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Short Story

Short Story

Short Stories are mini narrative puzzles where each tale hides a maths problem within its plot. Read carefully, spot the clues, and use logic or calculation to uncover the answer hidden between the lines.

Other Puzzle Types

Examples of Short Story

Solve Short Story Puzzle

Short Story puzzles mix storytelling with maths. Hidden inside each tale are clues that lead to a logical or numerical answer – if you can spot them!
  • Read the story carefully – Don’t rush. The plot often hints at what kind of maths you’ll need – money, distance, time, or something else.
  • Find the clues – Look for comparisons, totals, or relationships between items (like “two cost the same as one of these and one of those”).
  • Turn words into numbers – Use simple equations or reasoning to represent what’s happening.
  • Work it through – Solve step by step, keeping track of what each part means in the story.
  • Check your logic – The right answer should fit naturally within the story’s world.

Each puzzle tells a little story, but the real mystery is mathematical — can you read between the lines and uncover the solution?

Example Short Story Puzzle

The Bakery Discount

It was late afternoon when Jonah ducked into The Flour Pot Bakery, escaping the drizzle outside. The warm air smelled of sugar and fresh bread, and a chalkboard above the counter caught his eye: “Two muffins cost the same as one slice of cake and one cookie.” He smiled – the shop was known for its quirky maths-themed offers.

He bought two slices of cake, three muffins, and two cookies, which came to £9.60 in total. As the cashier rang it up, Jonah realised he could work out the price of each treat – if he could only find the value of one.

Question: How much does one muffin cost?

Answer: One muffin costs £1.20.
Let muffin = m, cake = c, cookie = k.
From the sign: 2m = c + k → c = 2m − k.
Total = 2c + 3m + 2k = 2(2m − k) + 3m + 2k = 7m = £9.60 → m = £1.20.

Now lets practice ...

We have added a selection of our puzzles so that you can practice online: Practice Now