A New Twist on a Classic Puzzle

A picture of a baseball and bat.
A blue banner advertising APS Membership

“A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

Take a minute to think about it … Do you have the answer? Many people respond by saying that the ball must cost 10 cents. Is this the answer that you came up with? Although this response intuitively springs to mind, it is incorrect. If the ball cost 10 cents and the bat costs $1.00 more than the ball, then the bat would cost $1.10 for a grand total of $1.20. The correct answer to this problem is that the ball costs 5 cents and the bat costs — at a dollar more — $1.05 for a grand total of $1.10.

So why do so many people answer incorrectly? The answer is that people often substitute difficult problems with simpler ones in order to quickly solve them. In this case, people seem to unconsciously substitute the “more than” statement in the problem (the bat costs $1.00 more than the ball) with an absolute statement (the bat costs $1.00). This makes the math easier to work with; if a ball and bat together cost $1.10 and the bat costs $1.00, then the ball must cost 10 cents.

Time and again research using the bat-and-ball problem has shown that that this intuitive process leads people astray. But are intuitions always detrimental to problem solving? In a 2014 Journal of Cognitive Psychology article, Université de Toulouse researcher Bastien Trémolière and Université Paris-Descartes researcher Wim De Neys sought to answer this question.

Trémolière and De Neys point out that the intuitively generated response to the bat-and-ball problem (that the ball costs 10 cents) is neither highly believable nor highly unbelievable. It is not unreasonable to think — especially for someone who isn’t an expert in baseball — that such a ball could cost 10 cents. They wondered how a person might respond if a similar problem cued an intuitive — but unbelievable — response. What would happen if the intuitive response contradicted other intuitions such as past knowledge about the cost of an item?

To find out, the researchers had participants answer a classic or a modified bat-and-ball-type problem. In the classic problem, participants were asked the following question:

“A Rolls-Royce and a Ferrari together cost $190,000. The Rolls-Royce costs $100,000 more than the Ferrari. How much does the Ferrari cost?”

In the modified version of the problem, participants were asked the following question:

“A Ferrari and a Ford together cost $190,000. The Ferrari costs $100,000 more than the Ford. How much does the Ford cost?”

As in the original bat-and-ball problem, people often will try to make the problem seem easier by unconsciously removing the “more than” wording in the problem, leading them to read the problem as saying either “The Rolls Royce costs $100,000” or “the Ferrari costs $100,000.”

The intuitive but incorrect answer is that the less expensive car (either the Ferrari or the Ford, depending on the problem) costs $90,000; however, in the modified version of the problem this answer (that the Ford costs $90,000) conflicts with people’s prior knowledge about Ford cars: The idea of a Ford being that expensive is not believable. This conflict is not present in the classic problem, as the thought of a Ferrari costing $90,000 would seem reasonable to most people.

The researchers found that significantly more people correctly answered the modified version of the problem than the classic version of the problem. The authors posited that when intuitive answers conflict with other intuitions, such as those based on past knowledge, people are more likely to engage in more deliberate and reflective reasoning leading to a higher likelihood that they will answer the problem correctly.

Reference

Trémolière, B., & De Neys, W. (2014). When intuitions are helpful: Prior beliefs can support reasoning in the bat-and-ball problem. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 26, 486–490.

Comments

The thing is, why does the ball have to be $.05? It could have been .04 0r.03 and the bat would still cost more than $1.

I hear your pain. I feel as though psychologists and psychiatrists get together every now and then to prove how stoopid I am. However, after more than a little head scratching I’ve gained an understanding of this puzzle. It can be expressed as two facts and a question A=100+B and A+B=110, so B=? If B=2 then the solution would be 100+2+2 and A+B would be 104. If B=6 then the solution would be 100+6+6 and A+B would be 112. But as be KNOW A+B=110 the only number for B on it’s own is 5. My worry is; as I don’t spend 20 minutes studying every maths problem I’m faced with each day how many of these am I instinctively getting wrong?!

This is exactly what bothers me and resulted in me wanting to look up the question online. On the quiz the other 2 questions were definitive. This one technically could have more than one answer so this is where phycologists actually mess up when trying to give us a trick question. The ball at .4 and the bat at 1.06 doesn’t break the rule either.

