This maths homework question from China is melting people’s brains

David Harris. Updated February 22nd, 2023

This homework question from China looks to be, at first glance, simple enough. And we don’t doubt that a lot of you can work it out straight away.

But for others (ourselves included), this cat / tortoise / table conundrum is just too damned hard.

Shared by @engineers_feed on Twitter, the puzzle has had over 8 million views and been the cause of thousands of brains overheating.

So, how will you get on?

Grade school homework in China: find the height of the table. pic.twitter.com/oB0wxYqPQE

— World of Engineering (@engineers_feed) February 13, 2023

Let’s see how other Twitter users fared.

For some people, it was all a bit too much and they were quickly distracted…

I’m wondering how the turtle got onto the table?

— Lex Leo Merrill (@lexlmerrill) February 13, 2023

I like potatoes 🥔

— Brutally Honest Reviews (@Bacon_Ranch_) February 14, 2023

Other folk were admirably honest about their ignorance…

Not a clue

— Global (@guyinthecorner1) February 13, 2023

A lot of people were just plain wrong, but at least they tried…

135

— Jasper Raja (@rajajasper29) February 13, 2023

80

— Michael Dexter (@Michael34367657) February 13, 2023

But many people, far cleverer than us, were able to work it out AND show their workings…

C+(Ta-Tu) = 170
Tu+(Ta-C) = 130
C+(Ta-Tu)+Tu+(Ta-C) = 300
2Ta = 300

Table = 150

— Alain Vadeboncoeur (@Vadeboncoeur_Al) February 13, 2023

A=table
B=cat
C=turtle
A+B-C=170
A+C-B=130
A=170+C-B
A=130+B-C
40=2B-2C
B-C=20
A+20=170
A=150

— Valerio Rosellini (@valeriography) February 13, 2023

But for us, this was the best and most elegant answer, pictured in a way that even WE can understand…

150cm pic.twitter.com/H1b6jQWtmU

— ぺー＠ボドゲ教室開業 (@wildrabbit17) February 13, 2023

OK, now we need to go and have a lie down for a while…