# Simple math problem.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-math-problem/318692>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 26, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-math-problem/318692 "2005-08-26T04:09:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Meaty\_Beaty\_Big\_and\_Bouncy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meaty_Beaty_Big_and_Bouncy)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-math-problem/318692/21 "2005-08-26T17:44:31Z")

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4100

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**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-math-problem/318692/22 "2005-08-26T18:06:03Z")

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4100, why?

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**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-math-problem/318692/23 "2005-08-26T18:10:50Z")

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4100

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**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-math-problem/318692/24 "2005-08-26T18:24:59Z")

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1. 

I don’t think I could have gotten this wrong, though I admit there is an urge to spit out “5000” when you add the last 10.

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**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:** [August 26, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-math-problem/318692/25 "2005-08-26T20:49:13Z")

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> [@ILovCoffee](#):
>
> Idle Thoughts, what is the correct answer?

4100, which most got.

Like stated, most people when they reach 4090 are tempted to add 10 and make it 5000 rather than 4100.

And yes, a lot of you are right. I’ve done this thing verbally and most always say 5000 as an answer.

I did predict that many would probably add all1000’s first and then the small numbers, which is why I tried to avoid that by saying add them in order.

Ah well. Some were still fooled even reading it. Me, I was at first (I had originally read the puzzle on a card).

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**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-math-problem/318692/26 "2005-08-26T21:22:48Z")

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4100

Oh man I hope I didn’t screw this up…

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