Math Problem

[so_P_bubble]

Here is a new math game proposed by Donklan. 

 There has been a math riddle being shared on Facebook that is a type of fruit math problem and it's being shared like WILDFIRE.  Some are calling it "fruit algebra" while others are just calling it the "fruit math problem" and it's driving them nuts!

So, have a good and careful look at the question. let's see if you can figure it out, then PM or email your answer. 

[so_P_bubble]

SOLUTION:


For simplicity, we'll address an apple as X. So...

X+X+X=30, or we can simply this to...
3X=30.  Divide both sides by 3 to get...
X=10.

Line 2
We'll notate Bananas as Y's. Remember that we found that the apple is already 10.  So we have...

10 + Y + Y=18.  Subtract 10 from both sides to get...
Y+Y=8.  Simplify the equation to get...
2Y=8.  Solve for Y by dividing each side by 2 to get...
Y=4.  Therefore the bananas equal 4.

Line 3
We know the bananas are 4 already, and lets say the coconuts can be unknown Z.  The equation will look like:

 4 – Z = 2.  Subtract 4 from both sides to get...
-Z=-2. Multiply both sides by -1 to get...
 Z=2

Line 4
Now many people will try to solve it like 2+10+4 = 16

HOWEVER, the coconut is a different picture!  It's only one half the coconut and not two halves.

So if we know that 2 halves of the coconuts equals 2, then 1 half equals 1.

So now we can finally solve it, right? and we get 15?

Bet you didn't look close at the bananas! WHAT?! Because the bananas are a different image too!  Instead of seeing 4 bananas in the cluster, we only see 3 bananas (Some still argue they see 4).   Since the original cluster of 4 bananas equaled 4. That means that each banana is worth 1.  This group of 3 bananas equals 3.

So... Finally... we can solve: 1 + 10 + 3 = 14.  And the fruit math problem is finally solved.

[so_P_bubble]

I received 3 replies for this game
Amy said 14, Patricia and Rammel said 16.
Amy, you are the winner.  Well done!

Thank you Donklan for proposing this challenge.

[Amy]

Thank you Donklan, that was interesting!!
Thank you Bubble for posting it.

[patricia19]

I agree, an interesting puzzle and kudos to Amy and her sharper eyes!

And thanks to Donklan for proposing it and Bubble for printing the puzzle

[Amy]

Patricia, did you notice that one banana and half a coconut was missing? Maybe Rick snuck in and made a coconut banana cream pie from them!!!

[RAMMEL]

I took it as a straight math problem, not a trick question.  It's also possible that one or more of those bananas are plastic, and not to be counted as bananas. Or --- Oh, never mind.   However --- about those missing "pieces". I plead innocent. --------- But I'll look around.

[patricia19]

I took it as a straight math problem, not a trick question.  It's also possible that one or more of those bananas are plastic, and not to be counted as bananas. Or --- Oh, never mind.   However --- about those missing "pieces". I plead innocent. --------- But I'll look around.

What he said...

[Amy]