Do you freeze up when faced with puzzles, or are you cool under pressure? Let’s find out! See how quickly you can spot which number is missing in the following puzzle. Be warned though, many have tried and can’t seem to crack this one. You’ll need those heightened senses and observation skills, so don’t leave them behind. It may look easy at first, but there’s more to this than you might think. Being able to recognize patterns is something we develop in childhood. However, it’s a critical skill that we use in different aspects of our daily lives. You won’t need any math abilities here, just some sharp eyes and quick reactions. Let’s give this a go and see how fast you are.
So let’s get started. Run your eyes quickly along the sequence of numbers from 1 to 49. You might think it’s simple, but don’t count each number. Test your problem-solving ability by checking through the rows of digits fast without even thinking about it. It may take a few tries, but don’t give up. You might even think that there isn’t any number missing at all. I can assure you this is not the case. Remember to approach it quickly, scan your eyes over the numbers and let your mind react on instinct. Here’s a hint to help you along: The number you are looking for has 2 digits. It may take 2 or 3 tries, but use it as an exercise to think outside the box. C’mon! I’m sure you can find which number is missing!
Here’s the solution:
So? How did you do?
It was NOT as easy as you thought, right? If you managed to find the correct answer, well done! If not, don’t sweat it. We’ll make a puzzle wizard of you yet! The way trick to this puzzle is how it plays with your mind. We are so used to reading number sequences from left to right that it confuses your eyes. It becomes almost impossible to tell which number is missing, no matter how many times you try. This is also due to a natural phenomenon called inattention blindness. This makes you focus on a small stream of information and filter out the rest. It’s almost as if you have blinders on! The key is to change up your approach to get your brain out of auto-pilot mode. If you read the numbers vertically you can easily solve the problem. I’m sure you kicked yourself as soon as you worked it out.
That was fun! Are you keen to test your skills on some more puzzles?
You’ve done well so far, but there are still many more puzzles out there. Your attention to detail and skills of perception is improving each time. So, let’s see if you can find the different numbers in these images in less than 5 seconds. That shouldn’t be too hard! Most people struggle, but can you handle this math problem? How about finding the hidden letter? Can you do it in under 20 seconds? Keep at it, and don’t forget to share these with your friends. Let us know how you did in the comments section below each puzzle. Good luck!
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