Only 5 percent of people can solve this maths problem - you're a genius if you can

This tricky maths problem has been stumping people online. are becoming ever more popular online and what’s more they can boost your problem solving skills and keep your mind and perceptive skills in top working order.

Much of their popularity is down to the fact that people enjoy the satisfaction of cracking puzzles and giving their brain a workout at the same time. Maths like this one can help to strengthen your numerical and logical reasoning skills, improving your ability to analyse and interpret data. Meanwhile logic puzzles will work to challenge your analytical thinking and deductive reasoning skills. They can also enhance your problem-solving abilities and promote a sense of mental clarity, all while providing a fun challenge to set your mind to.

Neha Cadabam, senior psychologist and executive director at Cadabams , said: “Taking a moment to challenge our brains with a brain teaser can feel like a welcome mental respite. But beyond the immediate satisfaction of solving a puzzle, these little brain teasers might be doing a lot more for us than we realise.”

“Our brains, like any other muscle in our bodies, require exercise to stay sharp. Daily brain teasers serve as a mental workout, engaging different cognitive processes and pathways, which can have a remarkable impact on cognitive function, especially as we age,” Cadabam told . In this instance the puzzle, courtesy of , promises to test your logical thinking. The question the puzzle asks is: How many times can you subtract the number 1 from the number 1.111?

While you mull that one over rest assured you are likely doing your brain a power of good and giving it a workout. Still stuck? Read on to find out the answer. According to the website, the answer is: “Only once.” They explained: “After subtracting it, you no longer have the number 1.111 You’re left with 1.110, 1.109, 1.108 and so on.

These clever puzzles come in all shapes and sizes from maths problems to complex images that ask us to spot the odd-one-out or discover some minor detail, to puzzles that look like they are one thing at first glance, before becoming something completely different on closer inspection. As more and more people turn to online brainteasers for fun and stimulation, users may also be improving their memory function, observation skills, and cognitive abilities at the same time.