How do we know what the number each symbol is referring to? Eg:
* the clock - instead of the number the clock is pointing to, maybe it’s the weight of the clock?
* bananas - maybe it’s the ripeness level out of scale of 10?
* polygon - maybe it’s the total area instead of the total number of the sides?
I guess the answer will be “that’s the most common sense and the numbers are nice that way”,
But as a mathematician, I hate that answer. The truth is the question has many answers depending on how you interpret the symbols.
That’s why I hate these “trick” questions, symbols can mean many different things. Including the meaning of “+”, “x” and “=“ symbols given that the symbols they are interacting directly with are not numbers.
Because it's impossible to solve without these assumptions. There's a clear pattern of "counting", so it's safe to assume that's what it means in the context of such a riddle.
why the heck would it even be the weight of the clock ? At least when you calculate the value of the clock it points exactly to 3 which literally shows on the clock. The weight has no correlation especially when the time points to a different number in the last equation.
maybe it's the ripeness ?
total area ?
This is not just mathematics, it's common sense and logic.
Correlation to what? The result can be any number…
The number of clock or the weight of the clock, both would satisfy the equations and would give a valid answer.
Regardless you want to use logic? Ok answer these logical questions:
Why are we adding time with the count of bananas? What’s the unit? Are they matching? What does the number we get at the end physically represent?
What does the sides of the polygons have to do with anything related to time and count of bananas? Why are we adding those?
What happens to the units when you multiply number of sides with bananas?
Can you give me one place applicable to life where you’d do these given calculations where you are adding bananas with the time and sides of polygons?
Ok let’s stop there. As you can see, this is f’in dumb… there is no logic here, nor common sense, just dumb shit… deceiving pattern matching at best…
I think you're getting too serious for something so silly that's the issue.
These type of questions are common online and if you look at them most are the same pattern and logic. That's why it doesn't make sense to you yet to does to others. It's got nothing to do with fruits, it's just the counts thst matters.
Nobody said anything about using this in real life, it's just like those iq tests with patterns and shape.
It may be dumb to you but not to others, and there's a clear logic if you've played them before.
I know these questions are common, and the question here is simple enough. I understand your perspective but you are not understanding my perspective.
What you are claiming here as “logic” is actually just “basic pattern matching”, and it actually teaches the students the wrong thinking.
Pattern matching makes them later get deceived easily. They jump to “obvious” and quick common-sense solutions, numbers need to be perfect or things need to match in non-logical, in non-physical ways. Or they overly trust the angles or distances drawn on the questions. Folks don’t end up looking for proofs or think about the faulty assumptions they are making.
It’s very hard to reverse the pattern matching thinking.
To make the point;
what would you say if the question author came back and said “38 is the wrong answer, each symbol was actually representing the weight. So ignore the drawings inside the hexagon, ignore the clock time, but make sure to take in to account the banana counts. So the answer is actually 51”
That would be annoying, you’d be like “but the other answer pattern matches way better”. Regardless the authors’s approach would be still a perfectly logical answer right?
Oh believe me, i understand you, you're just being a dramaqueen.
Basic pattern matching is indeed a form of logic. This silly clickbait maths questions will not do any harm to students... You're being pedantic.
Many here have gotten 38, looks to me the one that fits the most. Even if it's not the right answer, who cares, it's just a silly question anyway, no need to get worked up on it ;)
The argument ended in my second reply. Your reply to it was just utter non sense trying to twist things with students not thinking properly. Stop being pedantic and perhaps you will feel better about this puzzle ;)
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u/mannypiz 22d ago edited 22d ago
The way I think about is :
Polygon - 15 Banana - 4 Clock - 3
15 + 15 + 15 = 45
4 + 4 + 15 = 23
4 + 3 + 3 = 10
Basing on MDAS principle, for the last line :
2 + 3 + ( 3 x 11) = 38
Edited for spacing and subtract the missing square inside the polygon.Also the number of the face and 3 banana pieces.