How many triangles can you see?

Why do we miscount so often?

In figures like the triangle with lines, your brain sees the small areas first. Bigger shapes made of several pieces are easy to overlook – they have no edge of their own that catches the eye. That’s why most people answer 12 instead of 18 in the video’s finale.

The pro trick: count systematically

• Squares: count by size. In a 3×3 grid: 9 small + 4 medium + 1 large = 14.
• Triangles with a common tip: count “floor by floor”. Every horizontal line forms its own level full of triangles with the slanted lines.
• Letters: don’t read the word – follow it letter by letter with your finger, otherwise your brain skips double letters like in “BERRIES”.