This page describes all our Puzzle Books in sufficient detail, so you will gain a good understanding of the level of difficulty of each puzzle book. There are more than 350 printable free sample puzzles on this page! Give them a try. Please do let us know if you are not happy with any aspect of any puzzle book. We  hope you will buy after browsing!!

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SERIES 1: BASIC OPERATIONS' (+, -, *, /) PUZZLES
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This book is designed for young children who are learning addition and subtraction. 3 or 4 numbers (1 through 9) are given. Using   these numbers only once and addition and subtraction zero or more times, compute each of the given target numbers.  For example, using the digits 3, 6, 8, and 9, compute the numbers 2, 4, 8, 10, 14, 20, and 26. Here are some solutions.    

2 = 6 + 8 – 3 – 9 = 8 – 3 – 9 + 6 = 8 – 3 – (9 – 6)                      4 = 6 + 9 – 3 – 8 = 9 – 3 – 8 + 6
8 = 3 + 6 + 8 – 9 = 6 + 8 – 9 + 3 = 6 – 9 + 8 + 3                      10 = 3 + 6 – 8 + 9 = 6 – 8 + 3 + 9
14 = 3 + 8 + 9 – 6 = 3 – 6 + 8 + 9 = 8 + 9 – (6 – 3)                  20 = 6 + 8 + 9 – 3 = 6 – 3 + 8 + 9
26 = 3 + 6 + 8 + 9 = 9 + 8 + 6 + 3   

 
The solutions in red involve intermediate results that are negative numbers. Younger children may skip these solutions. Some solutions use one pair of parentheses as well.
 
This is 7 different puzzles in a single puzzle and is abbreviated as (3689) → {2, 4, 8, 10, 14, 20, 26} in the book. The 100 puzzles (actually 596 puzzles in all) in the book are divided into 10 sets.  The sets are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. Numerous alternative (but not all) solutions are provided to the prime {2, 3, …, 89, 97} numbered problems. Some puzzles are similar to each other. This is intentional and is designed to reinforce the commonality between various sets of numbers.
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This book is designed for children who are learning addition, subtraction, multiplication but not division. 4 numbers (1 through 9) are given. Using all these numbers only once and the operations of addition, subtraction, and multiplication zero or more times, compute each of the given target numbers.  The target numbers in each puzzle have the same last digit.  For example, using the digits 3, 4, 6, and 9, derive the target 17, 27, 37, 47, 57, 77, and 87. Here are some solutions. 

17 = 3*9 - 4 - 6,                                                        27 = 4*9 - 3 - 6 = (9 - 4)*6 - 3 = 4*(3 + 6) - 9
37 = 3*9 + 4 + 6                                                       47 = 6*9 - 3 - 4
57 = 4*(6 + 9) - 3 = 3*(4 + 6 + 9)                             77 = (3 + 6)*9 - 4
87 = (4 + 6)*9 - 3 

This is 7 different puzzles in a single puzzle and is abbreviated as (3469) → {17, 27, 37, 47, 57, 77, 87} in the book. These are very good brain exercises. The 100 puzzles (actually 916 puzzles in all) in the book are divided into 10 sets.  The sets are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. Numerous alternative (but not all) solutions are provided to all the prime {2, 3, …, 89, 97} numbered problems in the book.
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3 or 4 numbers (0 through 9) are  given. Using all these numbers only once and the operations (+, –, *, /) zero or more times, compute each of the given target numbers.  For example, using the digits 2, 3, 4, and 5, derive the numbers 11, 22, 33, and 44, all of which are multiples of 11. Here are some solutions. 

11 = (4 – 2) * 3 + 5 = 2 * 5 + 4 – 3                22 =  ((5 / 2) + 3) * 4 = 2 * 5 + 3 * 4 = 2 * (3 * 5 – 4)
33 = (3 + 4) * 5 – 2 = 3 * (2 + 4 + 5)             44 = (5 + 2 * 3) * 4 

These look simple but don’t let that fool you! Don't forget fractions.This is 4 different puzzles in a single puzzle and is abbreviated as (2345) → {11, 22, 33, 44} in the book. The 100 puzzles (actually 592 puzzles in all) in the book are divided into 10 sets. Each deals with a different set of multiples. Answers are provided in the book to all the prime {2, 3, …, 89, 97} numbered problems. The answers in red are particularly tricky to get!
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3 or 4 numbers (1 through 9) are given. Using all these numbers only once and the operations (+, –, *, /) zero or more times, one has to compute each of the given target numbers which are all primes less than 100. For example, using the digits 6, 6, 7, and 9, derive the prime numbers {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 17, 41, 47, 53, 61, 67, 83, 97}. Here are some solutions. 

