# Kids solved this puzzle in seconds. Can you figure it out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 19, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983 "2015-06-19T23:24:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/1 "2015-06-19T23:24:04Z")
> **[Kids in Hong Kong Can Solve This Puzzle In Seconds – Can You?](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/s/kids-hong-kong-solve-puzzle-seconds-171521442.html)** > > Dang kids… I’ll preface this post by admitting that I could not solve this surprisingly simple puzzle. I only spent a minute or two trying to figure it out, but to be honest, I’m not sure spending more time on it would have made a... I was squirming at first and then the answer became so obvious. I’m embarrassed it took me a couple minutes. I was really good with brain teasers a long time ago. I’ve slowed down a lot. Funny how kids latch onto these logic puzzles so much faster than adults. I guess its the way their brains are prewired for learning. Take a six year old kid to France and within a few months he’ll learn to speak the language just by hanging out with other local kids. They’ll teach him the basic words. He’s fluent (with a kid’s vocabulary) within a year or so. Classes are needed to learn the formal grammar. Adults can study \*for years \*and never get as fluent. Its incredible how much a kid raw information learns from the time they are born and adulthood. Did you solve the puzzle while I rambled on? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/2 "2015-06-19T23:27:29Z")
2 seconds. Honest. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/3 "2015-06-19T23:29:06Z")
I wrote the answer down on a piece of paper before I even clicked the puzzle link. Piece of cake. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/4 "2015-06-19T23:30:30Z")
Well done Amateur Barbarian and bobot. Some will spot the answer immaculately. Others like me might need a minute or two. It shouldn’t stump anybody. They do give a hint if needed. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/5 "2015-06-19T23:33:47Z")
They’ll spot the answer what now? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/6 "2015-06-19T23:34:58Z")
I saw it immediately, in the first two seconds. Just the way I’m wired - and I don’t always do well in tests. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/7 "2015-06-19T23:35:37Z")
Hey look, another post from [the Daily mail](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3127520/Are-smarter-Hong-Kong-grader-Logic-puzzle-Chinese-primary-school-exam-stumps-adults-6-year-olds-crack-just-20-seconds.html). I mean this seriously, not in a snarky way, but how about just keeping these all in one post instead of starting a bunch of new threads every day about Daily Mail articles. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/8 "2015-06-19T23:39:31Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > They’ll spot the answer what now? Pour a glass of your favorite beverage and celebrate success. 😉 Wait! I got a head start on my favorite beverage. Maybe that’s why I struggled a bit. Fortunately my friend Sam Adams is still in the house. 😛 I had one earlier after getting home from work. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/9 "2015-06-20T00:42:02Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > 2 seconds. Honest. This. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/10 "2015-06-20T00:51:50Z")
Me too. About 2 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/11 "2015-06-20T01:05:10Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > 2 seconds. Honest. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![HeXen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/12 "2015-06-20T01:09:16Z")
Kinda obvious the numbers are just upside down ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/13 "2015-06-20T01:09:23Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I wrote the answer down on a piece of paper before I even clicked the puzzle link. Piece of cake. Same here. Trivial. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/14 "2015-06-20T01:25:45Z")
Apparently the people posting 2 second results went for the simpler approach first. A clever way to do it. Congrats, Have a cold one on me. What cost me and I’m sure many others time was looking for a numerical sequence. Or reversed digits. My previous experiences with these numeric puzzles worked against me. Most of them are clever numeric sequences that must be spotted. An upside down solution is something I tried when no sequence could be seen. Not the first time I went for the harder solution first. Won’t be the last either. I got accused of that by all my teachers throughout school. Always needlessly reinventing the wheel. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/15 "2015-06-20T01:48:52Z")
I kept waiting for the trick. Like no number under the car. Or something. But no. It’s just a line of numbers, upside down. Lady or the tiger anyone? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/16 "2015-06-20T02:02:21Z")
That’s the gimmick. They want you to look for a trick answer. Drive yourself nuts searching for a trick answer. Then feel dumb when its something so obvious that a six year old solved it in a glance. Kids that young don’t know about trick puzzles and they look for the easy answer first. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/17 "2015-06-20T02:03:10Z")
1721 mS. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/18 "2015-06-20T02:27:31Z")
Piece of piss. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/19 "2015-06-20T02:58:06Z")
I had to see the second clue, but got it. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983/20 "2015-06-20T03:04:20Z")
I got it right away and was already in the middle of a cold one so that probably helped me not overthink it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kids-solved-this-puzzle-in-seconds-can-you-figure-it-out/722983.md?page=2)