The Cow Math Puzzle: A Brain Teaser for the Curious Mind

A Fun Math Puzzle: How Much Money Did You Really Make with This Cow?

Here’s a classic brain teaser that’s been circulating on social media, featuring a surprising profit calculation with a cow. It’s a simple yet clever puzzle that shows how keeping track of total spending and total earnings can reveal a surprising answer. Let’s break it down step-by-step and find out exactly how much profit you made!

The Puzzle Challenge

Imagine this scenario:

1. You buy a cow for $800.
2. You then sell the cow for a $1000.
3. Later, you decide to buy back the same cow, this time for $1100.
4. Finally, you sell the cow again, this time for $1300.

With these transactions, the big question is: How much money did you make in the end?

Breaking Down the Solution

To solve this puzzle, we need to focus on the overall profit instead of getting caught up in each individual transaction. This means taking a look at your total spending versus your total earnings.

Step 1: Calculate Total Spending

• First purchase of the cow: $800
• Second purchase of the cow: $1100

So, your total spending comes to: $800+1100=1900$

Step 2: Calculate Total Earnings

• First sale of the cow: $1000
• Second sale of the cow: $1300

Your total earnings from selling the cow add up to: $1000+1300=2300$

Step 3: Find the Profit

Now, to find your overall profit, simply subtract the total amount spent from the total amount earned:

• Profit=2300−1900=400
• $$\text{Profit}=2300-1900=400$$

Conclusion

After all your buying and selling, your total profit is $400. This puzzle is a fun way to show how calculating total costs and earnings can help you see the bigger picture, rather than getting caught up in each transaction’s details.

So, how did you do? Did you guess the right answer?