Singapore usually comes top, or nearly top, of the international rankings in primary maths performance.

And when you read this question – you can see why. It’s an excellent logical puzzle, which will stump most adults.

To clear up any ambiguity, Cheryl tells Albert the month in which her birthday falls, and she tells Bernard the day’s number.

In other words, Albert is told either May, June, July or August. Bernard is told either 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19.

The question was posted by Singapore TV presented Kenneth Kong on his Facebook page this weekend and has gone round the world.

He wrote: “This question causes a debate with my wife .... and its a P5 question.” I’m assuming that means primary Year 5.

Can you do it? Are you smarter than a Singaporean ten-year-old?

Go on, give it a try.

(If no one gets the right answer - and shows their workings! - I’ll post it later).

My latest book Alex Through the Looking-Glass: How Life Reflects
Numbers and Numbers Reflect Life is just out in paperback.

If you want to be kept in touch with this blog I’m on Twitter, Facebook
and Google+.

UPDATE: It now appears that the question was not intended for year 5
primary school kids but in fact for 14/15-year olds.
According to
Singapore news agency Mothership.sg the question was part of a
Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad test paper, which is aimed
at the best 40 per cent of students. In any case, Singapore is also always
top, or nearly top, internationally for secondary maths also. So, I rephrase the question: are you smarter than a Singaporean 14-year-old?

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/science/alexs-adventures-in-numberland/2015/apr/13/can-you-solve-the-singapore-primary-maths-question-that-went-viral?CMP=fb_gu

August 14!!

Don't Ask Me How..

June 18

September 2nd, she is my birthday mate

June 18

June 18

talk the answer na

Crap

It's May 19

Explanation: For Bernard to say he now knows her birthday means he was told 19 and since only May had 19, then her birthday must be May 19. Also for Albert, he was told May but wasn't sure of the day since May had 15, 16 and 19; Albert reasoned that it must be May 19 since Bernard was able to decode the Month as well.

I don't know if I'm making sense with this explanation

When am not her mama or papa! How would I guess from random numbers.

Obinoscopy:
It's May 19

Explanation: For Bernard to say he now knows her birthday means he was told 19 and since only May had 19, then her birthday must be May 19. Also for Albert, he was told May but wasn't sure of the day since May had 15, 16 and 19; Albert reasoned that it must be May 19 since Bernard was able to decode the Month as well.

I don't know if I'm making sense with this explanation

Yeah, Exactly.
I figured that out too.

It's one of the Mays. Don't as.me how I know please.

All of d above

It's May 29, the dawn of GMB's custodianship of GEJ's giant strides.

#GMBNigeriansAreWatchingandExpecting

Feb 30
don't ask me how?

hahn:
Crap

okare

themonk:

Yeah, Exactly.
I figured that out too.

Figured what
I don't get it...there is no clue

The answer between May 19 and June 18.

She told bernard the day. If you loot at the days listed, only 18 and 19 are not repeated. So bernard was able to pick her birthday between both days correctly.

She told albert the month. Then he was able to also know the exact day looking at the two options.

Now the trick here is that only the three of them know the exact date between May 19 and June 18. No one else cannot know except you are given a hint by anyone of them.

Singapore has a superior system of education

As for the question....it is really stressing my brain.

Cheryl won't be on my friends list...

Modified...

OK....

1.Albert...May, June July August

2.Bernie...14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19.

3.Albert : I don't know when Cheryl's birthday is, but I know Bernard doesn't know too.(OK...so..none of them knows now!)

4.Bernie: At first I do not know when Cheryl's birthday is , but I know now.

Answer....June 18 or May 19....(the other numbers are repeated!).

Of course it probably isn't correct.

Off to look for the answer.....

One of the above

May 19.Bernard was told 19 by Cheryl and since only one date wt 19 exist with May as the only month wt 19,therefore he already knows her birthday without asking for the month from Albert. May 19 is d date.

May 19

Na wa o. Sahara reporters pls pay for advert and stop derailing.

may 19.... na only 19 single for the whole shitty shitty numbers....dumb explanation i know

From Albert's first statement the month doesnt have a unique date so May and June are off.

From Bernard's statement the date can also be found in may or june so cannot be 14.

Ans is either july 16, aug 15 or aug 17

Sept. 19

I was thinking its August 17 before I saw July 16
Reason 1+7=8 17/8, but then 16/7 follows the same logic.

.

hmmm...u all did pretty good...well done guys!

finally the answer !