No, the ball at 0.4 and the bat at 1.06 does break the ‘rule’. That would mean the bat would cost 1.02 dollars more than the ball. It’s a stupid question they need to state ‘exactly one dollar more’. Nothing clever about this is been designed to catch people out.

It’s not been resolved efficiently either.

The difference needs to equal 1.00 dollar. If the ball is 0.10c and the bat is 1.00 than the difference would only be 0.90c instead of 1.00. Hence you need to split the difference equally in order to get the 1 dollar difference.

Thank you for explaining the question and answer better than this article.

Thank you!!!!! your reply makes the most se ve to me!!!!

As you put it in formulation with your example that would give us this numbers:
Let a be the amount of ball asked
b be the amount of bat given
x be the total amount of the items
given in your example lets get the formula
if a = 1.00 + b
if b = 0.04

lets compute if it is correct
x = a + b
x = (1.00 + b) + 0.04
x = (1.00 + 0.04) + 0.04
x = 1.04 + 0.04
x = 1.08 which is not equal to 1.10

if we substitute:
a = 1.00 + b
b = 0.05
x = ?

x = (1.00 + b) + 0.05
x = (1.00 + 0.05) + 0.05
x = 1.05 + 0.05
x = 1.10 which is equal to 1.10 which is correct

Given:
Bat(X) + Ball(Y) = 1.10(Z)

Bat(X) = 1 + Ball(Y)
Ball(Y) = ??

if X+Y=Z what is Y?

1+Y + Y = 1.10
1 + 2Y = 1.10
2Y = 1.10 – 1
2Y = 0.10
Y = 0.10 / 2
Y = 0.05

Sorry, my friend. But, it does break the rule. If the ball costs $.04 cents and the bat costs $1.00 more than the ball, the bat costs $1.04. That equals $1.08, not $1.10 as the question states the two items must equal.

No, that would’t work, because together they have to cost $1.10.
If the ball cost $0.04 then the bat would cost $1.04, and $1.04 + $0.04 would only be $1.08, which is incorrect.
The ball costing $0.05 is the only answer that it correct.
🙂

I hadn’t understood the post until I’ve read the comment of KRYSTAL on January 25, 2017.

My Math skill is good enough to solve this problem if the question didn’t confuse me with the “unclear” language usage.

If I rewrite the question, I think most of the people can solve it.

“A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

// We have:
total_cost = 1.1
(bat + ball) == total_cost
(bat – ball) > 1
// Now, calculate the ball

because, the bat and the ball has to cost $1.10

The confusing part is understanding the language. The bat cost a dollar more than the ball. That means the price of the ball plus a dollar more. If the ball was less than 5 cents then the total would have to be less than $1.10.

Because if the ball is 4 cents..now the bat is $1.01 more and 3 cents the bat is 1.02 more…the bat IS a $1.00 more it said. Not just over a $1.00 more.

Except it says costs 1$ more… if you look at that as an absolute, then theres no other answer than 5 cents for the ball. The bat costs absolutely no more or less than 1$ than the ball. 1.05 for the bat and .05 for the ball is the only option.

Absolutely. More can be defined several wasy – as in this case you could say more = “additional”. So the the bat costs an additional $1 than the ball. $1 additional or more would make the bat worth $0.10. It’s a trick question not giving enough proper words to single out one answer by folks who are trying to deceive you.

Coz it bat costs exactly $1 more. Not less not more

You are ignoring the fact that the TOTAL fof bat and ball is $1.10, which means your $0.04 or $0.07 does not work. It does not say it ONLY has to cost one dollar more.

they have to add up to 1.10 so if the bat cost 1.04 or 1.03, that would mean that the the ball costs either 0.4 or 0.3 which when added would give you an answer less than 1.10

Yes!

Because both of them together is 1.10. If it was .04 then it would be a total of 1.09.

Tiene que costar un dolar mas. Ni mas ni menos

Because bat+ball=$1.10

cox he spent 1.10 dollar for buying both not 1.8

The TOTAL is $1.10 so no, the ball has to cost 5 cents.

Let’s assume the ball cost 0.03 cents, if the bat is exactly 1 dollar more than ball. You would get the ball (0.03) the bat (x+1.00)

0.03 + x + 1.00 = 1.10
1.03 + x = 1.10
X = 0.07

If the bat is 1.07, than it is not exactly 1.00 more then the ball at 0.03. Rather it is 1.04 more than the ball.

