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Original poster

Maths question - Civil Service is wrong (we now have 100% more threads about the subject)

434 replies

Sharingaroomtinightthen · 02/08/2025 13:36

When I posted late last night I thought I’d get maybe half a dozen replies confirming the question didn’t have the correct answer and advising whether to tell the Civil Service recruiters. But here we are 1000 posts later.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5384347-maths-test-to-think-civil-service-have-it-wrong

Maths question - Civil Service is wrong (we now have 100% more threads about the subject)
OP posts:
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7
poetryandwine · 03/08/2025 12:51

niadainud · 03/08/2025 09:25

As question states start at 100 after doubling 50

What does this mean? Where does the question state to start at 100?

(Answer: it doesn't.)

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TBF the very first number at the beginning if Y1 is 100. I don’t recall any quantity of 50 however

BrickBiscuit · 03/08/2025 12:50

poetryandwine · 03/08/2025 12:47

Super example

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… though I should have said “last year you got …” and "this year you get …”, as I have a year in the middle where nothing happens. Or maybe said ‘year 1’ and ‘year 2’. Oh forget it, the 225 or 450% brigade aren’t going to get it anyway, are they?

poetryandwine · 03/08/2025 12:47

BrickBiscuit · 03/08/2025 10:10

The next year the circulation trebled. That’s year 2 in the question. (Start of year 2 figure) x 3.

Last year you got a 20% pay rise, from £10 to £12 an hour. Next year you’re getting a 10% pay rise. Does that take you to £11 an hour?

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Super example

poetryandwine · 03/08/2025 12:46

niadainud · 03/08/2025 09:14

Why is it the posters offering the longest, wordiest, most rambling explanations always come up with the wrong answer?

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Students, too

Merryoldgoat · 03/08/2025 12:46

poetryandwine · 03/08/2025 12:45

Unicorns, actually

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Ffs - unicorns are MYTHICAL CREATURES. They can’t possibly be the answer.

Get it together @poetryandwine

poetryandwine · 03/08/2025 12:45

niadainud · 03/08/2025 10:56

Ah, but on July 7th Uranus entered Virgo, so the answer is quite clearly two hedgehogs.

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Unicorns, actually

poetryandwine · 03/08/2025 12:42

My post just above was for @Spiderbitebatbite and should conclude

’that percentage is only 200%, not 300%’

This was all in reference to her ‘explanation’ for someone else earlier

BrickBiscuit · 03/08/2025 12:42

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/08/2025 12:27

Because one of the biggest problems with many attempts at answering the question is a basic comprehension one. It’s amazing how few people have been able to read and understand what the question is asking, then apply some very simple maths and calculate a percentage 😂

In the original thread I think almost 60% of posters thought the OP was being unreasonable, and I reckon well over 80% of posts have been made by those who either don’t understand the question, don’t understand the arithmetic required to answer the question and / or don’t understand percentages!

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As others have also pointed out, it seems the effect uncovered by Kruger & Dunning (1999) applies. Comprehension is the key. The question is unambiguous, though a bit complex. I suppose a misreading of the question is one way to be convinced one has the correct solution. Even where the error is wholly mathematical, comprehension come in. For example, ‘percentage increase’ does not mean ‘percentage’ or ‘total’.

poetryandwine · 03/08/2025 12:40

200 to 600 trebles circulation. Yes. The amount of increase is 400. Yes.

As a percentage of the base, 200, that amount of increase is only 200%.

SerendipityJane · 03/08/2025 12:35

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/08/2025 12:27

Because one of the biggest problems with many attempts at answering the question is a basic comprehension one. It’s amazing how few people have been able to read and understand what the question is asking, then apply some very simple maths and calculate a percentage 😂

In the original thread I think almost 60% of posters thought the OP was being unreasonable, and I reckon well over 80% of posts have been made by those who either don’t understand the question, don’t understand the arithmetic required to answer the question and / or don’t understand percentages!

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It is interesting (or terrifying) how many poster here, when shown the correct answer and methodology still insist on rejecting that mathematical certainty over some weird misplaced religious belief that the question is sacred and cannot be wrong.

They would be burning witches before the day is out if they could. Having to take time out of their day job so they can report heretics who refuse to believe the words of their betters.

