplies,
he must have used carts as well as elephants.
Imagine that some of Hannibals carts had three wheels, one in the
front and two in the back. For safety, each had a spare wheel, and
the wheels were rotated so that all four wheels got the same
amount of wear.
If Hannibals entire route was 1,000 miles long, how many miles of
wear were put on each wheel?
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What is the area of the shaded portion of the circle?

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7 in.
What is the area of the shaded portion of the circle?

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7 in.
Bertos Buckets manufactures buckets in many different sizes.
Berto is trying to describe all the sizes in a certain product line to
a customer, but he has forgotten a few. The sizes increase according
to a regular pattern.
Help Berto find the sizes of the missing buckets.
Size 1 Size 2 Size 3
1 quart 1 gallon ________________
Size 4 Size 5 Size 6
4 gallons ________________ 9 gallons
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Bertos Buckets manufactures buckets in many different sizes.
Berto is trying to describe all the sizes in a certain product line to
a customer, but he has forgotten a few. The sizes increase according
to a regular pattern.
Help Berto find the sizes of the missing buckets.
Size 1 Size 2 Size 3
1 quart 1 gallon ________________
Size 4 Size 5 Size 6
4 gallons ________________ 9 gallons
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Complete the proverb by first unscrambling the letters to make
words. Then use the letters in the circles to form another new
word. This word completes the proverb.
___ ___ ___ ___ waits for no man.
RAYE
HNMTO
TYECNUR
ILNINMELUM

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Complete the proverb by first unscrambling the letters to make
words. Then use the letters in the circles to form another new
word. This word completes the proverb.
___ ___ ___ ___ waits for no man.
RAYE
HNMTO
TYECNUR
ILNINMELUM

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What is the perimeter of the net that could be folded to form
this box?

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4 meters
5 meters
6 meters
What is the perimeter of the net that could be folded to form
this box?

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4 meters
5 meters
6 meters
Find the decimal word parts hidden in the puzzle below.
Meaning Word Part Meaning Word Part
kilo- 1,000 deci-
hecto- 100 centi-
deka- 10 milli-
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Find the decimal word parts hidden in the puzzle below.
Meaning Word Part Meaning Word Part
kilo- 1,000 deci-
hecto- 100 centi-
deka- 10 milli-
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All the students in a science class also take a math class. Half of
the students who play baseball also take a math class. One-quarter
of the students in the math class also take a science class. Sixty
students play baseball. Forty students take a science class. Nobody
who plays baseball takes a science class.
How many students who take a math class neither take a science
class nor play baseball?

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All the students in a science class also take a math class. Half of
the students who play baseball also take a math class. One-quarter
of the students in the math class also take a science class. Sixty
students play baseball. Forty students take a science class. Nobody
who plays baseball takes a science class.
How many students who take a math class neither take a science
class nor play baseball?

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In a first-grade class, a teacher places the following cards on a
table.
He then flips the cards over and mixes them up. He asks a
student to pick up cards randomly and turn them over until she
can make the word CAT.
What is the probability of the student making the word
CAT on her first try without replacing any cards?

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A A A A C C T T T
In a first-grade class, a teacher places the following cards on a
table.
He then flips the cards over and mixes them up. He asks a
student to pick up cards randomly and turn them over until she
can make the word CAT.
What is the probability of the student making the word
CAT on her first try without replacing any cards?

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A A A A C C T T T
In genetics, some traits are dominant, and some are recessive. A
dominant gene is shown with a capital letter. A recessive gene is
shown with a small letter. If someone inherits both a dominant
gene and a recessive gene for the same trait, the dominant gene will
appear. The recessive gene only appears if the person inherits two
recessive genes for the trait.
A woman with brown eyes (Bb) marries a man with blue eyes (bb). They
decide to have children. The square shows the possible combinations of genes
for eye color their children could receive.
If the woman and her husband have 3 children, what are the chances that
all 3 children will have blue eyes?

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Bb bb
bb
b
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Father
Mother
In genetics, some traits are dominant, and some are recessive. A
dominant gene is shown with a capital letter. A recessive gene is
shown with a small letter. If someone inherits both a dominant
gene and a recessive gene for the same trait, the dominant gene will
appear. The recessive gene only appears if the person inherits two
recessive genes for the trait.
A woman with brown eyes (Bb) marries a man with blue eyes (bb). They
decide to have children. The square shows the possible combinations of genes
for eye color their children could receive.
If the woman and her husband have 3 children, what are the chances that
all 3 children will have blue eyes?

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n
T
e
a
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B
Bb
Bb bb
bb
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Father
Mother