mediummath

What is the value of 1/2 of 2/3 of 3/4 of 4/5 of 5/6 of 6/7 of 7/8 of 8/9 of 9/10 of 1000?

100. Looks hard? Don't worry, just work it backwards and you'll find it very easy.

Why this works

This riddle plays with the concept of fractions and their cumulative effect. By reversing the operations, you simplify the calculation significantly. Starting from 1000 and working backwards through the fractions, you effectively cancel out the numerators and denominators until you reach the final result. For instance, 1000 multiplied by (10/9) gives you approximately 1111.11, and as you continue applying the fractions in reverse order, each step gradually brings you back down to 100. This clever manipulation of fractions makes the riddle seem daunting at first but reveals itself as a straightforward calculation when approached from the end point!

Common Wrong Answers

“200”

This guess is incorrect because it incorrectly assumes that the operations involved in the riddle double the final value instead of appropriately applying the fractions.

“50”

This answer is wrong because it does not account for the cumulative effect of all the fractions in the riddle, which ultimately leads to a higher value than 50.

“150”

This guess is wrong as it mistakenly adds the fractions instead of multiplying them in sequence, which results in a miscalculation of the final value.

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