A maths problem intended for a seven-year-old has left adults baffled after being shared online by a British teacher. Bobby Seagull, a maths teacher and TV presenter known for appearing on University Challenge, posted the question on Threads, admitting he could not solve it.
The problem 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." Seagull's post garnered over 117,000 views, with many users struggling to understand what Dina's statement might be.
Caroline Farkas, a former teacher and curriculum developer, told Newsweek that the problem lacks key details, making it more of a discussion prompt than a straightforward calculation. "That's what makes it a perfect conversation starter rather than a straightforward calculation," she said.
Some commenters noted that the phrase "25 to 12" is unusual, as most people would say "11:35". Others pointed out that the cooking times differ: the cake takes 30 minutes, while the brownies take 25 minutes, suggesting the brownies take five minutes less, not longer as implied by some readings of the problem.
One user speculated that the teacher may have forgotten to include Dina's statement, writing: "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." Another added that the problem likely expects students to note that the brownies take less time than the cake, but without Dina's opinion, agreement is impossible.
