A tricky puzzle has been making rounds on the internet after people were urged to solve it to prove their math skills.
Like most viral math problems, the one we have prepared for you today can be either very simple or incredibly confusing.
Before we get started, keep in mind that relying on pure logic and observation skills will get you a long way. To get to the correct answer, go through the puzzle step by step, don’t lose focus, and, most importantly, don’t rush or you’ll miss some very important details!
Did you solve the problem yet? What’s your answer?
Before we reveal the solution and the reasoning behind it, here’s your final chance to take another look at the picture above and correct your answer.
Here are a few hints that might help you come up with the right answer. One, the number of hairbrushes is not the same in all icons. Two, multiplication always has a higher priority than addition, so work on that first!
The answer to this puzzle is 15!
Here’s how we got to that number:
First of all, let’s presume that S stands for scissors, H for hairdryer, and B for a brush.
LINE 1: S + S + S = 30, therefore 3S = 30 and S = 10. The value of scissors is 10.
LINE 2: S + H + H = 20, therefore 10 + 2H = 20 and H = 5. The value of hairdryer is 5.
LINE 3: H + 2B + 2B = 9, therefore 5 + 4B = 9 and 4B = 4, meaning that B = 1. The value of a single hairbrush is 1.
LINE 4: H + B x S = 5 + 1 x 10 = 5 + 10 = 15. The answer is 15. Keep in mind you have to perform multiplication before addition.
Did you manage to solve the puzzle on your own and how long did that take you?
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