Can You Solve This Singaporean High School Math Problem That Has Overtaken The Internet?
Is the dress black and blue, or white and gold? It doesn’t matter anymore; a new problem has taken the internet by storm.
I once memorized the first five numbers of Pi. A few years ago, I earned a B in Geometry. That’s the extent of my mathematical accomplishments. When I came across this story regarding a Singaporean high school math problem, I immediately knew someone else would be explaining the thought process required to answer it correctly.
According to The Washington Post, the problem was part of some sort of nerd olympics held recently in Singapore.
The question first appeared on April 8, as part of the Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiads contest. It was posted online Friday by a Singaporean television presenter and quickly went viral — perhaps because the problem was initially misidentified as one intended for 10- and 11-year-olds.
Here’s the problem:
Happy Birthday in advance, Cheryl! #trickquestion #treatquestion https://t.co/6t1ZqCkiwW pic.twitter.com/BJFim48rWi
— Singtel (@Singtel) April 13, 2015
The problem lists 10 different dates and based on a conversation between Albert and Bernard, we’re supposed to find an answer.
At first glance, it appears to be a simple word problem. When was Cheryl born? It could be a plethora of answers, but Albert and Bernard seem to have it figured out. I’m still sitting here scratching my head. While I do not consider myself to be stupid, I was completely perplexed by this mystery answer. Not a single date is listed in their conversation, yet I’m expected to deduce this shit?
If you have figured it out without any outside help, congratulations. You are officially more intelligent than myself, which may or may not be considered a compliment, and is certainly nothing to boast about.
Thankfully for those of us lacking the analytical ability to find a somewhat sensible answer to this question, a nerd from the BBC posted a YouTube video that explained step-by-step how to solve this riddle.
“There’s a slight sexual dynamic here that makes it quite fun.” What? Regardless of his unwanted commentary, the man’s explanation surprisingly makes sense, which only caused me to become even more perturbed.
As always, the people of the internet were sure to forever mark such an important date in human history.
According to Wikipedia, one key event of 16 July is Cheryl's birthday. #cherylsbirthday pic.twitter.com/k7uqqWvxTu
— Bernard Yeo (@BernardYeo76) April 15, 2015
Go to hell, Cheryl..
[via The Washington Post]
Image via YouTube
Cheryl is Kara’s sister
11 years ago at 9:47 am“There’s a slight sexual dynamic here that makes it quite fun.” TFM
11 years ago at 9:57 amAs you hand Cheryl a drink and escort her back to your room
11 years ago at 7:19 pmPerhaps a certain janitor could solve the problem
11 years ago at 9:59 amFrat Damon?
11 years ago at 10:28 amAnother correct answer is May 19th. If she first tells each the month individually, followed by the day, and Bernard says he did not know at first, but knows now, then it can only be the date with a day number that does not appear twice. This leaves May 19th
11 years ago at 12:08 amThat’s not how the logic of the problem works
11 years ago at 2:48 amThere is a 0% chance of me watching that video.
11 years ago at 10:11 amThat’s so punk rock
11 years ago at 12:20 pmWhere is said sexual dynamic?
11 years ago at 10:18 amGet this bullshit out of here.
11 years ago at 10:18 amWhat kind of cruel bitch gives a word problem when asked “When’s your birthday?”
11 years ago at 10:22 amThe real question here is if she does buttstuff
11 years ago at 10:34 amThere’s nothing more frat than a British person explaining a math problem. Now Cheryl, show us your tits!!
11 years ago at 11:05 amThe real problem here is that atrocious grammar.
11 years ago at 11:50 am