A British primary school maths teacher has been left baffled by a homework problem that appears to be missing a crucial piece of information. Bobby Seagull, known for his appearances on University Challenge, shared the question on Threads, admitting he could not solve it.
The problem, brought home by a friend's seven-year-old, 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.'
However, as many commenters pointed out, Dina’s original statement is not included in the text, making it impossible to agree or disagree. One person suggested the teacher had simply forgotten to type out the line containing Dina’s claim.
The post has attracted over 117,000 views, with users debating the intended calculation. Some noted that the cake bakes for 30 minutes and the brownies for 25 minutes, but without Dina’s opinion, the question remains unsolvable. Former teacher Caroline Farkas described it as a 'perfect conversation starter' rather than a straightforward calculation.
Seagull, who teaches maths at a London school, shared the puzzle in jest, highlighting the occasional oddities of homework assignments. The thread has since become a talking point about clarity in maths problems.
