To think that this sum is super simple

[PeerieBreeks]

and can't understand how so many people on Facebook have it so completely wrong (and can justify it to themselves).

Without adding your reasoning, tell me what you think the answer is.

Initial investment e60, cash in hand e90, same horse :-) he has e30 profit

• $30

I get $20 profit. Has anyone posted the actual answer?

This thread made the newspaper and yes, they confirm the answer is 20!

Just seen this thread.

As always on maths questions and for the second time today, I agree with DadDadDad

I am also somewhat depressed that 503 posts in, incorrect answers are still being given, despite the first reply being correct and a basic explanation given very early on Sun 11-Feb-18 08:35:49.

Teen (hello, again!) - I have a feeling that those posting erroneous answers are simply trolling, but I'm not sure it's report-worthy (let alone having to explain the maths to MNHQ in order to convince them ).

The question is badly worded. The setter is hoping for the answer of $20 (this being correct), however, the currency is not clearly defined either for buying or selling. There are many currencies in the world represented by the $ sign. Only if all the transactions are undertaken in the same currency would the outcome be +$20

Seeing so many parents and future parents getting BASIC MATHS wrong is terrifying.
Makes you wonder how their economy is.

Seriously these kind of answers lowers my faith in people's ability to do basic arithmetic. Do they not teach commutative, associative, distributed, identity, and inverse properties anymore?

No matter how you arrange it the math still says $20 profit

oh im really bad because I keep gtting the wrong answer!and im beginning to HATE MYSELF!why cant I get it.

20 profit

I think the OP should apply to be on Countdown!

20 profit.

My first thought was that he broke even because he then bought the horse for 20 dollars more than the first time, cancelling out the two sets of ten dollars he made from it, but I'm not sure if that's how I'm supposed to look at it.

"Do they not teach commutative, associative, distributed, identity, and inverse properties anymore?"

What???

He broke even

Dang got it wrong he makes $20!

Oh my god there is something wrong with me-I'm so disorientated reading that and trying to figure it out!!!!

*"Do they not teach commutative, associative, distributed, identity, and inverse properties anymore?"

What???*

I was never taught commutative, associative, distributed, identity, and inverse properties even back in the dark ages when I was at school, but I find it easy enough to work out that it's $20. I worked on the basis of assuming the horse buyer started with $100 and took it from there.

I know the answer is $20 I believe you all
But doesn’t the answer depend on whether the second transaction was dependent on the profit made in the first or not?

Ie. 2 separate transactions with 2 separate pots of money, $10 made on each transaction = $20 profit.

BUT if the man needed to spend his first $10 profit to afford the second purchase, surely that original profit is cancelled out and he’s left with an overall profit of $10.

Does that make sense?? Or is it only in my scrambled brain?

I get 10 too....

Seriously these kind of answers lowers my faith in people's ability to do basic arithmetic.

What about reading and understanding dates!?

This thread is quite old - possibly not quite old enough to qualify as ZOMBIE but definitely entering slightly enfeebled old age.

He lost $120 and now he hasn't even got a horse.

I got 20 the second time around.

Yeah my maths is shit.