Sometimes, the simplest riddles can be surprisingly difficult. This short puzzle has only a few words, but it can make you think twice about what the question is really asking.
Here is the riddle:
“I’m between 5 and 7. I’m not 6. What am I?”
At first, the answer seems obvious. If something is between the numbers 5 and 7, most people immediately think of 6.
But the riddle specifically tells us:
“I’m not 6.”
So what could the answer be?
Think Beyond Whole Numbers
The trick is that the word “between” does not necessarily mean the number must be a whole number.
There are many numbers between 5 and 7, including:
- 5.1
- 5.5
- 5.75
- 6.2
- 6.5
- 6.9
So, for example, 5.5 is between 5 and 7, but it is not 6.
That means the riddle does not have only one possible numerical answer.
Another Clever Interpretation
There is also a wordplay interpretation.
Look at the phrase:
“5 and 7”
The word “and” appears between 5 and 7.
So if the riddle asks, “I’m between 5 and 7. I’m not 6. What am I?”, the answer can be:
“AND”
The word AND is literally positioned between 5 and 7 in the sentence.
The Answer
The clever answer is:
AND
It is not the number 6, but it is literally between 5 and 7 in the phrase “5 and 7.”
This is what makes the riddle a trick question. Instead of focusing only on mathematics, you have to pay attention to the wording.
Did You Get It Right?
If you immediately answered 6, you followed the obvious mathematical pattern—but the riddle deliberately ruled that answer out.
The key is to think differently and notice that “between” can refer to position in a phrase, not just numerical value.
Answer: AND.
Sometimes, the best way to solve a simple riddle is to stop looking for a complicated mathematical answer and simply read the words carefully.