Ah,no it wouldn’t… the total must only equal 1.10 “and” be a dollar in difference

Human nature over thinks things.

0.05 1.05 = 1.10
1.05 – 0.05 = 1 (more as stated in the problem)

if you did 0.03 + 1.07 = 1.10, 1.07 – 0.03 is not $1.

I remember when I was first given this problem and my mind immediately jumped to the “intuitive” but incorrect answer. But I didn’t give that as an answer. That was simply the first thing that I thought. But I held it as possibly being the answer and did a quick sanity check. Ooop!! It doesn’t work out. So I was faced with either doing the simple algebra in my head, or just trying out some likely possible answers and doing the simple math in my head. I did the latter. If I had paper, I’d have probably done the algebra.

I simply don’t understand why life has to be so complicated.
This goes to confirm why I would rather stick to linguistics!

Linguistics makes all the difference. The conceptual emphasis seems to lie within the word MORE.

X + Y = $1.10. If X = $1 MORE then that leaves $0.10 TO WORK WITH rather than automatically assign to Y

So you divide the remainder equally (assuming negative values are disqualified) and get 0.05.

Or with the Rolls Royce/Ferrari: RR = $145K | F = $45K

Finally a way to say the problem…I have 90,000 to work with! How is that said in the problem…just the way you did? I am beginning to think this has trasnfer value for me for other problems as it should. thank you.

Or you directly translated the statements into algebraic statements and solve for two variables.

X + Y = $1.10
X – Y = $1.00
…………….
2X = $2.10
X = $1.05
Y = $1.10 – $1.05
Y = $0.05

I don’t understand this…it has nothing to do with whether or not I believe the baseball only costs .10 or the bat $1. Here’s my logic: if I take a .10 baseball to the checkout and say I want to buy it, it costs me .10. When the cashier says, you can get the bat too, it’s $1 more than the baseball, I have to pay $1 for the bat. My total is $1.10, so how is the baseball not .10?

The bat is a dollar MORE than the ball if you have a $.10 ball the bat be $1 more in total cost would be $1.10 thus the bat which is $1.10 + the ball which is $.10 would be $1.20.(I don’t have a cents sign on my phone, that’s why I use the dollar sign.)

The bat is a dollar MORE than the ball if you have a $.10 ball and the bat is $1 more in total cost the bat would be $1.10 thus the bat which is $1.10 + the ball which is $.10 would be $1.20.(I don’t have a cents sign on my phone, that’s why I use the dollar sign.)

If I’m correct and allow for modification of the bat price to not be $1 then I suppose the bat can be $1.05 and the ball can be 5 cents it also $1 more?
I must admit I found the question not loose enough for that to be the case but this could be the answer? Maybe?

Bascally when they say ‘more than’ they mean that it also contains the price of the ball with the 1 dollar.

If someone says the ball is 0.05 and the bat is 1 dollar more than the ball, that means the bat is 1 dollar + the ball so the bat is 1.05.

an object is $1 more than x.
Is the same as saying:
an object = $1 + x.

Hope I helped someone lol.

Although I agree that the correct answer to the question is that the bat is 1.05 and the ball .05, I completely agree with your logic. Everyone argues that the $1.00 answer is based on intuition, but I think it is a problem with linguistics. That is exactly what the clerk would say, but he’s incorrect. What he should be saying is the total is a dollar more than the ball. The clerk’s response (with different items) is so etched into the way we think it’s ridiculously difficult to get past. It’s like saying sunrise, which would more accurately be something like “earth spin.”

Well said, how do people get 1.20 ??? The ball in .10, the bat is 1 more, = 1.10 !!!

I don’t understand this…it has nothing to do with whether or not I believe the baseball only costs .10 or the bat $1. Here’s my logic: if I take a .10 baseball to the checkout and say I want to buy it, it costs me .10. When the cashier says, you can get the bat too, it’s $1 more than the baseball, I have to pay $1 for the bat. My total is $1.10, so how is the baseball not .10?

Wayne

Well Wayne, it nailed me too. The problem doesnt seem to stem from math but how we interpereted the question.

