Here is a simple-looking logic puzzle that has confused many people online. A boy was playing with a book and accidentally tore out the pages numbered 7, 8, 100, 101, 222, and 223. At first glance, it seems obvious that six pages were removed. But is that really the correct answer? Take a moment to think before reading the explanation!
The trick is understanding how books are printed. Each physical sheet of paper contains four page numbers: two on the front and two on the back. The pages are arranged so that certain numbered pairs belong to the same sheet. This means that two page numbers mentioned in the riddle may actually be printed on opposite sides of one piece of paper.
Pages 7 and 8 belong to the same sheet. Similarly, pages 100 and 101 are on two different sheets, while pages 222 and 223 also belong to two different sheets. When you account for the actual physical sheets rather than simply counting the numbered pages, the answer becomes easier to understand.
The correct answer is 5 sheets of paper, not six individual pages. This is what makes the puzzle interesting: it tests whether you think beyond the obvious numbers and understand how a book is physically put together. Did you get the right answer on your first try, or did this little trick catch you by surprise?