Simple 'Maths' Question - What's The Confusion?

[barry1010]

This is a maths question aimed at 10 year olds but there is a lot of confusion about the correct answer, according to the DM. My only confusion is understanding how it is a maths question at all.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12238089/Childrens-maths-question-simple-leaving-people-stumped.html

What do you think?

[Tilly2]

I think it's an easy question if you are familiar with the 24 hour clock which most children would be.

[barry1010]

Do you think it's a maths question, Tilly?

[Tilly2]

If proximity is maths then yes.

[naomi24]

//'The question speaks to proximity and not chronology, so the answer is D.'//

Perhaps it's not their maths that needs brushing up, but their English.

[carolegif]

Many children cannot tell the time on a traditional clock face. They see it digitally on their phones or watch. I remember my great grandmother teaching me how to tell the time.

[JJ109]

Your answers reminded me of this

[Old_Geezer]

I think it's ambiguous because they use 12 rather than 00 for am.

It is more arithmetic (or sums) than maths, but that's not uncommon.

[naomi24]

OG, a friend of mine is a very clever mathematician who insists he is just good at sums. Clever - and modest with it. :o)

[barry1010]

I don't think the ability to tell the time on a clock face is an advantage - all the answers are in the morning.

[Prudie]

It's actually not in the 24 hour clock! That's why it has am after the times, it's in 12 hour clock.

I suppose the confusion could be if you told someone to be somewhere as close to 3pm as possible you wouldn't expect them to turn up after 3pm. D is obviously the correct answer though.

[ToraToraTora]

That's not even a maths question!

[Tilly2]

Yes, Prudie. I got it right but for the wrong reason. Not the 24 hour clock. :-(

[ToraToraTora]

they say 12:03 is 3 past midnight, that's 00:03 surely?

[Barsel]

JJ109 Thanks for posting the Dave Allen video, so funny.
One of the best comedians we ever had imo.

[Ellipsis]

> Children's maths question that seems simple is leaving people stumped - so, can YOU tell the right answer?
> * Tricky math question aimed at kids has gone viral after perplexing thousands
> * Read More: Math exam question aimed at 10-year-olds stumps the internet

Mail clickbait. What next - a weird trick to stop belly fat?

This sort of stuff is so lame ...

[Barsel]

I must say this has always slightly confused me, so I always refer to it as Noon and Midnight.

[Barsel]

Surely TTT is right @ 10.39?

[Prudie]

Well people do seem to be confused about it.
12:03 am is 00:03 in the 24 hr clock (3 minutes past midnight)
12:03 pm is 12:03 in the 24 hr clock (3 minutes past midday)

This question has no mention of 24 hour clock times. You don't put am and pm on the 24 hr clock, that's the whole point of it.

[Barsel]

Exactly Prudie.

[237SJ]

They've confused the issue by using a colon as you would in the 24hr clock. I would put 3 mins past midnight at 12.03 am and not 12:03 am.