When we heard the bat is a dollar more than the ball, we broke the problem down into a very simple and instantly answered one. Ball is 10 cents, bat is a dollar more, bat is a $1.10

Unfortunately we forgot the first part of the story, that the bat AND ball total is $1.10.

So if, like we said, the bat is $1.10, and you add the cost of the ball, $.10, we end up with $1.20 for both, instead of $1.10 for both.

in order to make the cost come out right with the total, the ball has to be $.05 then at a dollar more than that the bat would be $1.05, for a total of $1.10

If the bat is 1 dollar more than the baseball the bat would cost 1.1 dollar and you would have a total of 1.2 dollar for the purchase.

no your mistaking one thing for another. if the cashier said the ball is ten cents and if you want to buy the bat also its a dollar more to the transaction. this is not the same as her saying the price of the bat is exactly a dollar more than the ball. Because you thinking you get to establish the balls price in advance. set at 10 cents. The ball is bought last and the cashier has had to say that ball and bat are a set the bat is a dollar more than the balls price . if the total wasn’t already fixed then the ball could cost 80 cents and the bat would have to cost 1.80 cents but in our case the ball costs 5 cents and the bat costs 1.05 because the bat is a dollar more than the cost of the ball.

So we’re supposed to assume that there’s no taxes or rounding and the bat is exactly $1 more than the ball to total exactly $1.10, right?

“A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

Here’s the reason there are at least two answers to this question. One is the correct answer based on an linear analysis or response, the other is the correct answer based on a variable answer or response.

The first is linear. If the starting point, which is not clearly defined, is .10, then the answer is that the bat costs 1.00.

The second is variable. If the starting point is not determined, and the bat must be 1.00 more than the ball, then the answer is that the bat is 1.05.

However, if the bat must not be precisely 1.00 more than the ball, but merely 1.00 or more than 1.00 over the cost of the ball, then the answer is that the bat is 1.05 or greater than the ball, but no greater than 1.09, assuming that the measurement system is in terms of pennies being the lowest variable possible, and not half-pennies or another denomination.

These type of questions are confounding not because they are truly enigmas, but because the question is not clearly defined, which is why so many students are disadvantaged by poor test makers.

Why is this so tough to understand for some…
1.10 is the total…
A bat is 1.00 MORE than a ball totaling 1.10

Bat+1+ball=1.10
-1.00. =-1.00
Bat+Ball=0.10
+.5 +.5. =0.10 so ball =.5
Hello…!!!

For me these kind of questions work on my nerves.
The people who find these questions easy, do they happen to have less emotional intelligence/empathy?
I wonder because I’m the opposite. I’m bad at math but good at understanding people.

I get it now, since the total is $1.10, the bat CAN’T be $1.00 because that’s only 90¢ more.
But we didn’t loose site of the total or the difference between the prices, this is a semantic problem. To us, “total” just means the amount printed on the receipt and not the individual differences between the subtotals. Of course, in looking at the receipt later we would see “$1.05 bat, $0.5 ball” and know that the bat is a dollar MORE then the ball, but that’s only because the price of the ball is DISPLAYED. If we just put a ball on the counter without looking at the price and said, “How much more if I get a bat TOO?” and the clerk said “A dollar more”, we wouldn’t automatically assume that the bat ITSELF cost $1.00. We would just assume we OWE a dollar more.

A dollar itself is still that amount regardless of the ball’s price. Ex: bat= 1.00 + ball = 1.10 total. But, *more* (in terms of this equation) seems to factor the ball’s price as an add-on. A dollar more than 5 cents. Ex: 1.00 + .5 = bat. 1.05 + .5 = 1.10 total.

please solve the Rolls-Royce & Ferrari problem…

Yes, I too would like to see the “correct” answer to the Ferrari -Rolls-Royce question.
It is posed yet again differently than the bat+ball
question.

If the ball is .05, then the wording “the bat cost one dollar more than the ball” would be the “cost of the ball” “plus” a “dollar.” .

It is about how the mind works not about how smart you are

Aliens are looking down on earth and saying “they rule the planet”?
Mind boggling how simple math can trick people. All of the “ya buts” are coming from people who got it wrong and are trying to justify it. Yikes!!!
Now get back to watching Springer.

The original question is from a three question cognitive reasoning test. I forget exact figures but when the three questions were put to a group of MIT students, something like less than third got all three right. The construction, language and amount would have all been very carefully designed to make it as easy to quickly get wrong as possible. That was the whole point.

