easymath

Illustration for riddle: A basket contains 5 apples. Do you know how to divide them among 5 kids so that each one has an appl — Can you figure out this riddle?

A basket contains 5 apples. Do you know how to divide them among 5 kids so that each one has an apple and one apple stays in the basket?

4 kids get an apple and the fifth kid gets an apple still in the basket.

Why this works

This riddle plays with the concept of distribution and the wording itself. At first glance, it seems impossible to give each of the 5 kids an apple while keeping one in the basket. However, the trick lies in recognizing that one of the kids can simply take the apple that remains in the basket. Thus, four kids each receive an apple directly, while the fifth kid is associated with the apple that stays in the basket, cleverly satisfying the riddle's conditions!

Common Wrong Answers

“Give each kid one apple.”

If each of the 5 kids receives one apple, that would require 5 apples, leaving none in the basket.

“Put all the apples in the basket and let the kids take turns.”

This does not fulfill the requirement that each kid must have an apple, as they would not all have one at the same time.

“Give 2 kids 2 apples each, and 1 kid gets 1 apple.”

This would only distribute 5 apples to 3 kids, leaving 2 kids without any apples, which does not satisfy the condition that each kid gets an apple.

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