A maths puzzle intended for seven-year-olds has left social media users—and even a maths teacher—scratching their heads. The problem was shared on Threads by Bobby Seagull, a British primary school maths teacher and University Challenge star, who admitted he could not solve it.
The question reads: '5)a) Dina is baking. The cake bakes from 11 o'clock until half past 11. The brownies bake from 10 past 11 until 25 to 12. Do you agree with Dina? Explain your answer.' The lack of a clear statement from Dina has caused confusion, with many users suggesting the teacher may have omitted a line.
Former teacher and curriculum developer Caroline Farkas told Newsweek that the problem is intentionally ambiguous, designed as a discussion prompt rather than a straightforward calculation. She noted that time-based questions often challenge students because they require converting minutes to hours and interpreting phrases such as 'half past.'
Some commenters pointed out that the cake bakes for 30 minutes, while the brownies bake for 25 minutes (from 11:10 to 11:35). Without knowing Dina's claim, it is impossible to agree or disagree. One user wrote: 'If you are supposed to agree with Dina, Dina must have made a statement. Since there is no statement, I’d assume the teacher forgot to type out one line of the task.'
Others criticised the wording, with one person noting that '25 to 12' is an uncommon way to say 11:35. The puzzle has sparked debate about how to teach time concepts effectively, with Farkas recommending visual aids such as number lines and analog clocks.
