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Home / Lifestyle

This maths question for five-year-olds has people stumped

NZ Herald
20 May, 2017 03:25 AM2 mins to read

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Adults are baffled by the quiz and some even think that there could be a typo. Photo / Twitter

Adults are baffled by the quiz and some even think that there could be a typo. Photo / Twitter

Adults can't seem to agree on the answer to this tricky looking maths question.

Shared on Twitter by user Mmatigari, the baffling question requires people to study a pattern and fill in the missing numbers.

Apparently, this math question appeared in an exam for Grade Ones in Singapore. Lets see who can solve it.
NdooSTEM ka Jonso @ProfJNMoyo 😅😅 pic.twitter.com/uhgQAzaHei

— mmatigari (@matigary) May 17, 2017

Mmatigari captioned the post: "Apparently, this math question appeared in an exam for grade ones in Singapore.

"Let's see who can solve it."

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The results from adult Twitter users varied, with many believing a faintly scrawled "2" in a circle was confusing potential solvers.

there is a typo, the 2 is supposed to be a 20, so you get 2 numbers and then add 3 to equal the number in between, so 9+6+3 = 18, and you

— Victor Hernandez (@vicyuribry) May 18, 2017

2+3=5 / 18+3= 21 / 10+3=13
12+3=15 pic.twitter.com/rhU5tVDRyU

— John Hunton (@hunton_john) May 18, 2017

The puzzle is known as a petite circle sum - the number within the four segments of the outer circle is equal to the sum of the three numbers in the circles touching that segment.

The numbers in the circles can only be one to nine and a number can only be used once.

my head is spinning. That is so cruel. I know Maths is not only my strongest but l not gud at sums end of

— Chris Chidarikire (@chidarikire) May 17, 2017
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