What is a word or phrase that reads the same backward and forward called?
AnswerA palindrome
Words like 'level' and 'racecar' are palindromes, reading the same in both directions.
Games · Facts & stats
Challengeware facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about puzzles and brain games, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
How many pieces are in a traditional tangram puzzle?
Answer7
A tangram is a square cut into seven flat shapes, called tans, that are rearranged into figures.
Going deeper
What is the fewest number of moves needed to solve the Tower of Hanoi puzzle with 3 discs?
Answer7
The minimum is 2 to the power of n, minus 1 moves; for 3 discs that's 2³ − 1 = 7.
In a 3×3 magic square using the numbers 1 to 9, what does every row, column and diagonal add up to?
Answer15
The numbers 1 to 9 total 45; split across three equal rows, each line must sum to 15.
The first jigsaw puzzles, made in the 1760s by gluing maps to wood and cutting them up, were used for what?
AnswerTeaching geography
London mapmaker John Spilsbury made 'dissected maps' around 1766 as tools for teaching geography.
Expert level
How many holes are on the cross-shaped board in English peg solitaire?
Answer33
The English board has 33 holes and starts with 32 pegs; the French or European board has 37 holes.
What is a picture puzzle where you shade grid cells using number clues for each row and column called?
AnswerA nonogram
In a nonogram, numbers beside each row and column give runs of filled cells that reveal a hidden picture.
Know these cold?Today's round is five questions like these, 20 seconds each. Your streak and level follow you to every arena.Play today's round