If you’re still confuse about this question, trust me you’re not dumb. As rightly stated by others, this is mostly a language problem rather than math. And I believe it’s clearly composed to prove a point rather than solve a problem or enlighten its audience.
Let me put the same question in a different way by injecting a third item(glove) in place of the second sentence and changing the word “Together” to Equivalent(the same), for you to see if it make sense:

A ball, a glove and a bat cost 110 cents. The “Glove” cost 100 cents more than the bat and the ball which values are equivalent or the same. How much does the ball cost?

With reference to the bat and ball problem: ‘1 more than…’ is different from ‘more than 1’.

Looking at the question over and over again I have realized that the question is wrong. The question needs to mention that the ball is exactly $1.00 over the ball. The one word “exactly” is missing in the question and that confuses all of us.

No, it is not confusing if you pay attention… it states quite clearly bat costs ONE DOLLAR MORE than the ball. And it states the TOTAL must come to $1.10. Nowhere does it say the COST of either. There is no need for the word “exact”!! It is a number…. it can only mean ONE THING. TOTAL = $1.10. Difference between ball price and bat price must be ONE DOLLAR MORE for the bat. And the combined prices must be total $1.10. Those are both exact numbers, without telling you what the prices of either bat nor ball have to be. Quit trying to make it the fault of the question: it is your insistence on misinterpreting the data that is at fault.

In response to Umar Khaled’s and Dan Beigel’s question(s): “please solve the Rolls-Royce & Ferrari problem…”?

Let’s adapt John Wright’s following formulaic approach to resolve the Rolls-Royce & Ferrari problem…

John Wright’s Formula…

(Bat + 1) + ball = 1.10
-1.00. = – 1.00
= Bat + Ball = 0.10
.05 + .05 = 0.10 so ball =.05
= (.05 + 1) + .05 = 1.10
-.05 = – .05
= (.05 + 1) = 1.05
= Bat = 1.05
Bat + Ball = 1.10
1.05 + .05 = 1.10

adapted formula to Rolls-Royce & Ferrari
“A Rolls-Royce and a Ferrari together cost $190,000. The Rolls-Royce costs $100,000 more than the Ferrari. How much does the Ferrari cost?”

(RR + 100) + Ferr = 190
-100 = – 100
= RR + Ferr = 90
45 + 45 = 90 so Ferr = 45
= (45 + 100) + 45 = 190
-45 = – 45
= (45 + 100) = 145
= RR = 145
RR + FERR = 190
145 + 45 = 190

I found it easier to put together a spreadsheet to visualize the differences between the prices for the items in this article.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18wWax1UaVHnVAAXQ4yWUmn1qAlqkyg8hRwS3vNrazDU/edit?usp=sharing

So, if the ball cost 10 cents, and the bat cost $1, then clearly they both total up to $1.10, but the difference between the two items is 90 cents. That is why the ball must cost 5 cents, and the bat must cost $1.05.

Using the same logic, the Ferrari must cost $45,000, and the Rolls Royce must cost $145,000 – the difference between the two values is $100,000, and the price of both cars totals up to $190,000.

It’s more that “more than” is not usually used in this way in most word problems, I think. It’s usually used as just a phrase to indicate that you should use simple addition in a lot of math books, if you recall your grade school grades. So, the problem actually lies in the way the puzzle is worded. It’s meant to beguile and confuse via poor word choice, and thus a poor measure of intelligence. There are honestly far better worded math puzzles out there than this one…and many are more clever, too.

To the people who say that question should include the word “exactly,” I say hooey (or “BS”).

$1.00 is an exact number. If the ball cost $0.04 and the bat cost $1.06, then the bat is $1.02 more than the ball. $1.02 is not $1.00, so the answer is wrong, even without the word “exactly.”

