Cognitive Reflection Test Classic Numerical Reasoning Problems 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a race you overtake the person in 2nd place. What position are you now in?
- 1st
- 2nd (Correct answer)
- 3rd
- 4th
Correct answer: 2nd
Passing the runner in 2nd place means you take their spot, so you are now 2nd.
Question 2: A notebook and pen cost $1.50 together. The notebook costs $1.00 more than the pen. What is the pen's price?
- $0.50
- $0.25 (Correct answer)
- $0.10
- $0.05
Correct answer: $0.25
The pen is $0.25 and the notebook is $1.25, giving the $1.00 gap and $1.50 total.
Question 3: If 8 printers print 8 pages in 8 seconds, how long for 24 printers to print 24 pages?
- 8 seconds (Correct answer)
- 24 seconds
- 3 seconds
- 1 second
Correct answer: 8 seconds
Each printer makes one page in 8 seconds, so scaling both up keeps the time at 8 seconds.
Question 4: Mold on bread doubles daily and covers a slice fully in 20 days. On what day is it a quarter covered?
- 5 days
- 18 days (Correct answer)
- 10 days
- 15 days
Correct answer: 18 days
Half coverage is day 19 and a quarter is one doubling earlier, on day 18.
Question 5: A hat and scarf cost $1.30 together. The hat costs $1.00 more than the scarf. What does the scarf cost?
- $0.30
- $0.15 (Correct answer)
- $0.10
- $0.20
Correct answer: $0.15
The scarf is $0.15 and the hat is $1.15, matching the $1.00 difference and $1.30 total.
Question 6: If 6 cats catch 6 mice in 6 minutes, how many cats are needed to catch 60 mice in 60 minutes?
- 6 cats (Correct answer)
- 60 cats
- 10 cats
- 36 cats
Correct answer: 6 cats
Each cat catches one mouse per 6 minutes, so 6 cats catch 60 mice in 60 minutes.
Question 7: Algae doubles every hour and covers a pond in 12 hours. After how many hours is one-eighth covered?
- 1.5 hours
- 9 hours (Correct answer)
- 6 hours
- 3 hours
Correct answer: 9 hours
One-eighth is three doublings before full coverage, so 12 minus 3 equals hour 9.
Cognitive Reflection Test Classic Numerical Reasoning Problems 3
In a race you overtake the person in 2nd place.
What position are you now in?