Brainteaser challenges people to count circles – but many get it wrong

This puzzle will give your brain a workout (stock photo)

This brain teaser is sure to give you a headache.

We all know that keeping our brains healthy is just as important as the rest of our bodies. One of the best ways to improve brain health is to give it a workout by challenging yourself to complete logic puzzles and brain teasers that make you think differently. Not only do these puzzles improve brain strength, but they can even help keep degenerative diseases such as dementia at bay.

So if you're looking for a way to train your brain this weekend, why not give this one a go? It might seem simple, but the correct answer is actually pretty complicated, and it's been leaving people scratching their heads.

The puzzle, shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the Daily Quiz and Riddles account, asks participants to do a very simple thing. All you need to do is count the circles you see in the image. There are three large circles in the middle of the picture, and there is also text which reads: "How many circles do you see? Think about it!!!"

At first glance, it might seem like the answer is just three. After all, there are three circles in the middle of the picture, right? Each of the circles overlaps, but the shape created by the overlapping sections isn't a circle, so they don't count.

There is a trick to answering the question correctly, however. You need to read the question again, slowly, and see if you're missing anything. Is there a clue it's giving you that you're not seeing?

We're about to give you the answer, so if you're still counting, don't scroll any further!

Answer

According to the X account, there are 14 circles in the image. Alongside the three big circles, you're also supposed to count the circles in the text. This means letters such as "o", "e", "a", and "d" count as a circle. There are 11 letters with circles inside them in the text, plus the three big circles give you 14.

Some commenters disputed the answer though, as some suggested that the word "circle" in its entirety should count as a circle too. Others pointed out that the gap in letters like "e" and "a" is not actually a circle.

However, there is another way to get the correct answer without counting false circles in letters. You need to keep counting "o"s as circles, and also look at the dots above the letter "i", as well as those in punctuation marks such as "?" and "!". This way, you should also get to 11 circles in the text, giving you 14 overall.

How many circles do you see in the image? Let us know in the comments!