Logic Puzzles That Only Smarty Pants Can Solve

As an academic discipline, logic is the study of reasoning. Logic puzzles, therefore, involve solving problems by making a series of inferences and assessing these using reasoning. Sounds easy, right? Not exactly.

Easier logic puzzles for kids tend to have simpler setups—and therefore fewer possibilities to examine and eliminate. Harder logic puzzles for adults, however, are often deceptively short. They seem simple at first, but you’re often left wondering whether there’s really enough information to draw a conclusion. These brainteasers are a test for your cognition, intelligence and reasoning abilities, which is what makes them so fun.

Like some of the hardest math puzzles and riddles, these reasoning puzzles can get very complex. Ready give it a go? Here are logic puzzles (with answers) that will test your smarts like never before. Happy solving!

What is a logic puzzle?

Logic puzzles come in various forms and have a near-infinite number of themes. But at their core, these reasoning puzzles present a series of clues and constraints, like detective riddles do. Solvers must then process each in turn to identify contradictions and eliminate possibilities until they arrive at the solution.

How do you solve a logic puzzle?

No matter the format, the key to solving any of these brainteasers is to use the process of deduction. You might not think there’s enough information at first. But read the clues several times. You’ll have fewer and fewer possibilities to analyze with each pass.

Use a pad and pen (or the Notes app on your phone) to brainstorm different scenarios, then eliminate the possibilities to arrive at the solution. Work your way through the easy ones first, then, as you gain some confidence, try the harder logic puzzles.

Now that you know how to solve them, let’s try out a few challenging riddles!

Easy logic puzzles

These logic puzzles are ideal for beginners or anyone who wants to warm up to something more challenging. If you’re looking for good logic puzzles for kids, the ones below are your best bet. With practice, children will develop their reasoning skills and be able to solve lateral thinking puzzles with ease, making learning more fun.

1) Summer camp

(Photo: Maria Amador for Reader's Digest (4))

Abigail, Oliver, Rosa and Blake all attend the same summer camp, where they can cook, kayak, rock climb and zip-line. Each child has a different favorite activity.

• Abigail’s favorite activity isn’t rock climbing.
• Oliver is afraid of heights.
• Rosa can’t do her favorite activity without a harness.
• Blake likes to keep his feet on the ground at all times.

Can you figure out who likes what?

2) The good life

(Photo: Sue Dohrin, The Noun Project)

Each of five neighborhood dogs (Saber, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pepper and Bear) is enjoying one of the following activities: getting its ears scratched, playing catch, taking a nap, burying a chew toy and going for a walk.

• Pepper is either playing catch or burying a chew toy.
• Neither Ginger nor Saber nor Bear is on a walk.
• One of the dogs named after a spice is getting its ears scratched.
• A dog not named for a spice is playing catch.
• Bear is getting some exercise.

Can you figure out what each pooch is doing?

3) Birthday week

(Photo: Marcel Danesi)

George, William, John, Abe and Millard have their birthdays on consecutive days, all between Monday and Friday.

• George’s birthday is as many days before Millard’s as William’s is after Abe’s.
• John is two days older than Abe.
• Millard’s birthday is on Thursday.

Can you figure out whose birthday is on each day?

4) The long and the short of it

(Photo: Marcel Danesi, iStock)

Six neighborhood children (Leisha, Benito, Delia, Charlotte, Weldon and Zina) were measured yesterday.

• Weldon is taller than Delia but shorter than Zina.
• Leisha is taller than Benito but shorter than Delia and Weldon.
• Benito is not the shortest.

Can you put them in order of height from tallest to shortest?

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ANSWERS

1) Summer camp

Abigail, Oliver, Rosa and Blake all attend the same summer camp, where they can cook, kayak, rock climb and zip-line. Each child has a different favorite activity.

• Abigail’s favorite activity isn’t rock climbing.
• Oliver is afraid of heights.
• Rosa can’t do her favorite activity without a harness.
• Blake likes to keep his feet on the ground at all times.

Can you figure out who likes what?

Answer:

Abigail likes to zip-line, ­Oliver likes to kayak, Rosa likes to rock climb and Blake likes to cook.

2) The good life

Each of five neighborhood dogs (Saber, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pepper and Bear) is enjoying one of the following activities: getting its ears scratched, playing catch, taking a nap, burying a chew toy and going for a walk.

• Pepper is either playing catch or burying a chew toy.
• Neither Ginger nor Saber nor Bear is on a walk.
• One of the dogs named after a spice is getting its ears scratched.
• A dog not named for a spice is playing catch.
• Bear is getting some exercise.

Can you figure out what each pooch is doing?

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.

3) Birthday week

George, William, John, Abe and Millard have their birthdays on consecutive days, all between Monday and Friday.

• George’s birthday is as many days before Millard’s as William’s is after Abe’s.
• John is two days older than Abe.
• Millard’s birthday is on Thursday.

Can you figure out whose birthday is on each day?

Answer:

John’s is on Monday, George’s on Tuesday, Abe’s on Wednesday, Millard’s on Thursday and William’s on Friday.

4) The long and the short of it

Six neighborhood children (Leisha, Benito, Delia, Charlotte, Weldon and Zina) were measured yesterday.

• Weldon is taller than Delia but shorter than Zina.
• Leisha is taller than Benito but shorter than Delia and Weldon.
• Benito is not the shortest.

Can you put them in order of height from tallest to shortest?

Answer:

From tallest to shortest: Zina, Weldon, Delia, Leisha, Benito, Charlotte.