A popular, interesting, and fairly simple math problem about the cost of a bat and a ball that even an elementary school student can solve. However, most of the time, the first answer people give turns out to be incorrect. In reality, it’s very easy—you just need to think carefully and calculate accurately. It can also be fun to challenge your friends with this problem and see who can solve it the fastest. So, here are the conditions of the problem:
A bat and a ball cost $1.10
The bat costs $1 more than the ball.
How much does the ball cost?
Most people answer that the ball costs $0.10, or 10 cents, but this is not the correct answer, even though it’s the first one that comes to mind and seems intuitively right. If you answered the same, take a moment to think again.
Little hint:
Show Hint
Hint:Try to make a simple math equation.
Right answer:
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Answer: $0.05 or 5 cents. A ball costs 5 cents, a bat costs 1 dollar and 5 cents.
Solution: If X is the price of a ball, then a bat costs X+1. The total is 1.10. We get a simple equation:
x + (x + 1) = 1.10
x + x + 1 = 1.10
2x = 1.10-1
2x=0.10
x=0.05
