Missing Cards Riddle (SOLUTION)
The key to this riddle is that each person gets dealt the same number of cards, which means that we need a multiple of the number of people being dealt. Then we can pick multiples near 52 and see how many remain for each number of people being dealt. The scenario that matches all 3 remainders is the correct one, which in this case is 47 total cards or 5 cards missing from a complete 52-card deck.
The steps to the solution are shown in the image as well as in text before below.:
Each person gets the same number of cards.
Dealing 4 people: Need multiples of 4 near 52.
44: Each get 11 cards. 3 remain → 47 total cards.
48: Each get 12 cards. 3 remain → 51 total cards.
Dealing 3 people: Need multiples of 3 near 52.
51: Each get 17 cards. 2 remain → 53 total cards.
48: Each get 16 cards. 2 remain → 50 total cards.
45: Each get 15 cards. 2 remain → 47 total cards.
Dealing 5 people: Need multiples of 5 near 52.
50: Each get 10 cards. 2 remain → 52 total cards.
45: Each get 9 cards. 2 remain → 47 total cards.
The only one that works for all is 47 total cards.
Source: This riddle was taken from the following website: https://www.rd.com/list/math-riddles/
Check out the puzzle (without the solution) by clicking here!
