The Maths Question For 6-Year-Olds That Is Stumping The Internet...

Publish Date
Thursday, 19 May 2016, 2:11PM

A maths puzzle aimed at Year 2 students has adults across the internet stumped.

Shared to Twitter by UK mum Louise Bloxham, the question reads: "There were some people on a train. 19 people get off the train at the first stop. 17 people get on the train. Now there are 63 people on the train. How many people were on the train to begin with?"

Not alone in her bewilderment, Bloxham's followers were also confused as to what the correct answer could be.

One method, offered by Robyn Duckworth, was to subtract 19 from 65 and add 17 to get 63.

But others insisted the answer was 65, based on the algebra working: "X - 19+17 = 63. X = 65."

The correct answer is in fact 65. By subtracting the 17 people who had just boarded the train from the current number of passengers, 63, you are left with 46.

You then add the first lot of 19 passengers who exited the train, reaching an answer of 65.

 

Source: nzherald.co.nz

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