At first glance, this brain teaser looks pretty straightforward: a simple geometric figure, a few bold lines, and a big question—How many triangles are hidden inside this image?
The multiple-choice answers seem innocent enough:
A: 9
B: 11
C: 13
D: 15
But don’t be fooled. This riddle is more than meets the eye, and most people end up picking the wrong answer. Are you up for the challenge? Take a good, long look at the triangle puzzle before scrolling down.
How many can you count?
Why This Puzzle Tricks So Many People
Visual riddles like this one play on perception. Your brain naturally focuses on the most prominent shapes first—especially the smallest ones—while missing the bigger combinations formed by connecting multiple smaller triangles.
It’s not that the puzzle is unfair. It’s that your brain assumes you’ve found them all when you haven’t. That’s what makes this challenge so brilliant.
Common mistakes people make include:
- Only counting the small, obvious triangles
- Overlooking overlapping shapes made from multiple small triangles
- Missing the largest triangle that includes everything
Let’s walk through it together, step-by-step, and make sure we count every triangle correctly.
Step-by-Step Triangle Counting Guide
Let’s start from the bottom and work our way up, being methodical.
1. Count the Smallest Triangles First
Start with the most visible, small triangles—the ones that sit inside the larger triangle and are divided by thick black lines.
These include:
- 3 small triangles in the top row
- 4 small triangles in the middle layer
- 3 small triangles at the bottom row
That’s a total of 10 small triangles so far.
Video : How Many Triangles Are There? Learn The Formula For Any Size!
2. Count the Medium Triangles Formed by Combining Two or More Small Ones
Now let’s look at medium-sized triangles formed by combining adjacent smaller ones.
- 1 triangle formed by the two top middle triangles
- 1 triangle formed on the middle-left side
- 1 triangle formed on the middle-right side
That gives us 3 medium-sized triangles.
Now we’re up to 13 triangles in total.
3. Don’t Forget the Largest Triangle
It’s easy to overlook the biggest triangle of them all—the one that encompasses the entire shape.
But if you’ve been counting carefully, you’ve likely already reached 13. That means you’ve included:
- All 10 small triangles
- All 3 medium triangles
- And the 1 large triangle that contains the full structure
Wait—doesn’t that make 14?
Actually, no. The three medium-sized triangles include one that spans the full height of the pyramid, so it often gets double-counted. The correct breakdown is as follows:
- 6 small triangles at the base
- 3 small ones at the top
- 3 larger combinations (made from 2 or more small triangles)
- 1 full large triangle (the outermost shape)
But one of the “larger” ones overlaps with the big triangle, not adding a new distinct triangle. That keeps the true total at 13.
Correct Answer: 13 Triangles
Why People Get It Wrong
There are two main reasons people tend to miscount in puzzles like this.
- They count too quickly and skip shapes: The most common mistake is to quickly count the small, individual shapes and forget to look at how they combine to form new ones.
- They count some shapes more than once: Others go too far in the opposite direction—trying to combine every line into a new triangle and ending up with duplicates or made-up shapes.
This is why attention to detail matters. It’s not about speed—it’s about clarity.
Tips for Solving Visual Puzzles Like a Pro
If you want to get better at riddles and brain teasers like this one, here are a few helpful strategies:
- Break the image into parts and analyze each section separately
- Draw or outline shapes with your finger or a pen to track which ones you’ve already counted
- Look for patterns—many puzzles have symmetry or repeated sections that hint at hidden shapes
- Double-check by size—start with small shapes, then move up to larger combinations
Practice this kind of visual logic regularly and you’ll quickly train your brain to spot hidden details most people miss.
Video : How many triangles are there?
Now It’s Your Turn—What Did You Count?
So, how many triangles did you see before reading the answer?
Was it 9? 11? Or did you get it right with 13?
Drop your answer in the comments and challenge your friends or followers to try the puzzle too. It’s a great conversation starter and a perfect mini workout for your brain.
Conclusion: Sometimes the Truth Is Hidden in Plain Sight
This triangle puzzle is the perfect example of how the simplest questions often require the deepest thinking. It’s not just about what you see—it’s about how you see.
And like any good brain teaser, it’s less about the answer and more about the journey your mind takes to get there.
If you enjoyed this challenge, be sure to try more like it. The more puzzles you solve, the sharper your logic, memory, and problem-solving skills will become.
Who knew something as simple as a triangle could stretch your brain so far?
Ready for more riddles like this? Stay curious, stay sharp—and keep counting.
