Answer: No Calculator — Which Number Fits?

Did you get it right?

This color-box puzzle gives three clues using blue, red, and green boxes. The challenge is to find the value of one of each box together.

The Answer

The correct answer is: 25.

Here is why

1. Let blue = B, red = R, and green = G.
2. 2B + R = 23, R + G = 17, and B + 2G = 28.
3. Solving gives B = 8, R = 7, and G = 10.
4. So R + B + G = 7 + 8 + 10 = 25.

Why people miss it

The repeated colors make it tempting to do mental shortcuts, but the three lines must be solved as one set.

What answer did you get before checking?