Math and Magic Tricks
Pyotr Zemskov solves brain-teasers and shows number tricks to over a million followers. You'll want to solve them before he does.
What it is
"Math and Magic Tricks" is the TikTok of Pyotr Zemskov, who works through brain-teasers and shows mathematical tricks. Russian magazine T—Zh included it in a roundup of TikTok accounts where you can learn something. When we checked it had about 1.2 million followers. The profile line reads, roughly, "solve along with me".
Why we picked it
It's the rare case where math in a feed doesn't annoy you but pulls you in. Every clip is a challenge: here's the problem, think for a couple of seconds, now watch the solution. Topics range from everyday ones ("how much do the cucumbers cost") to puzzles clearly built to trip you up: where's the catch in the wording, how to count faster without a calculator, where the "magic" in number tricks comes from. There are themed episodes too, like a puzzle set in Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery.
What we like is that you don't just scroll on; you want to test yourself. That's exactly what short-form math is good for: it builds the habit of thinking rather than memorizing.
Where to start
- Watch a couple of recent videos and try to solve them before the answer appears.
- Find the cucumber puzzle, a good example of an everyday problem with a twist.
- Scroll down to the number tricks; they're easy to show friends later.
- Check the pinned videos for the account's most popular puzzles.
Who it's for
Russian speakers: the puzzles are explained in Russian, so you'll need the language to follow along. Students wanting a warm-up, adults who miss school puzzles, and parents who want something to solve with their kids at dinner.
Quick answers
Do I need to be good at math? No. Most puzzles need logic and attention, not formulas.
What language is it in? Russian.
Who runs it? Pyotr Zemskov, as the profile says; T—Zh listed the account among educational TikToks.
