How intuition interferes with logic

[flyingcrocodile46]

A simple test to illustrate how intuition fools most of us into making a basic error in simple maths.

A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?

Please just post your answer without any explanation and/or equation (so the adventure of discovery isn't ruined for others). I failed. http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/images/smilies/redface.gif

[ffirman]

ball = $0.05



A simple test to illustrate how intuition fools most of us into making a basic error in simple maths.

A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?

Please just post your answer without any explanation and/or equation (so the adventure of discovery isn't ruined for others). I failed. http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/images/smilies/redface.gif

[bogan]

I fucked it up, but realised before I could type my first answer in. does that mean I neither win, nor lose any internets?

[Madness]

Ball = $0.05

[BigAl]

How big is the ball?

[flyingcrocodile46]

I fucked it up, but realised before I could type my first answer in. does that mean I neither win, nor lose any internets?

Of course not :yes:

[flyingcrocodile46]

how big is the ball?


.00600m2 . .

[Bikemad]

always blow on the pi...........no wait...

[scumdog]

NOT 10 cents, that's for sure...:shifty:

[caseye]

Rasim fasim sneaky as bleed'n CrocAgators.
Got it wrong too.

[Akzle]

where can i buy a bat for a buck five?

[Ocean1]

Did most people guess and get 10c?

Didn't work for me, I asked my intuition for the answer and it said: "don't care, work it out you lazy bastard".

[mashman]

10c .......

[pzkpfw]

Easy:

bat + ball = 1.10
bat = ball + 1
ball + 1 + ball = 1.10
2 x ball = 1.10 - 1.00
ball = 0.10 / 2
ball = 0.05
bat = ball + 1
bat = 1.05

Hang on, did I say easy? Yes, I'd have guessed $1.00 + $0.10 ... but the wording of the OP contained the warning to slow down and think...

[caspernz]

Easy:

bat + ball = 1.10
bat = ball + 1
ball + 1 + ball = 1.10
2 x ball = 1.10 - 1.00
ball = 0.10 / 2
ball = 0.05
bat = ball + 1
bat = 1.05

Hang on, did I say easy? Yes, I'd have guessed $1.00 + $0.10 ... but the wording of the OP contained the warning to slow down and think...

Yep, that's what I was gonna post too, but the wife got a bit horny haha!!<_<<_<:Punk::Punk:

[slofox]

meh - ball is 5c as most have said. Basic algebra.

[flyingcrocodile46]

Yep, that's what I was gonna post too, but the wife got a bit horny haha!!<_<<_<:Punk::Punk:

Did you give her the bat and the ball?

[oldrider]

Hmmmm, what about the GST? :shifty:

[Jantar]

$0.05 is the obvious answer even without algebra.

[Scuba_Steve]

2.50$ + commission

[flyingcrocodile46]

$0.05 is the obvious answer even without algebra.

Fuck all you smart arses. Even when I back checked it and found that 10 wasn't right it still seemed right and took a couple of goes to prove to myself that ten simply couldn't be right and that 5 worked properly. Dropped out of school C maths because algebra made no sense to me, but did manage to learn trigonometry (cause that made sense to me)

[Daffyd]

Plus ACC levy= $12.50

[flyingcrocodile46]

2.50$ + commission


Fucking traders. Move along and find some suckers who don't know the real cost of the bat must be under $1.10.

[caspernz]

Did you give her the bat and the ball?

Had to save a little for the sister in law :blink::facepalm:

[Ocean1]

$0.05 is the obvious answer even without algebra.


Fuck all you smart arses. Even when I back checked it and found that 10 wasn't right it still seemed right and took a couple of goes to prove to myself that ten simply couldn't be right and that 5 worked properly.

Dito. When deprived of electronic assistance I usually guess until an answer works. If there's just too many decimals involved I have to resort to paper and special incantations.

[Madness]

I love Excel.

[ducatilover]

76 cents off eBay for 10 of each.

