Fruit Algebra

The Fruit Algebra Puzzle

This brain teaser is known to drive people bananas. It’s unclear who made the original image, but versions of it have been circulating around social media recently. The answer to the equation on the bottom isn’t as straight forward as some people might think. But I think most readers of Freedom 35 Blog are pretty smart so I thought I’d share this.

16-02-brain-teaser-fruit-algebra-apple-banana

Can you figure out the answer? 😉

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Anon
Anon
02/25/2016 6:36 am

There is no definitive answer; it’s open to interpretation, thus not algebra.

Adrianne
Adrianne
02/25/2016 6:39 am

15!!
I will accept cash or stock as prize! ; )

Nikitaw
Nikitaw
02/25/2016 6:52 am

Apple10,banana4,coconut2 answer16,,getting very scary out there,,#Numb3rs

Guest
Guest
02/25/2016 8:21 am
Reply to  Nikitaw

You may want to count your bananas again. 😉

marci
marci
02/25/2016 8:20 am

16, easy

Kali
Kali
08/10/2018 8:17 pm
Reply to  marci

Ring count you coconuts again

Sophie Williams
Sophie Williams
07/22/2020 6:57 am
Reply to  marci

I agree – 16
Super easy

Sophie Williams
Sophie Williams
07/22/2020 6:59 am

Or u could say 14
Not clear

Ahmed
Ahmed
03/01/2023 3:10 am

No,the answer is 24

Wooo
Wooo
02/25/2016 8:22 am

Apple10,banana1,coconut2

1/2 coconut + 1 apple + 3 bananas = 14

The Greek
The Greek
02/25/2016 8:26 am
Reply to  Wooo

Greeks invented math(everything actually). Correct answer is 14

The Greek
The Greek
02/25/2016 8:30 am
Reply to  The Greek

Apple 10, banana 1, coconut 1

1 coconut + 1 Apple + 3 bananas = 14

David
David
02/25/2016 8:25 am

14

anonymousengineer
anonymousengineer
02/26/2016 7:21 am
Reply to  David

agreed! you need to count the bananas and coconut halves individually.

Tawcan
02/25/2016 8:34 am

Yawn, let me know when you have a quantum mechanical question that you need me to solve. :p

Anon
Anon
02/25/2016 10:54 am

As first stated, there is no definitive answer; every answer is correct and no answer is correct. It’s much more a question of psychologiy than math.

DivHut
02/25/2016 11:47 am

Answer = fruit salad

Chris
Chris
02/25/2016 11:50 am

There is no defined answer based on how the image looks like, but if you really want to interpret it from a technical level, then the answer is as follows:

Apple + Apple + Apple = 30
3A = 30
A = 10
Apple = 10

Apple + Banana (4) + Banana (4) = 18
We know A = 10
10 + Banana (4) + Banana (4) = 18
2x Banana (4) = 8
Banana (4) = 4
Banana (1) = 1

Banana (4) – Coconut (2) = 2
4 – Coconut (2) = 2
Coconut (2) = 2
Coconut (1) = 1

Coconut (1) + Apple + Banana(3) = ?
1+10+3 = 14

So the answer is 14.

XYZ
XYZ
02/25/2016 6:04 pm

Why is there no answer? Instead of pictures, substitute letters and solve.
x=apple, y=banana, z=coconut
3X=30
X+2Y=18
Y-Z=2
X+Y+Z = 16

XYZ
XYZ
02/25/2016 6:16 pm

Oh … i didn’t see it was half a coconut

Guest
Guest
02/26/2016 3:14 pm

It’s funny how everyone first thinks it’s so easy, how dumb are these people! And then notices (or is reminded of) the half coconuts, and the different number of bananas. And yes, I did the same.

Phil Major
Phil Major
02/29/2016 1:00 pm

One cannot assume that the image of the half coconut has half the value of the image of the two halves of coconut. Any symbol can stand in place of an integer, and there is not enough information available to make the assumption that the value of the picture of a half coconut has any relation to the value of the two halves of coconut. People make this inference because halves of coconuts have an easy to understand “real world” relationship. In this sort of symbolism, it’s not clear that real world associations have any underlying connection when considering the values the pictures stand in place of.

Luisa
Luisa
01/17/2018 9:57 am

14

Kali
Kali
08/10/2018 8:15 pm

15 and I’m 12 years old so boom

haily
haily
12/07/2018 7:17 pm

i say 16

kaz
kaz
04/17/2019 9:32 am

16

bat
bat
04/11/2020 7:58 pm

14!!

DeniAnn
DeniAnn
11/27/2020 8:39 am

I had 16 as my answer to the second fruit question. But the answer is 15 because the half coconut represents 1, since the two halves represent 2.

DeniAnn
DeniAnn
11/27/2020 8:43 am

I have changed my mind again! The answer is 14, there is 1 less banana. Notice the first bunch of bananas. The one at the top is resting on one underneath.

Claire
Claire
12/02/2020 6:53 am

It’s 16 (apples:10 bananas:4 and coconuts:2 that equals: 10+4+2:16

Sienna
Sienna
12/02/2020 6:55 am

16