Posted on 06/12/2016 22:01
Facebook seems to be full of maths teasers like the ones below at the minute, but I am astounded how many adults post incorrect answers (at least 75%).
My 10 year old got all of these correct first time, yet many regularly bemoan the perceived lowering of educational standards - I think these kids are learning plenty! 
Posted on 07/12/2016 20:29
The third one could be 19. The 1/3 is not necessarily a third of 6 but rather 6 divided by thirds which is 18 + 1 is 19. In fact I would argue it is or it would have been 2 instead of 1/3?........or am I looking too deep?????
No the answer is 1. You can't just work left to right ie 9-3 = 6 then divide by one third (which you correctly say would be 18). Division comes before addition and subtraction.
3 divided by one third is 9, so then its 9 - 9 +1
Think about a caravan engineer charging £50 call out fee plus £20 per hour, for 2 hours the sum is
50 + 2x20
If you work left to right you get 52 x 20 = £1040 rathr than the correct answer of 50 + 40 = £90.
Posted on 07/12/2016 22:31
Hoping my maths stands up (I'm sure Corners will correct if not) 
21, 14, 1 & 81
No.1.
Horse + Horse + Horse = 30, so Horse = 10
10 + (2 Horseshoes) + (2 Horseshoes) = 18, so (2 Horseshoes) = 4
4 – (2 Boots) = 2, so (2 Boots) = 2
Assuming 1 Boot is (2 Boots) / 2 = 1 and 1 Horseshoe is (2 Horseshoes)/2 = 2
Then, 1 + 10 x 2 = (10 x 2) + 1 = 21 [using BODMAS]
No.2.
Apple + Apple + Apple = 30, so Apple = 10
10 + (4 bananas) + (4 bananas) = 18, so (4 bananas) = 4
4 – (2 half coconuts) = 2, so (2 half coconuts) = 2
Assuming 1 half coconut is (2 half coconuts) / 2 = 1 and 1 banana is (4 bananas)/4 = 1
Then, 1 + 10 + 3 = 14
No.3.
Using BODMAS,
9 / (1/3) = 9
9 – 9 = 0
0 + 1 = 1
No. 4.
Red Flower + Red Flower + Red Flower = 60, so Red Flower = 20
20 + (5 Petal Blue Flower) + (5 Petal Blue Flower) = 30, so (5 Petal Blue Flower) = 5
5 - (2 Yellow Flowers) = 3, so (2 Yellow Flowers) = 2
Assuming 1 Yellow Flower is (2 Yellow Flowers) / 2 = 1 and each petal on the blue flower is (5 petals)/5 = 1
Then 1 + 20 x 4 = (20 x 4) + 1 = 81 [using BODMAS]
Posted on 07/12/2016 22:44
I now tend to agree
Hoping my maths stands up (I'm sure Corners will correct if not)
21, 14, 1 & 81
No.1.
Horse + Horse + Horse = 30, so Horse = 10
10 + (2 Horseshoes) + (2 Horseshoes) = 18, so (2 Horseshoes) = 4
4 – (2 Boots) = 2, so (2 Boots) = 2
Assuming 1 Boot is (2 Boots) / 2 = 1 and 1 Horseshoe is (2 Horseshoes)/2 = 2
Then, 1 + 10 x 2 = (10 x 2) + 1 = 21 [using BODMAS]
No.2.
Apple + Apple + Apple = 30, so Apple = 10
10 + (4 bananas) + (4 bananas) = 18, so (4 bananas) = 4
4 – (2 half coconuts) = 2, so (2 half coconuts) = 2
Assuming 1 half coconut is (2 half coconuts) / 2 = 1 and 1 banana is (4 bananas)/4 = 1
Then, 1 + 10 + 3 = 14
No.3.
Using BODMAS,
9 / (1/3) = 9
9 – 9 = 0
0 + 1 = 1
No. 4.
Red Flower + Red Flower + Red Flower = 60, so Red Flower = 20
20 + (5 Petal Blue Flower) + (5 Petal Blue Flower) = 30, so (5 Petal Blue Flower) = 5
5 - (2 Yellow Flowers) = 3, so (2 Yellow Flowers) = 2
Assuming 1 Yellow Flower is (2 Yellow Flowers) / 2 = 1 and each petal on the blue flower is (5 petals)/5 = 1
Then 1 + 20 x 4 = (20 x 4) + 1 = 81 [using BODMAS]
I now tend to agree with your reckoning - thought I was doing OK
ChemicalJasper
Caravanner