Advent Brain Teasers, Logic Puzzles, and Math Problems 2025

The pattern adds 3 toys each time. Box 10 will have 29 toys.

Rule: (Box Number × 3) - 1.

From shortest to longest it is:Blue, Green, Red, White.

• Step 1: Solve for the Bell (B)
• • 3 times B = 30
  • B = 10
• Step 2: Solve for the Tree (T)
• • Substitute B=10 into Equation 2: 10 + T x 2 = 26
  • T x 2 = 26 - 10
  • T times 2 = 16
  • T = 8
• Step 3: Solve for the Wreath (W)
• • Substitute T=8 into Equation 3: 8 + W + W = 18
  • 8 + 2 x W = 18
  • 2 x W = 18 - 8
  • 2W = 10
  • W = 5
• Step 4: Solve the Final Equation
• • Use the Order of Operations (Multiply first): B + T x W
  • 10 + 8 x 5
  • 10 + 40 = 50

The final value is 50.

30 squares

• 1x1 squares:4×4=164 cross 4 equals 164×4=16
• 2x2 squares:3×3=93 cross 3 equals 93×3=9
• 3x3 squares:2×2=42 cross 2 equals 42×2=4
• 4x4 squares:1×1=11 cross 1 equals 11×1=1 

As a bonus, think about if the whole package looks the same and has the same wrapping and pattern, how many squares would the whole package have visible?

1 Elf = 2 Candy Canes

Bag = 3 Elves

3 × 2 Canes = 6 Candy Canes

Area of each triangular piece: 1/2 base x height

Half of 6 is 3, so 3 x 5 = 15

There are 2 triangles, so the area of the two triangles is 30 sq in

Area of base of gingerbread house is 6 x 8 = 48 sq in

Area of 2 long sides of base are 5 x 8 = 40, but there are 2 of them, so double that. 80 sq in

Area of the roof pieces. 6 x 9 = 54, doubled = 108

Shorter wall has an area of 5 x 6 = 30 sq in

Shorter wall with the door is 30 - (3 x 2) = 24 sq in

Put it all together:

30 + 48 + 80 + 108 + 30 + 24 = 320 square inches

Plug in the letter for each number... and notice you have to figure out that D is 4 because it's before E.

The message is "Joy to the World!"

Elf Ornament Location

Pixie Snowflake Tip Top

Jingles Star Top Branch

Tinsel Reindeer Middle Branch

Holly Bell Lower Branch

6 on the front side and the back side. One on the top and 3 on each side.

6 + 6 + 1 + 3 + 3 = 19 faces

Add up all the possible routes to find the shortest path.

Shortest is: 3 + 2 + 6.5 + 4.5 = 16km

Count the number of total squares, that will be your denominator (144), then count the amount taken up by each color and put that as your numerator. Simplify if you can!

Grey: 6/144 = 1/24

White: 16/144 = 2/18

Blue: 122/144 = 61/72

There are 6 different ways:

3 rows of 4, 4 rows of 3, 1 row of 12, 12 rows of 1, 2 rows of 6, or 6 rows of 2.

This could be a good introduction to discussing factors or the commutative property of multiplication.

Side 1: 1 + 6 + 2 = 9

Side 2: 1 + 5 + 3 = 9 =9

Side 3: 2 + 4 + 3 = 9

These is also a variation that can give you 11 on each side.

3 combinations: (Candy/Car), (Candy/Orange), (Car/Orange)

Bonus if you think about the option of two candy canes too!

1. Time to lose 1 inch: 180 drips x 10 secs/ drip = 1,800 seconds
2. Convert to minutes: 1,800 seconds \ 60 seconds/minute = 30 minutes

1. Total drips to lose 9 inches: 9 inches x 100 drips = 900 total drips
2. Total time for 900 drips: 900 drips x 5 seconds / drip = 4,500 seconds
3. Convert to minutes: 4,500 seconds / 60 seconds / minute = 75 minutes
4. Convert to hours and minutes: 75 minutes = 1 hr and 15 min

Final Prediction

• Start Time for Part 2: 1:30 PM
• Time Remaining: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Final Time: 1:30 PM + 1 hour 15 minutes = 2:45 PM

Rotate the L shape upside down to place it on the far left.

The Y shape (dark green) should be flipped and at the top.

The S or Z shape will spin around to fit in the remaining space.

In pattern 1, it will be the same as the 3rd image. The pattern is an ABC pattern with a flip (reflection) over the y-axis after each ABC.

In patterns 2, the candy cane rotates 90 degrees in each instance and is reflected (or flips) over the axis. The next in the pattern would look identical to the first. Essentially it is an ABCD pattern.

Hint: Think about multiplication tables.

Answer: 17. (All the others are divisible by 3, but 17 is a prime number).

There could be other potential answers... such as ( is the only one-digit number. Or 9 is the only one without a 1 as one of its digits. Or perhaps 17 because when you add up any digits, it is the only one not divisible by 3.

1. Calculate PRINCE: 16 + 18 + 9 + 14 + 3 + 5 = 65

2. Calculate OF: 15 + 6 = 21

3. Calculate PEACE: 16 + 5 + 1 + 3 + 5 = 30

4. The Grand Total: 65 + 21 + 30 = 116

3 mittens. (You could pick Red, then Blue... but then the third one must match one of them).

It will take Paxon 5 hours to reach the top.

The "Thinking" Behind the Math: Many people see the "up 30, down 15" and think Paxon only gains 15 meters per hour. If you divide 90 by 15, you get 6 hours—but that’s the "slippery" trap!

Let’s track his progress hour-by-hour:

• Hour 1: Climbs 30, slides 15. (Current height: 15m)
• Hour 2: Climbs 30 (hits 45m), slides 15. (Current height: 30m)
• Hour 3: Climbs 30 (hits 60m), slides 15. (Current height: 45m)
• Hour 4: Climbs 30 (hits 75m), slides 15. (Current height: 60m)
• Hour 5: Paxon starts at 60m. He climbs his 30 meters for the hour

60m + 30m = 90m. * He reached the peak! Since he is now standing on the flat summit of Mount Mistletoe, he doesn't slide back down.

Total Time: 5 Hours

Everest will have $0.50 in change.

The Step-by-Step Thinking:

• Step 1: The Tinsel (Unit Conversion)
• • Everest needs 6 yards. Since 1 yard = 3 feet, he needs 6 x 3 = 18 feet of tinsel.
  • At $0.25 per foot: 18 x $0.25 = $4.50
• Step 2: The Ornaments (Logic & Multiples)
• • Everest needs 10 ornaments, but they are sold in boxes of 4.
  • 1 box = 4 ornaments (Not enough)
  • 2 boxes = 8 ornaments (Still not enough)
  • 3 boxes = 12 ornaments (This covers the 10 he needs, with 2 extra!)
  • 3 boxes at $5.00 each: 3 x $5.00 = $15.00.
• Step 3: The Total Cost
• • Tinsel ($4.50) + Ornaments ($15.00) = $19.50.
• Step 4: The Change
• • Everest started with $20.00.
  • $20.00 - $19.50 = $0.50.

Bonus "Thinker" Question: How many ornaments will Everest have left over to give to a friend? (Answer: 2)

It's the same as the star right before it. The pattern is an ABBC pattern.

Encourage your child to try to make their own patterns with missing parts to challenge a family member or a friend.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Both the Shepherds and the Wise Men meet at the coordinate (5, 6).