2 = 6 – 6 + 9 – 7 = 9 * 6 / 6 – 7                                          3 = (6 + 6 + 9) / 7 = (7 – 6) * 9 – 6
5 = 7 – 6 / (9 – 6)                                                               7 = (6 – 6) * 9 + 7
11 = (6 * 6)/9 + 7 = (9 – 6) * 6 – 7                                    17 = 6 / 6 + 7 + 9
41 = 6 * 9 – 6 – 7                                                              47 = (9 – (7 / 6)) * 6
53 = 6 * 9 – 7 + 6                                                              61 = (9 + (7 / 6)) * 6
67 = 6 * 9 + 6 + 7                                                              83 = 6 * (6 + 9) – 7
97 = 6 * (6 + 9) + 7 

These look innocuously simple! Don’t forget fractions. Look at the solutions in red for 47 and 61. These are perhaps not as easy to think of as the solutions for 17 or 53. Many times, getting one solution will help in getting another one. For example, the solutions for 83 and 97 are very similar. So were the solutions for 47 and 61. 

The example puzzle above has 13 different puzzles in a single puzzle and is abbreviated as (6679) → {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 17, 41, 47, 53, 61, 67, 83, 97} in the book. The 100 puzzles (actually 1501 puzzles in all) in the book are divided into 10 sets. The sets are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. Answers are provided to all the prime numbered problems. Several (but not all) alternative answers are provided in many cases and these are intended to be highly educational.  
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4 numbers (0 through 9) are given. Using all these numbers only once and the operations (+, –, *, /) zero or more times, compute each of the given set of consecutive target numbers less than 100. For example, using the digits 6, 6, 7, and 9, derive the numbers {60, 61, 62, 63, 64}. Here are some solutions. 

60 = 6 * (9 + 7 – 6)                                             61 = (9 + (7 / 6)) * 6
62 = 7 * 9 – 6 / 6                                                 63 = 6 * 7 * 9 / 6 = (6 – 6 + 7) * 9 = 7 * 9 – 6 * 6
64 = 7 * 9 + 6 / 6 

Look at the solution in red for 61. This was not as easy to think of! The example puzzle above has 5 different puzzles in a single puzzle and is abbreviated as (6679) → {60..64} in the book. The 100 puzzles (actually 1807 puzzles in all) in the book are divided into 10 sets. We start with target sets of size 10 and go up to a target size of 51 consecutive numbers in the last puzzle!  Answers are provided in the book to all the prime numbered {2, 3, …, 97} problems.   
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4 numbers (1 through 9) are given. Using all these numbers only once and the operations (+, –, *) zero or more times and the division operator (/) one or more times, compute each of the given target numbers. In other words, use the division operator at least once. This is a great way to master fractions. For example, using the digits 3, 4, 5, and 6, derive the numbers 13, 17, 18, 22, 34, and 38. Here are some solutions. The fractions are shown in red.

13 = 3*(5 – 4/6)                                                                               17 = 3*(4/6 + 5)
18 = 4*(5 – 3/6)                                                                               22 = (5 – 4/3)*6 = 4*(5 + 3/6)
34 = (4 + 5/3)*6                                                                               38 = 6*(5 + 4/3) 

In the book, the above problem will be denoted as (3456) → {13, 17, 18, 22, 34, 38}. This is 6 different puzzles in a single puzzle. The 100 puzzles (actually 1150 puzzles in all) in the book are divided into 10 sets and are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. Answers to all the problems are provided in the book.
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 A string of 6 unique single digit numbers is given (e.g. 104896). Your fun job is to insert two basic operators to compute the given set of target numbers which are between 1 and 25. The basic operators are +, –, *, and /. You can also optionally add parentheses. For example, using the string 104896, evaluate the target numbers {1, 2, 5, 9, 20, and 21} by inserting two operators in this string. Here are some solutions. 

