# Do this math problem in your head. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 28, 2008, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932 "2008-10-28T14:08:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/41 "2008-10-28T15:39:42Z")
5000 ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/42 "2008-10-28T15:47:43Z")
It’s actually 2,100, because the question starts by “taking” 1,000 from nothing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/43 "2008-10-28T15:49:06Z")
4100 Though I did almost fall for it. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/44 "2008-10-28T15:51:14Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > What do you put into a toaster? Bread. What do I win? Who’s buried in Grant’s tomb? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/45 "2008-10-28T15:51:50Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > 4100 > > Though I did almost fall for it. That’s…new. ---
**Author:** ![Ducktail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@Ducktail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ducktail)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/46 "2008-10-28T15:53:38Z")
4100? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/47 "2008-10-28T15:53:56Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > Bread. What do I win? Win? Toast, of course!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/48 "2008-10-28T15:54:43Z")
I somehow stuck on an extra 1000 and got 5100. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/49 "2008-10-28T15:54:58Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > That’s…new. Its all the same order of magnitude… 😉 (I typo’ed initially, realised as I hit submit and had to correct it) ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/50 "2008-10-28T15:55:06Z")
I’ll come clean… I originally got 5000 until I saw **brewha** ’s post. :smack: :smack: :smack: Is it too late to change from Mathematics to a different major? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/51 "2008-10-28T16:00:42Z")
4100 ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ian\_D.Bergkamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ian_D.Bergkamp)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/52 "2008-10-28T16:01:42Z")
4,100. Not exactly fair, as I’ve seen this exercise before, so I knew what to expect. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/53 "2008-10-28T16:02:26Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Do not read any of the replies before you reply yourself with your answer. > Do not edit your reply please. > > First take 1000, then add 40 and then add 1000. Now add 30. Next add 1000 and then add 20. Then add 1000 and finally, add 10. > Sorry for the annoying way this OP is set up (with all of the spoiler boxes), but I’m curious over what answer people will get. Again, hit reply and post your answer BEFORE you read any other answers in here. > > What is the number you wind up with? 1. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/54 "2008-10-28T16:05:21Z")
4100 I hope. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/55 "2008-10-28T16:05:24Z")
1. without looking at any of the answers. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/56 "2008-10-28T16:10:49Z")
1. I almost said 5000, which I think is the most common wrong answer. But then I checked my work. And since it’s possible to highlight all the spoiler boxes at once it makes it easier not to make that mistake. ---
**Author:** ![wunderkammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@wunderkammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wunderkammer)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/57 "2008-10-28T16:11:32Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![Parthol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/58 "2008-10-28T16:34:47Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Do not read any of the replies before you reply yourself with your answer. > Do not edit your reply please. > > What is the number you wind up with? 4100 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/59 "2008-10-28T16:38:31Z")
4100 ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/60 "2008-10-28T16:56:06Z")
5k Curses! Foiled! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932.md?page=4)