How Many Eggs Are Left? The Riddle That’s Breaking Brains

There’s a riddle floating around the internet that’s catching people off guard, and it starts with a basket of eggs. The image claims that 85% will fail this test, and judging by the reactions online, it might be true.

Here’s the setup:

“I have six eggs. I broke two. Cooked two. I ate two.
How many eggs are left?”

At first glance, the math seems simple. Six eggs minus two broken, minus two cooked, minus two eaten… that sounds like zero, or maybe two, right?

But here’s the trick — the riddle plays with your assumptions.

Breaking It Down Logically

Let’s go step by step:

1. “I have six eggs.”
   – So, we’re starting with 6 eggs in total.
2. “I broke two.”
   – Now you have 2 eggs that are broken. But broken eggs don’t mean they’re gone — they’re just cracked open, probably to be used.
3. “Cooked two.”
   – What if the two eggs you cooked are the same ones you broke? That makes sense — you break eggs to cook them, right?
4. “I ate two.”
   – And finally, maybe the same two eggs that you broke and cooked are now eaten.

In this interpretation, you only used 2 eggs, but described 3 actions applied to the same 2 eggs.

So what’s left?

6 eggs – 2 used = 4 eggs left.

Why Do So Many People Get It Wrong?

The brain automatically wants to treat each sentence as affecting different eggs:

• 2 broken
• 2 cooked
• 2 eaten
• = 6 eggs used

But in reality, it’s likely that the same two eggs went through all three actions. It’s a classic case of a riddle using normal language to confuse logic and perception.

This riddle isn’t about math — it’s about assumptions.

What’s the Correct Answer?

Answer: 4 eggs are left.

The two eggs that were broken, cooked, and eaten are the same eggs. That leaves four untouched eggs in the basket.

Final Thoughts

This riddle is a great example of how our minds can jump to conclusions based on the way information is presented. It’s not just a test of arithmetic, but of reading comprehension and critical thinking.

Next time someone throws a brain teaser your way, slow down, take a breath, and consider whether each action really means a different object — or if you’re being tricked by your own instincts.

Have you seen other riddles like this one that trip people up? Share them in the comments!