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Tricky Math Quiz for All
Here’s a math quiz that has surprisingly tricked many people. It is really funny if you give the wrong answer!
I would like to share with you guys a math quiz.
I asked this quiz to my eleven-year old son and his twelve-year old cousin while we were taking a ten-minute break when I was helping them with their mathematics revision at home.
Here’s the question:
One day there was a hunter walking in a jungle hunting for some birds. He got his rifle ready when he saw four birds on a few branches of a big tree.
He shot his rifle and hit one of the birds.
The question I asked my son and his cousin was:
“If the hunter shot down one of the birds, how many birds are there left on the tree?”
It was a very easy question for the kids, wasn’t it?
They answered “three”, as four minus one equals three.
What’s your own answer?
Is your answer “three”?
You should be surprised if I tell you that most people that I asked the same question answered “three”.
The right answer is … “zero!”
Did you get your answer right? If you didn’t, it’s OK because you have joined my son, his cousin and many others.
The answer is “zero” because once one of the birds got shot; the other birds would definitely not want to stay long there on the tree. They surely flew away once they heard a loud noise from the hunter’s rifle. So, there wasn’t any bird left on the tree!
This simple question not only serves as a joke but also tells us that not all mathematical problems should be solved mathematically, but instead, should also be looked into logically.
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29 Comments
that is clever
~george
Thanks, George!
By the way, if you guys want to have fun and ask some people the above quiz but do not want to reveal the answer yet, lead them to this page…
http://bistari.wordpress.com/2007/11/29/tricky-math-quiz/
Yes – I was puzzling over the use of the word ‘few’ in ‘few branches’ which sidetracked me. Perhaps that was intentional?
http://caricatures.org.uk
Thanks for highlighting, simonelli!
May be my english was not clear. What I meant was “there were four birds on the tree”.
this is soooo stupid.
if u posted this as “tricky quiz” NOBODY would have solved this with any math thoughts. YOU misguided everyone….-_-;;;;
Thanks for your comment “this is stupid”!
You may be right but actually I included the word “tricky” in the title just to make the title catchy, that is all.
I tried to guide readers to solve it mathematically by stating “They answered “three”, as four minus one equals three.” in the middle of the article.
Anyway, somehow it works perfectly if you asked the quiz VERBALLY to kids. You should try it and look at the kids’ face after you let them know the answer. It would be fun!
too easy. it was cool and all … but too easy. i figured it out just as soon as i finished read’n the q.
You are just too smart, kaiyu14!
May be I get you tricked some other time!
Can you figure out this math riddle:
when does 1+1+1=1
Meg,
I can’t think of any possible answer. Is is Einstein’s another formula?
Your answer Meg…
1 +1 +1 =1 happens only when u are WRONG…..
Thanks a lot, anunay sinha!
You saved my time trying to figure it out…he he he..
Thanks for visiting this page too…
i got zero but for the wrong reason cause the thing was how many birds would be on the tree NOT the branches and no birds would be on the tree just on the branches
i like it
anna and vivek,
Thanks for visiting this page!
Oh ya! By the way, I got positive stuff for all of you and kids…they are inspirational songs (with music video and lyrics)! Check them out here…(copy and paste)
http://viralurl.com/positivemind/inspirational-songs
Realy a good question………..
Saurabh Srivastana, thanks for dropping by!
yeh i thought it woz dat at 1st but i knew cuz i herd of it b4
that freaken sucked as a freaken joke
If the hunter shot down 1 bird then the otehr flew away then there’s 1 left – the dead one ..
liked it
Shawn, the question is “how many birds left ON the tree?” The dead one should have fallen under the tree.
Thanks for dropping by!
Good question
**nice question, ur gr8…i hev fun
by d way i lyk anna, kaiyu, maemona & holy patatoe 2 be my frnds…
HIIIIIII….
sexy
it was quite a simple question asi got it right . But it was quite good do have anything other than this
hi hello bye
i like that tricky question LOL!
i am sorry but not all birds would fly away some are actually dumb enough to stay…some have so great of hearing they dont ear itif that does make sense….some quail in wisconsin do not fly away after u shoot they sit there until they see u