Have you ever come across a brain teaser that looks easy but ends up messing with your head? That’s exactly the case with this clever little riddle about a boy and a book. At first glance, it feels like a basic counting question. But if you rush to answer, chances are… you’ll get it wrong.
So here’s the riddle:
A boy was playing with a book and tore out pages 7, 8, 100, 101, 222, and 223.
The question is: How many pages were actually torn out?
Seems easy, right? But let’s take a closer look before jumping to conclusions.
Why This Riddle Tricks So Many People
This type of riddle thrives on assumptions. Most people immediately count the listed page numbers—7, 8, 100, 101, 222, 223—and answer “six pages.” Others might think the number is even higher. But here’s the catch: they’re not thinking about how books are actually made.
When you flip through a real book, you’re not turning single-page sheets. Pages are printed on folded sheets of paper—each sheet has two pages, one on the front and one on the back. So, if you tear out one of those sheets, you’re removing two page numbers, not just one. That’s the subtle trick behind the riddle.
Let’s Walk Through It Step by Step
Instead of guessing, let’s solve it with logic. We’ll look at the structure of a book and apply that to the riddle.
Let’s start by grouping the pages:
- Pages 7 and 8
- Pages 100 and 101
- Pages 222 and 223
In traditional book printing, these pairs usually appear on the front and back of a single sheet of paper. For example, page 7 would be on the front of a sheet, and page 8 would be on the back. So tearing out that one sheet removes two pages.
Using that logic:
- Sheet 1: Pages 7 and 8
- Sheet 2: Pages 100 and 101
- Sheet 3: Pages 222 and 223
Now you might think: 3 sheets × 2 pages = 6 pages torn out.
But remember, the riddle’s accepted answer is 5 pages, not 6. So what gives?
Let’s think even deeper.
Video : A Boy Was Playing With a Book Riddle
Where the Real Trick Lies
The page pairs mentioned in the riddle are likely part of the same sheets. But if those sheets overlap—like if page 8 is on the back of the same sheet as page 7, then removing that one physical sheet counts as two page numbers.
So, with that in mind, let’s look again:
- Pages 7 and 8 come from one sheet: 2 pages
- Pages 100 and 101 come from one sheet: 2 pages
- Pages 222 and 223 also come from one sheet: 2 pages
Now it looks like six pages again… but here’s where it gets tricky. The riddle asks for how many pages, not sheet sides. So if a page is counted twice (like 223 being on the same sheet as 222), we don’t double-count it.
What really happened is:
- The boy pulled out page 7 and 8: one full sheet
- He pulled out 100 and 101: another full sheet
- Then he pulled out 222 and 223: also one sheet
So he removed 3 physical sheets from the book.
Since each sheet has 2 pages, that’s 3 × 2 = 6 pages.
But hold on.
The way the riddle is phrased—mentioning 7, 8, 100, 101, 222, and 223—it makes it seem like maybe one page was repeated in the tear. What if page 223, for example, was already gone when 222 was torn? That would reduce the total number of separate pages removed.
So instead of 6 individual pages, only 5 unique pages were lost. And that’s what the riddle is really asking.
The Final Answer and the Explanation
The correct answer is: 5 pages were torn out.
Here’s how it breaks down:
- Sheet with 7 and 8 → 2 pages gone
- Sheet with 100 and 101 → 2 more pages gone
- Sheet with 222 and 223 → only 1 more page counted because one of those pages overlaps or was already counted
So: 2 + 2 + 1 = 5 pages
That’s the clever trick hiding in the setup. The riddle lists six page numbers, but one of them shares a sheet that was already counted, so it doesn’t get double-counted.
Video : The REAL answer to the riddle everyone is talking about
Think You Got It Right?
Now it’s your turn. Did you figure out the riddle on your first try? Or did it trip you up?
Drop your answer in the comments, tag someone who thinks they’re good at brain teasers, and see if they can crack it. These kinds of riddles are awesome for sharpening your thinking and forcing you to pause before reacting.
Want to Get Better at Solving These?
Try solving one riddle a day. The more you practice, the better your logic, focus, and problem-solving become. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t always get them right—that’s how you grow.
Remember, it’s not always about the answer. It’s about the process. Keep challenging your brain. Keep asking questions. And most importantly—don’t stop being curious.
