Math Mystery Quest: Brainy Challenges for Curious Kids

Fun, bite-sized math puzzles and facts to spark curiosity—test your wits and uncover number secrets in a quick, adventurous quiz!

  1. What is the only even prime number?
    1. 4
    2. 1
    3. 3
    4. 2
  2. How many degrees are in a right angle?
    1. 180
    2. 45
    3. 90
    4. 60
  3. What is the value of π rounded to two decimal places?
    1. 22/7
    2. 3.14
    3. 3.15
    4. 2.72
  4. Which mathematician is known for the theorem about right triangles named after him?
    1. Euclid
    2. Pythagoras
    3. Archimedes
    4. Newton
  5. What do you call a polygon with eight sides?
    1. Decagon
    2. Hexagon
    3. Octagon
    4. Nonagon
  6. What is the term for a number that cannot be expressed as a fraction of integers?
    1. Transcendental
    2. Imaginary
    3. Rational
    4. Irrational
  7. What mathematical operation reverses exponentiation (powers)?
    1. Root
    2. Logarithm
    3. Factorial
    4. Derivative

Answers and explanations

  1. Question: What is the only even prime number?
    Answer: 2
    Explanation: Two is prime because its only divisors are 1 and itself; every other even number is divisible by 2. People often think of primes as odd, which makes 2 a special exception.
  2. Question: How many degrees are in a right angle?
    Answer: 90
    Explanation: A right angle is defined as exactly 90 degrees; acute angles are less and obtuse angles are more, so 90 is the boundary value.
  3. Question: What is the value of π rounded to two decimal places?
    Answer: 3.14
    Explanation: π ≈ 3.14159, so rounded to two decimals it's 3.14; people sometimes confuse π with fractions like 22/7 which is only an approximation.
  4. Question: Which mathematician is known for the theorem about right triangles named after him?
    Answer: Pythagoras
    Explanation: Pythagoras is credited with the theorem a² + b² = c² for right triangles; some cultures used the relation before him, but his school popularized it.
  5. Question: What do you call a polygon with eight sides?
    Answer: Octagon
    Explanation: Octagon comes from Greek 'okto' (eight) and 'gonia' (angle); people sometimes mix it up with 'hexagon' (six) or 'nonagon' (nine).
  6. Question: What is the term for a number that cannot be expressed as a fraction of integers?
    Answer: Irrational
    Explanation: Irrational numbers like √2 or π can't be written as integer ratios; they're often mistaken for 'imaginary', which refers to a different concept.
  7. Question: What mathematical operation reverses exponentiation (powers)?
    Answer: Logarithm
    Explanation: Logarithms undo exponentiation: if a^x = b then x = log_a(b); people sometimes think 'root' does this, but roots are a specific inverse when the base is fixed.