Far too much in NZ, but we are supporting local business (who buy it from the same cheap people and that's a great reason for a fucking huge mark up, wankers)

It's five cents BTW

[White trash]

Fuck all you smart arses. Even when I back checked it and found that 10 wasn't right it still seemed right and took a couple of goes to prove to myself that ten simply couldn't be right and that 5 worked properly. Dropped out of school C maths because algebra made no sense to me, but did manage to learn trigonometry (cause that made sense to me)

Yeah, I'm not so proud that I can't admit it. I was thinking "It's 10c", "No it's not dumbarse, think about it". "Okay. Yup, stil 10c" "You fucking idiot, why would someone post such an obvious question on a forum?" I dunno, maybe he's a retard too? But it's gotta be 10c"

Wasn't 'till someone posted 5c that I went "Oh yeaaaaahhhhhh...."

I'm thick.................

[FROSTY]

Then theres the real world.
Bat n ball combo $1.10 Buy bat on its own $1.00 buy ball on its own 25c

[Woodman]

Ok I admit it, fucked if i know how you guys get 5 cents.

Someone explain it for my simple mind.

[Scuba_Steve]

Ok I admit it, fucked if i know how you guys get 5 cents.

Someone explain it for my simple mind.

:laugh: it's a 1.10$ total the bat's 1$ more than the ball. So to get the 1.10$ total the ball would have to be 5c & the bat 1.05$ = 1.10$ simple easy :yes:

[Woodman]

:laugh: it's a 1.10$ total the bat's 1$ more than the ball. So to get the 1.10$ total the ball would have to be 5c & the bat 1.05$ = 1.10$ simple easy :yes:

Yup, took a while but got there eventually. My mind is not a logical one.

[scumdog]

Fuck all you smart arses. Even when I back checked it and found that 10 wasn't right it still seemed right and took a couple of goes to prove to myself that ten simply couldn't be right and that 5 worked properly. Dropped out of school C maths because algebra made no sense to me, but did manage to learn trigonometry (cause that made sense to me)

Yeah well I got 18% in School Cert maths - I guess that's how I figured it out:bleh:

[duckonin]

Yeah well I got 18% in School Cert maths - I guess that's how I figured it out:bleh:

You do know what 2+2= though?:facepalm:
That was one of the 'tough' questions for entry into Police school was it not ? :eek5:
Now have you improved after all these years ? On your radar screen when it says 47 would you think that was 74 ? :innocent:

[scumdog]

Now have you improved after all these years ? On your radar screen when it says 47 would you think that was 74 ? :innocent:


It says what I say it does...:shifty:

[mossy1200]

At that price they sold out.

10cents cash for the ball or 5cents eftpos plus bank fees.
You could buy 2 balls for 10 cents also.

[flyingcrocodile46]

For any that are still struggling with this... the ball costs 5 cents and the bat costs 5 cents plus the $1 more than the ball cost (=$1.05).

The exercise is designed to illustrate how our intuition interferes with and/or pre-empts our concious use of logic to accurately deduce the answer. This is done by presenting number pattens which we already associate with predetermined answers. A bit like when we are asked to evaluate alternative political or religious concepts. Our subconscious mind over rides our concious mind by way of locking onto answers and views that we have already formed.

Our subconscious actively seeks to discredit evidence that supports arguments contrary to our beliefs, and attributes more credibility than warranted to evidence that supports our beliefs. Ed is really struggling with this simple truth.

An in depth analysis of this phenomenon and how to get your brain thinking correctly is contained in the link below.
http://facingthesingularity.com/


.

[Madness]

Ed is really struggling with this simple truth..

But what if Ed did exhaustive research and found that the average cost of a ball was in fact $4.95? Surely that would prove that we all fail miserably at comprehension.

[flyingcrocodile46]

But what if Ed did exhaustive research and found that the average cost of a ball was in fact $4.95? Surely that would prove that we all fail miserably at comprehension.

It would to ed, if he wasn't already convinced that the ball was a tree and the bat was a fish..

[Ocean1]

It would to ed, if he wasn't already convinced that the ball was a tree and the bat was a fish..

... and always had been.

[Madness]

... and always had been.

... by design rather than evolution.