A deceptively simple maths question from ITV's hit quiz show 'The 1% Club' has left viewers scratching their heads after 75% of contestants failed to solve it correctly.
The Question That Tripped Up Most Players
The puzzle presented to contestants read: "If you take 25 from 25, how many times can you do this before you reach zero?" At first glance, it appears straightforward, but the correct answer isn't as obvious as it seems.
Why This Question Is Trickier Than It Looks
Many people's initial instinct is to answer "1", reasoning that 25 minus 25 equals zero. However, the question actually asks how many times you can perform this subtraction before reaching zero.
The correct answer is infinity, because mathematically, you can keep subtracting zero from 25 indefinitely without ever changing the value:
- 25 - 25 = 0 (first subtraction)
- 25 - 0 = 25 (second "subtraction")
- 25 - 0 = 25 (and so on...)
Viewers React to the Clever Question
Social media erupted with reactions after the episode aired, with many fans admitting they would have fallen for the trick question. One viewer tweeted: "I would have been in the 75% who got this wrong! So sneaky!"
The show's host, Lee Mack, known for his quick wit, reportedly enjoyed watching contestants wrestle with the problem before revealing the unexpected solution.
About 'The 1% Club'
ITV's 'The 1% Club' challenges contestants with questions that test logic and common sense rather than general knowledge. The final question, which only 1% of the population can answer correctly, offers a £100,000 prize.
This particular maths puzzle demonstrates how the show plays with expectations and word interpretation to create genuinely challenging brain teasers.
