Riddle: How many times can you subtract 5 from 25?
Answer: Only one time
Riddle Explanation + Meaning
This riddle might seem tricky at first, but it's all about how you interpret the action of subtraction.
When you subtract 5 from 25, you're left with 20.
The confusion comes because many people think about the action of subtracting 5 repeatedly until nothing is left.
However, the riddle specifically asks how many times you can subtract 5 from 25, not how many fives are in 25.
After the first subtraction, you're not taking 5 from 25 anymore; you're subtracting from 20, then 15, and so on.
Therefore, the correct answer is that you can only subtract 5 from 25 one time because after that, you're subtracting from a different number each time.
This riddle cleverly plays on the wording and the mathematical operation to challenge your thinking.
If you enjoyed working this one out, try our number riddles collection, the logic riddles with answers and our brain-teasing riddles to trick your mind.
Why the answer is only once
The trick sits in the words "from 25." The first time you subtract 5, you really are taking it from 25. After that, you have 20, so the next subtraction is from 20, then 15, and so on. The number 25 is gone after the first step. The riddle counts on you hearing a math question and switching into calculation mode, where the answer 5 feels automatic. Notice how the riddle never asks how many fives fit into 25. It asks about subtracting from one exact number, and that small difference changes everything.
It is hard because the question looks like a school sum, and school sums reward quick working, not careful reading. Some people argue that "five times" is also right, since you can keep subtracting 5 until you reach zero. That is a reasonable reply, and talking about why both answers exist is a good way to show how exact wording changes a math problem.
Where this riddle comes from
This is a classic math trick question of unknown origin. It belongs to the family of "trick math" riddles, where the numbers are simple but the wording is the real puzzle. Teachers often use them to encourage reading word problems carefully.
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A farmer has 17 sheep. All but 9 run away. How many sheep does he have left?
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How to solve riddles like this
- Read math riddles word by word. The trap is almost always in the wording, not the numbers.
- Ask what changes after each step, such as the number you are subtracting from.
- Watch for phrases like "all but," "you take," and "from" that quietly change the meaning.
- If an answer comes too fast, check it against the exact question.