Reasoning puzzles

Odd one out, spot the error, symbol puzzles, sequences and “always, sometimes, never” — six ways of asking a child to judge an answer instead of producing one.

6 sheets · 29 questions · one answer key · 8 pages

Recommended for grades 3–5

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Odd one out Sheet 1 of 6

ReasoningOdd one out

Name: Date:

Read each question and write what you work out.

1Which number is the odd one out?2434113Why?

2Which number is the odd one out?363212Why?

3Which number is the odd one out?59381252Why?

4Which number is the odd one out?60355532Why?

5Which number is the odd one out?9605010Why?

ReasoningSpot the error

Name: Date:

Read each question and write what you work out.

1Ben wrote 56 − 44 = 13. Write the correct answer. Why?

2Mia wrote 42 + 44 = 87. Write the correct answer. Why?

3Noor wrote 41 + 28 = 70. Write the correct answer. Why?

4Ana wrote 60 − 21 = 41. Write the correct answer. Why?

5Priya wrote 3 × 6 = 9. Write the correct answer. Why?

ReasoningSymbol puzzles

Name: Date:

Read each question and write what you work out.

1■ + ■ = 26 and ◆ − ■ = 8. What is ◆? Why?

2▲ + ▲ = 8 and ▲ + ● = 9. What is ●? Why?

3● + ● = 16 and ● × ▲ = 24. What is ▲? Why?

4◆ + ◆ + ◆ = 39 and ◆ + ● = 21. What is ●? Why?

5▲ + ▲ = 10 and ● − ▲ = 19. What is ●? Why?

ReasoningAlways, sometimes, never

Name: Date:

Read each question and write what you work out.

1The sum of two odd numbers is odd.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

2Taking away makes a number smaller.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

3The product of two odd numbers is odd.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

4If the digits of a number add up to a multiple of 3, the number is a multiple of 3.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

5An odd number times an even number is odd.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

ReasoningNumber sequences

Name: Date:

Read each question and write what you work out.

1Here are the first four terms of a number sequence. 11 13 15 17What is the 10th term? Which term is 43?

2Here are the first four terms of a number sequence. 10 15 20 25What is the 8th term? Which term is 90?

3Here are the first four terms of a number sequence. 6 12 18 24What is the 12th term? Which term is 96?

4Here are the first four terms of a number sequence. 7 11 15 19What is the 8th term? Which term is 75?

ReasoningIs it always true?

Name: Date:

Read each question and write what you work out.

1A number that is a multiple of both 4 and 6 is a multiple of 24.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

2A multiple of 4 added to a multiple of 6 gives a multiple of 12.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

3The product of two consecutive numbers is even.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

4The sum of four consecutive numbers is a multiple of 4.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

5The difference between two square numbers in a row is odd.alwayssometimesneverWhy?

Power Pack · Reasoning puzzlesAnswer key

Odd one out

1. 24, 34, 11, 3 → 3 (the other three are all two-digit numbers)2. 36, 3, 21, 2 → 2 (the other three are all multiples of 3)3. 59, 38, 12, 52 → 59 (the other three are all even)4. 60, 35, 55, 32 → 32 (the other three are all multiples of 5)5. 9, 60, 50, 10 → 9 (the other three are all multiples of 10)

Spot the error

1. 56 − 44 = 12, not 13 (the answer is one out)2. 42 + 44 = 86, not 87 (the answer is one out)3. 41 + 28 = 69, not 70 (the answer is one out)4. 60 − 21 = 39, not 41 (each column took the smaller digit from the larger)5. 3 × 6 = 18, not 9 (the numbers were added instead of multiplied)

Symbol puzzles

1. ■ = 13, ◆ = 212. ▲ = 4, ● = 53. ● = 8, ▲ = 34. ◆ = 13, ● = 85. ▲ = 5, ● = 24

Always, sometimes, never

1. The sum of two odd numbers is odd. → never2. Taking away makes a number smaller. → sometimes3. The product of two odd numbers is odd. → always4. If the digits of a number add up to a multiple of 3, the number is a multiple of 3. → always5. An odd number times an even number is odd. → never

Number sequences

1. 11, 13, 15, 17, … : 10th term = 29, and 43 is the 17th term2. 10, 15, 20, 25, … : 8th term = 45, and 90 is the 17th term3. 6, 12, 18, 24, … : 12th term = 72, and 96 is the 16th term4. 7, 11, 15, 19, … : 8th term = 35, and 75 is the 18th term

Power Pack · Reasoning puzzlesAnswer key

Is it always true?

1. A number that is a multiple of both 4 and 6 is a multiple of 24. → sometimes2. A multiple of 4 added to a multiple of 6 gives a multiple of 12. → sometimes3. The product of two consecutive numbers is even. → always4. The sum of four consecutive numbers is a multiple of 4. → never5. The difference between two square numbers in a row is odd. → always

Reasoning puzzles

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