The Fruit Algebra Puzzle
This brain teaser is known to drive people bananas. It’s unclear who made the original image, but versions of it have been circulating around social media recently. The answer to the equation on the bottom isn’t as straight forward as some people might think. But I think most readers of Freedom 35 Blog are pretty smart so I thought I’d share this.
Can you figure out the answer? 😉
There is no definitive answer; it’s open to interpretation, thus not algebra.
15!!
I will accept cash or stock as prize! ; )
Apple10,banana4,coconut2 answer16,,getting very scary out there,,#Numb3rs
You may want to count your bananas again. 😉
16, easy
Ring count you coconuts again
I agree – 16
Super easy
Or u could say 14
Not clear
No,the answer is 24
Apple10,banana1,coconut2
1/2 coconut + 1 apple + 3 bananas = 14
Greeks invented math(everything actually). Correct answer is 14
Apple 10, banana 1, coconut 1
1 coconut + 1 Apple + 3 bananas = 14
14
agreed! you need to count the bananas and coconut halves individually.
Yawn, let me know when you have a quantum mechanical question that you need me to solve. :p
As first stated, there is no definitive answer; every answer is correct and no answer is correct. It’s much more a question of psychologiy than math.
Answer = fruit salad
There is no defined answer based on how the image looks like, but if you really want to interpret it from a technical level, then the answer is as follows:
Apple + Apple + Apple = 30
3A = 30
A = 10
Apple = 10
Apple + Banana (4) + Banana (4) = 18
We know A = 10
10 + Banana (4) + Banana (4) = 18
2x Banana (4) = 8
Banana (4) = 4
Banana (1) = 1
Banana (4) – Coconut (2) = 2
4 – Coconut (2) = 2
Coconut (2) = 2
Coconut (1) = 1
Coconut (1) + Apple + Banana(3) = ?
1+10+3 = 14
So the answer is 14.
Why is there no answer? Instead of pictures, substitute letters and solve.
x=apple, y=banana, z=coconut
3X=30
X+2Y=18
Y-Z=2
X+Y+Z = 16
Oh … i didn’t see it was half a coconut
It’s funny how everyone first thinks it’s so easy, how dumb are these people! And then notices (or is reminded of) the half coconuts, and the different number of bananas. And yes, I did the same.
One cannot assume that the image of the half coconut has half the value of the image of the two halves of coconut. Any symbol can stand in place of an integer, and there is not enough information available to make the assumption that the value of the picture of a half coconut has any relation to the value of the two halves of coconut. People make this inference because halves of coconuts have an easy to understand “real world” relationship. In this sort of symbolism, it’s not clear that real world associations have any underlying connection when considering the values the pictures stand in place of.
14
15 and I’m 12 years old so boom
i say 16
16
14!!
I had 16 as my answer to the second fruit question. But the answer is 15 because the half coconut represents 1, since the two halves represent 2.
I have changed my mind again! The answer is 14, there is 1 less banana. Notice the first bunch of bananas. The one at the top is resting on one underneath.
It’s 16 (apples:10 bananas:4 and coconuts:2 that equals: 10+4+2:16
16