a puzzle is a problem or enigma that challenges ingenuity. solutions to puzzle may require recognizing patterns and creating a particular order. people with a high inductive reasoning aptitude may be better at solving these puzzles than others. puzzles based on the process of inquiry and discovery to complete may be solved faster by those with good deduction skills. a popular puzzle toy is the rubik's cube, invented by hungarian ernő rubik in 1974. popularized in the 1980s, solving the cube requires planning and problem-solving skills and involves algorithms.