 1 = (104 – 8)/96                            2 = (1/048)*96 
 5 = 10*48/96                                 9 = 104 – 89 – 6 
16 = 104 + 8 – 96                        20 = (10/48)*96
21 = 104 – 89 + 6 

In the solution for 1, we have inserted the – operator after 104 and the / operator after 8 and used one pair of parentheses as shown. In the solution for 2, we have used 0 as a leading digit in 048 which is the same as 48. These look innocuously simple but don’t let that fool you! Don’t forget fractions. These are very good brain exercises. In the book, the above problem will be denoted as 

(104896) → {1, 2, 5, 9, 16, 20, 21}

This is 7 different puzzles in a single puzzle. The 100 puzzles (actually 740 puzzles in all) in the book are arranged in 10 sets in order of increasing difficulty. Answers are provided at the end of the book to all the problems.
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A string of 8 unique single digit numbers is given (e.g. 39640128). Your fun job is to insert three basic operators to compute the given set of target numbers which are between 1 and 10. The basic operators are + , –, *, and /. You  can also optionally add parentheses. For example, using the string 39640128, evaluate the target numbers {1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9} by inserting three operators in this string. Here are some solutions.  The basic operators are + , –, *, and /. You  can also optionally add parentheses. For example, using the string 39640128, evaluate the target numbers {1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9} by inserting three operators in this string. Here are some solutions.  

1 = 3/96/4*128                                              3 = 39 – 64*1 + 28 = 396/4 – 012*8 = 396/4 – 12*8
4 = (39 – 6)*4 – 128                                      6 = (3 + 9)*64/0128 = (3 + 9)*64/128
7 = 3 + 9 – 640/128 = 39 + 64 – 12*8           9 = 3*96*4/128 

Notice how the digit 0 is effectively dropped when used as the leading digit in a number (012 = 12, 0128 = 128). Clearly these kinds of puzzles are not too easy! To make the puzzles a little easier, you don’t have to worry about numbers which have more than 3 significant digits. Don’t forget fractions. These are very good brain exercises. In the book, the above problem will be denoted as 

The SimpleSumsOne © puzzle is easy to describe. Please click on this picture which is the first puzzle in this book. There a total of 9 squares arranged in 3 rows and 3 columns. All the squares have a 0 in them initially. Your job is to fill in 6 of these squares with the numbers 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, and 3. Each row or column should have only one zero each when you are done. The sum of the integers in each row or column or diagonal is shown and the numbers you fill in have to add up to the corresponding sum. Each puzzle has a unique answer.

Additional hints for solving the puzzle are provided in the book. The 100 puzzles are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. This book has 114 pages, just in case you are thinking of printing it out. You may request additional volumes of this kind.
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Puzzle Book #2.2
100 SQUAREOGRAM © Puzzles, Volume 1
Printable Free Sample Puzzles
 
The SQUAREOGRAM © puzzle is easy to describe. Please click on this picture which is the first puzzle in this book. There a total of 8 edges (3 horizontal edges, 3 vertical edges, and 2 diagonal edges) with 3 circles on each of the edges. The sum of the 3 integers on each edge is shown besides the corresponding arrow. Your fun job is to fill in numbers 1-9 uniquely in the 9 circles such that the sum of the integers in the 3 circles equals the number on the corresponding edge. Each puzzle has a unique answer.

Additional hints for solving the puzzle are provided in the book. The 100 puzzles are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. This book has 113 pages, just in case you are thinking of printing it out. You may request additional volumes of this kind. 
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Puzzle Book #2.3
100 "1234" © Puzzles, Volume 1
Printable Free Sample Puzzles
 
The 1234© puzzle is easy to describe. Please click on this picture which is the first puzzle in this book. There a total of 9 small squares with 16 circles on all the corners of the squares. Each square has a number inside it. Your fun job is to fill in numbers 1-4 in all the 16 circles such that the sum of the integers in the circles on the corners of any square equals the number inside the corresponding square. Each number appears exactly 4 times. Each puzzle has a unique answer.

Additional hints for solving the puzzle are provided in the book. The 100 puzzles are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. This book has 115 pages, just in case you are thinking of printing it out.  You may request additional volumes of this kind.
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Puzzle Book #2.4
100 HI-FIVES © Puzzles, Volume 1
Printable Free Sample Puzzles
 
The HI-FIVES © puzzle is easy to describe. Please click on this picture which is the first puzzle in this book. There a total of 16 small squares with 25 circles on all the corners of the squares. Each square has a number inside it. Your fun job is to fill in numbers 1-5 in all the 25 circles such that the sum of the integers in the circles on the corners of any square equals the number inside the corresponding square. In each row or column of circles, each of the numbers 1-5 appears exactly once (similar to what you see in Sudoku). As an additional hint, 10 of the 25 circles are bold (darker lines). These circles are to be filled with even numbers only (2 or 4). Use this extra hint only if you must. Each puzzle has an unique answer.

Additional hints for solving the puzzle are provided in the book. The 100 puzzles are arranged in order of increasing difficulty. These puzzles may be difficult for middle schoolers. This book has 115 pages, just in case you are thinking of printing it out. You may request additional volumes of this kind. 
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