A perplexing arithmetic problem meant for kids has gone viral and sparked an intense online discussion among thousands of users. Many people are baffled by the difficult challenge, which has created a lot of buzz on social media as many can’t decide between different solutions.
With riddles and brainteasers taking center stage, the digital world has changed dramatically in recent years, becoming a playground for inquisitive minds. Social media users make the online world a thriving hotbed of intellectual fellowship by avidly participating in spirited conversations, exchanging thoughts, and working together to solve the code.
As the movement gains traction, it highlights how the internet can bring people together via common interests and challenges, bridging geographical divides and uniting minds in search of fun and intellectual stimulation.
One of the most well-known social media sites featured an intriguing but confusing topic in June 2023 that tested people’s knowledge and caused them to reflect on the difficulties they had in school.
For several participants, this perspective helped to clear up their misunderstanding.
It was reminiscent of the kind of brainteasers that were previously only seen in school quizzes, but it was also the topic of a global conversation. The nicest thing was that the issue wasn’t as straightforward as it originally seemed.
The Kids’ Question That Confounded Adults
Social media users were taken back to their school days when a perplexing query about time caused a great deal of controversy. The question that has him scratching his brain was asked by Jamaican user @yawdmontweet: “What is the closest time to midnight?”
The way the question was phrased also prompted participants to think creatively.
Four answers were given to the question, which had over 1.4 million views: A. 11:55 a.m., B. 12:06 a.m., C. 11:50 a.m., and D. 12:03 a.m. Numerous users appeared perplexed, offering a variety of responses in the comments area.
Unable to Determine the Correct Response
The general agreement was in favor of option “D.” This selection was notable since it was the closest timing to that precise moment—just three minutes after midnight. This decision was justified by the fact that every option included shifting either forward or backward from midnight, which served as the center of gravity.
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The question, framed as finding the “closest time to,” not the “closest time until,” suggested a different perspective on the progression of time. This interpretation clarified the confusion for many participants.
Additionally, the question’s phrasing encouraged creative thinking among participants. Instead of relying solely on logic, some considered the proximity of the written word “midnight” in the options. This alternative perspective led them to choose “A,” as it was typed closest to the word itself.
Individuals who selected the answer “A” might have been misled by the wording. Because the question referred to midnight, which is 12:00 a.m., the inclusion of 11:55 a.m. might have appeared deceptively close.
But only at 11:55 p.m. would the proximity be precise. The response, 12:06 a.m., was actually six minutes after midnight. This small element brought out the subtle nuances of the question and confused a lot of participants.
Using AI to Assist
A simple fix was discovered by a few people who decided to use ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, rather than using their own reasoning. In line with ChatGPT’s justification:
The closest time to midnight would be D. 12:03 a.m.”
The Possibility of Two Valid Answers
The intense debate ignited by this seemingly straightforward math question has led some to argue that such tricky problems can deter young learners from embracing the subject. A commenter raised a valid point, suggesting two possible answers based on different interpretations:
“If you mean closest time to when it *will* be midnight next, the answer is A. In that context, it wouldn’t be midnight again with D for nearly 24 hrs. If you just mean raw minutes forward or back, the answer is D. Trick questions like these only make kids hate math.”
This observation highlighted the ambiguity of such puzzles, emphasizing how these nuances can evoke frustration and dislike for mathematics among students.
The answer is A. 11:55am (is 12 hours, and 5 minutes) away from midnight (12am). B is 23 hours and 54 minutes away, C is 12 hours and 10 minutes away and D is 23 hours and 57 minutes from midnight..
