Among the countless IQ puzzles floating around the internet, this one stands out for its deceptive simplicity. At first glance, it seems like a basic number-counting task. But if you take it at face value, youāre likely to fall into the trap.

Hereās the challenge:
āWhich of the following has four, eight and one nine?ā
Youāre given four options:
- A. 88889
- B. 4819
- C. 888819
- D. 489
Seems straightforward, right? Just count how many eights and nines are in each number, and pick the one that fits⦠or is it that simple?
š Puzzle Breakdown: Itās Not Just About Counting
This question isnāt asking which numberĀ contains four 8s and one 9Ā ā itās actually a cleverĀ play on words.
The phrase āfour, eight and one nineā sounds like itās talking aboutĀ how the number sounds when spoken aloud, rather than how many digits it contains.
Letās test that theory by reading each option out loud.
Video: Which of the following has four, eight and one nine? šš¤
š§ Option-by-Option Analysis
A. 88889
Read aloud:Ā āeight eight eight eight nineā
- Yes, there are four 8s and one 9.
- But thereāsĀ no āfourā or āoneāĀ in the actual number.
ā ā Doesnāt match the full phrase.
B. 4819
Read aloud:Ā āfour eight one nineā
- Exactly what the question says: āfour, eight and one nineā
ā ā Ā This matches perfectly ā both in numbers and in phrasing.
C. 888819
Read aloud:Ā āeight eight eight eight one nineā
- Has four 8s, a 1, and a 9.
- ButĀ missing the number four.
ā ā Not a match.
D. 489
Read aloud:Ā āfour eight nineā
- No āoneā in the number.
ā ā Doesnāt fit āfour, eight and one nineā
Video: Which of the following has four, eight and one nine Ā #puzzleĀ Ā #riddleĀ Ā #riddlesĀ Ā #puzzlesĀ Ā #brainstorm
ā The Correct Answer Is:Ā B. 4819
Because when spoken, it reads:Ā āfour, eight, one, nineā, which matches the question exactly.
šÆ Final Thoughts
This brain teaser is a great reminder that not all IQ tests are about math. Some are aboutĀ language, pattern recognition, and thinking outside the box.
If you jumped to Option A at first because it literally contains four 8s and a 9 ā donāt worry, youāre not alone. Thatās what makes this puzzle so clever. ItĀ disguises a word puzzle as a math question.
But if you figured out that the question was referring toĀ how the number sounds, not just what it contains ā congrats! That means you have a sharp ear and a creative mind.