A maths question from The 1% Club kids special has left viewers baffled, despite being aimed at children aged nine to 15. The show, hosted by Lee Mack, aired late last month and saw 100 young contestants competing for a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida.
The question, which appeared at the 25% stage with 26 contestants remaining, read: 'On Hannah’s 6th birthday, she went to a theme park. She really wanted to ride this rollercoaster but she was only one metre tall. Every year, Hannah gets five centimetres taller. How old will she be when she becomes able to ride the rollercoaster?' An accompanying sign stated: 'To ride, you must be at least 140cm tall or 12 years old.'
While the answer appears straightforward—Hannah would be 12, the minimum age—the question required maths to check if she would reach the height requirement first. At 5cm growth per year, she would be 130cm at age 12 and 140cm at age 14. However, the correct answer was 12, as the age rule allowed her to ride regardless of height. Five contestants were eliminated by the question.
Viewers took to social media to express confusion. One wrote: 'I’m out…because I didn’t read the sign properly.' Another admitted: 'Fantastic series… but still didn’t get the 1% question right.' The show continues to air repeats, with a recent episode featuring a triangle-counting puzzle that stumped contestants.