It seems to me that the incorrect answers such as the .10c and 90,000 ones stem from attempts to answer a different type of question wherein the total has to be split between two costs totaling the given amount (and thereby addressing the question) instead of producing the answer by way of realizing the difference in cost between two things . So in a way of seeing it there’s an ambiguity in the question. The hinted/given difference (a dollar more or a hundred thousand more) doesn’t seem to indicate/register that it constitutes an inclusion to a figure at the least both things/costs share. So in their heads (ones who incorrectly answer) 90,000 isn’t included with another amount (the 100,000) whereby it turns into 190,000 + 90,000 bringing the total over the given one of 190,000. All in all, and I say this knowing it’s merely a riddle, the foundation isn’t clarified to an answerer. Maybe a use of number line (as a form of diagram) to illustrate the answer to this sort of question could help. This of course could help to know why those incorrect answers are incorrect, but not yet offer a method to realizing why a correct answer is a correct one. One baby step at a time is helpful.

This isn’t a psychology problem. It’s an algebra problem. If one takes the time to write out the problem, then there’s only ever the correct answer to give. The issue is the “fast math” of people bad at algebra.

X + Y = 190000
X = Y + 100000
Y + 100000 + Y = 190000
2Y = 90000
Y = 45000
X = 145000

People don’t generally do multivariable analysis when asked about the cost of bats and balls and cars. The phrasing of the question lends itself to be unwittingly simple when it is not. Simply knowing this trick ahead of time would eliminate most wrong answers, imo.

If you haid paid attention in high school Algebra you would instantly recongognise this is a problem in Simultaneous Equations. We have two Variables B (Bat) and b (ball) and two equations:
1. b + B = 1.10
2. B -b = 1.00
The principle of simultaneous equations is; If the number of variables is equal to the number of equations then there is a solution to find the value of all the variables.
So I will leave you to do the Algebra, It is quite simple.

This is high school algebra. There are two variables B and b. Write two simultaneous equations involving the two variables and then do the Algebra. If the number of variables equals the number of equations there is always a solution to a problem of simultaneous equations. Remember high school algebra? Yes, so it is quite easy then 🙂

RR + Ferrari + 100,000 = 190,000
X + X + 100,000 = 190,000
X + X – 100,000 = 190,000 – 100,000
2X = 90,000
2x/2 = 90,000/2
X = 45,000
ferrari = 45,000
RR = 145,000

Now, here, I think it’s important to hit at what makes “more than” fail to be interpreted correctly upon first or many encounters: ‘more’ contains the concept of ‘largeness’ implicitly as it does of ‘comparison’, and there seems to me to be a shift that occurs where the stress may be less or none on the latter than on the former. Because we are immersed in a non-logical use of language, the primary sense of ‘comparison’ in ‘more’ likely doesn’t occur. However, this is unlikely saying enough, as the process requires that we take into account the ‘other’ object of comparison. Even if we grasp the logical form of ‘more’, we may not realize another contained concept – ie ‘likeness’ – two objects of comparison must share for the difference of one against the other to be understood. Even this may not readily be useful for detecting the difference unless we recognize which likeness is to be accepted – here, it must be in figure/amount/number, not likeness or lack of likeness between two objects (cup and water, bat and ball, ferari and rolls-royce), that is, in characteristics or nature. All this considered, it is curious why a certain sense of ‘how much more of’ or ‘how much less of’ fails to occur in the mind of the interpreter. The bat and ball should share five cents in common. The ferari and ford should share the figure of 45,000 in common. I suppose this is because the ‘than’ after ‘more’ should not elicit the object (ball or ford) in mind, but the not yet known figure/number that represents the object in cost.

Let’s see what happens when we modify the question: “A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than (the cost of) the ball. How much does the ball cost?”
On tests like GMAT, one would be punished for not understanding the question. However, it wouldn’t be the test takers’ fault for they did not get to phrase the questions.
I wish to add that I believe there are words as units of language and there are unsaid and unsayable things behind the words in the exact moment of conveyance. Among those unsaid things are concepts as much as assumptions, which we take for granted in a given moment. In a given moment it isn’t easy to checklist all the various ways a word may be ambiguated in order to fit one variation on standard logical grounds with a given word. Even if this were possible, the checklisting process would comprise singular moments, too.

