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A Numbers Riddle for You
By JLP | January 17, 2012
My brother-in-law posted this on Facebook this morning and I’m curious to know how many of you will get the answer correct on the first try. I’ll admit I got it wrong until I wrote it out as an algebra equation (hey, give me some credit for at least remembering how to do that):
A bottle of beer costs $3. The beer is worth $2 more than the bottle. How much is the bottle worth?
Topics: Miscellaneous | 10 Comments »
January 17th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
50 cents
January 17th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
$3
January 17th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
James nailed it.
January 17th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
I’m having a hard time figuring out why.
January 17th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Ah I get it now. Duh.
January 17th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
50 cents. As an algebraic equation, it would be written:
3=x+(2+x)
3=2x+2
1=2x
divide both sides by 2
x=.5
January 17th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
$3 = $2 + ( bottle * 2)
$1 = bottle * 2
$0.50 = bottle
tricksy
January 18th, 2012 at 8:16 am
Trick question. We do not know the total worth of the beer plus the bottle. To someone who BUYS that bottle of beer, it must be worth more than his $3. To someone who does not buy that bottle of beer, it is NOT worth his $3.
January 18th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Jack) excellent point!
January 18th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Thank you. Unfortunately, my point seems to have put a hole in my favorite hat. :-/