# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/161 "2008-10-29T19:54:18Z")
1. What’s the stumbling block? Why are people coming up with 5000? 😕 I don’t doubt that there’s some sort of intended misdirection here, but I’m missing it. ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/162 "2008-10-29T19:57:01Z")
5000 ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/163 "2008-10-29T20:02:03Z")
> [@tom tildrum](#): > > 1. What’s the stumbling block? Why are people coming up with 5000? 😕 > > I don’t doubt that there’s some sort of intended misdirection here, but i’m missing it. 4090+10=5000. ---
**Author:** ![Solfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Solfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Solfy)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/164 "2008-10-29T20:03:46Z")
4100 ---
**Author:** ![FarmerChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@FarmerChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FarmerChick)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/165 "2008-10-29T20:21:29Z")
Ha Ha! that’s excellent… 4100 it is, and for you smartypants, well some of us are just suckers I guess… ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/166 "2008-10-29T20:35:31Z")
4100 ---
**Author:** ![eldowan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/167 "2008-10-30T00:59:14Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Do not read any of the replies before you reply yourself with your answer. > Do not edit your reply please. answered before reading replys… 4100 ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/168 "2008-10-30T01:11:21Z")
4100 What do I win? ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/169 "2008-10-30T01:35:33Z")
> [@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? 5000 ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/170 "2008-10-30T05:17:12Z")
4100 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/171 "2008-10-30T05:48:47Z")
4100 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/172 "2008-10-30T07:35:24Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/173 "2008-10-30T13:13:21Z")
4100 ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/174 "2008-10-30T14:05:00Z")
4100 did I win? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/175 "2008-10-30T14:13:11Z")
1. If you take 900 from my answer. ---
**Author:** ![Tikster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@Tikster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/176 "2008-10-30T14:33:11Z")
4910 ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/177 "2008-10-30T14:43:01Z")
> [@Tikster](#): > > 4910 OK, that’s a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/178 "2008-10-30T15:23:50Z")
4100 ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/179 "2008-10-30T16:19:21Z")
> [@DfrntBreign](#): > > 4100 > did I win? No, sorry, we’ve already given the prize away. But I do have some really great offers you won’t want to pass up, right over here… ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932/180 "2008-10-30T18:41:55Z")
Some people seem to equate 4090 with 4990 in their heads. Like I said a few times, it works much better if said aloud. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever found a person who hasn’t said “5000” in real life when I’ve said this to them (although that number in itself is only about 10 people). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-this-math-problem-in-your-head/469932.md?page=10)