I really hope no one here is called Buttle.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/08/2025 12:27

niadainud · 03/08/2025 10:48

And to be so confident that you're correct!

Also, why does @Spiderbitebatbite keep saying "as the question states" when it doesn't state anything of the sort?

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Because one of the biggest problems with many attempts at answering the question is a basic comprehension one. It’s amazing how few people have been able to read and understand what the question is asking, then apply some very simple maths and calculate a percentage 😂

In the original thread I think almost 60% of posters thought the OP was being unreasonable, and I reckon well over 80% of posts have been made by those who either don’t understand the question, don’t understand the arithmetic required to answer the question and / or don’t understand percentages!

AromanticSpices · 03/08/2025 11:50

Merryoldgoat · 03/08/2025 10:37

How is that a 25% increase?

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It's not, is it! It's a 25 increase on 200, so 12.5% . Anyway my early morning maths aside, it's not one of the options for answers, so can't see how that would be how the question was meant!

TeenToTwenties · 03/08/2025 11:49

the80sweregreat · 03/08/2025 11:46

Haven’t read the whole thread, but what is the answer?

The correct answer is 125%.
Various other incorrect answers abound.

percentage increase is (new-original)/original x 100%

So start at 100.
end y1 = 200 <this is the base the for calculation as it asks for from end y1>
end y2 = 600
end y3 = 450

So percentage increase is (450-200)/200 x 100% = 125%

SerendipityJane · 03/08/2025 11:48

the80sweregreat · 03/08/2025 11:46

Haven’t read the whole thread, but what is the answer?

Jesus is the answer.

Now, what is the question ?

SerendipityJane · 03/08/2025 11:47

TipsyPeachSnake · 03/08/2025 11:43

Curious as to which department in the Civil Service has this particular maths question @Sharingaroomtinightthen ?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office 🤔

the80sweregreat · 03/08/2025 11:46

Haven’t read the whole thread, but what is the answer?

TipsyPeachSnake · 03/08/2025 11:43

Curious as to which department in the Civil Service has this particular maths question @Sharingaroomtinightthen ?

SerendipityJane · 03/08/2025 11:42

Derailing slightly, but I got a job because of a typo, as the only candidate to mention it. The typo was a genuine accident.

There is a very deep and dark thread running through this. Because if the right answer isn't available, what do you do as a moral being ? I am sure some of the less dim readers will get my drift.

I would like my civil service - no matter how shit they are at maths (and we've already seen that debate ...) - to have the moral backbone to say "No Minister. None of these options is correct.". I don't want us to become the US where the civil service are required to tell the President he is right 100% of the time for fear of their jobs. (Bit of politics there, my names Ben Elton, goodnight 😀)

Shouting the wrong answer never makes it right.

SerendipityJane · 03/08/2025 11:28

Samscaff · 03/08/2025 10:57

Actually, the answer is clearly 42.

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You have won todays internet.

Share and enjoy.

SerendipityJane · 03/08/2025 11:27

SoSoLong · 03/08/2025 10:47

It's because we are all sheep who can't think of maths as a creative subject.

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I take it you aren't American.

Lifeofthepartay · 03/08/2025 11:16

Ahhh... the no correct option on a multiple option test conundrum 😂. I weirdly loved doing these tests when I applied for a job in the UKBA many years ago. I did 2 tests a Maths and an English one. I got my results and I scored higher than 98% of applicants for the maths one and higher than 97% of applicants for the English one, I thought it was great as English is not my first language. I still didn't get the job though 😂

niadainud · 03/08/2025 11:09

Merryoldgoat · 03/08/2025 11:04

Baaaaaa

...d maths. Very baaaaad. Quite baaaaarmy, in fact.

Merryoldgoat · 03/08/2025 11:08

Samscaff · 03/08/2025 11:06

Yes! Silly me.

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It’s ok. It’s an easy mistake as the question is ambiguous.

Samscaff · 03/08/2025 11:06

Merryoldgoat · 03/08/2025 11:04

@Samscaff no - you’re forgetting you need to increase by 690% which is a mince pie.

Yes! Silly me.

Merryoldgoat · 03/08/2025 11:04

Baaaaaa

Sheep Eating GIF