Well said AP.
To the people who don’t understand how everyone is having a problem with this and think others are trying to justify getting the answer wrong (you need to re-evaluate how you judge others), I think the root problem for many is how these words are used in the real world. Speaking as an average adult who lives in the real world and goes to the store to buy things. If I hand the cashier a snickers bar that costs .10 cents and I hand him .10 cents. Then I want to buy a Coke and ask how much do I owe you and he says “a $1 more”. I hand him a dollar, my total is $1.10 and the Coke cost me $1.
Again, in this interpreted real world scenario, the math works.
A + B = 1.10
A is a dollar more then B.
if B = .10
A + .10 – .10 = 1.10 -.10
1 = A

If the question said “A ball and bat cost $1.10 in total. The difference between the ball and bat is $1, how much is the ball?”, I think more people would get this right.

Given:
Bat(X) + Ball(Y) = 1.10(Z)

Bat(X) = 1 + Ball(Y)
Ball(Y) = ??

if X+Y=Z what is Y?

1+Y + Y = 1.10
1 + 2Y = 1.10
2Y = 1.10 – 1
2Y = 0.10
Y = 0.10 / 2
Y = 0.05

The bat was 100 $ and the ball was free with purchase, but there was a 99 rebate towards the ball if you bought tickets to the game, nor did you throw back the ball to the crowd after a homerun, and the taxes were donated to a local homeless shelter that also picked up the wrapper to the hotdogs you ate in the 7th inning stretch.

A banana is flying first class from New York to L.A. Two scientists, one in each city, are talking on the phone about the banana. Because it is moving in relationship to its noun, the referent of the word banana never occupies one space, and anything that does not occupy one space does not exist. Therefore, a banana will arrive at JFK with no limousine into the city, even though the reservation was confirmed in L.A.

-Steve Martin

It makes sense, but I think that is the thing, this is a puzzle so the wording is purposely done in such a way as to be misleading. Usually, it is to take advantage of something within human nature or speech that takes elements of the familar and combines it in such a way that it tricks you into doing something. SO a very well done puzzle!

Took me a while to figure it out…
Total=B+C
where:
Total=1.10 §
B=ball, the incognito?
C=club (bat)
1.10=B+C
where Total= 1.10, B=? C=(B+1.0)

1.10=B+(B+1.0)
1.10=2B+1.0
1.10-1.0=2B
0.10=2B
B=0.10/2
B=0.05 cents

Since I’m an Elect. mechanical Eng, the quick answer is dividing the difference of the two number by 2!

By law, you will have been given a receipt. Simply look there to discover the cost of the ball. No math required.

Besides, no way you can make a decent bat for a buck. Stay away from this deal, folks!

Its important to remember the question is giving you 2 facts:

Fact 1 = A bat and a ball cost £1.10p in total.

Fact 2 = A bat exactly, always costs £1 more than a ball.

So,

if ball = 10p then bat will cost £1 more at a price of £1.10 which totals £1.20 (this breaks rule 1)

if ball = 4p then bat will cost £1 more at a price of £1.04 which totals £1.08 (this breaks rule 1)

if ball = 5p then bat will cost £1 more at a price of £1.05 which totals £1.10 (this *passes* rule 1)

It says bat cost 1 dollar more than ball,so if U think ball is 0.10 than ,that means bat cost 0.90 more than ball not 1.
So in math term

Bat + ball =1.10

Bat is 1 dollar more than ball
So it can written as
(1+ball)+ball =1.10 —-(1)
Which is
1 + 2ball=1.10
2 ball =1.10-1
2 ball= 0.10
Ball=0.05
Putting in 1 we get
1+ 0.5=bat
So bat is 1.05

Ridiculous question. Let’s actually use common cents.

“A bat and a ball together cost 110 cents. If the bat costs 100 cents, how much does the ball cost?”

Ten. Cents. Screw you, algebra.

“A bat and a ball cost 110 cents in total. The bat costs 100 cents more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

Ten. Cents. Stop it. This “logic” behind determining what the true answer is and what the false answer is, happens to be complete BS. Sorry.

“A bat and a ball cost 110 cents in total. The bat costs 100 cents more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?”

So a five dollar bill is four dollars more than a 1 dollar bill.

A ten dollar bill is five dollars more than a five dollar bill.

And so, a 105 cent bat is 100 cent more than a 5 cent ball.


APS regularly opens certain online articles for discussion on our website. Effective February 2021, you must be a logged-in APS member to post comments. By posting a comment, you agree to our Community Guidelines and the display of your profile information, including your name and affiliation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations present in article comments are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of APS or the article’s author. For more information, please see our Community Guidelines.

Please login with your APS account to comment.