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Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:27 pm
by pheasantchick
I heard an interview with Johnny Ball on the radio and thought I'd share this maths question with you.

I have two coins. They add up to 15p. One of them is not a 10p piece. What are the two coins?

I shall post the answer tomorrow.

I was pleased to say that my DS got it almost straight away. I couldn't work it out. :(

Re: Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:32 pm
by hermanmunster
I suppose it is something to do with one of them not being a 10p piece.... doesn't say the other one can't be a10p! :lol:

Re: Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:01 am
by Looking for help
I also heard it and found it absolutely awful, nothing to do with any kind of reasoning or mathematical ability whatsoever.
Just a joke....

Re: Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:50 pm
by Minesatea
Actually a similar question to this was on a paper of questions my DD was given at school in critical thinking!

Re: Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:41 pm
by pheasantchick
HM you are too quick and too clever, and correct. The other coin is a 10p and the first coin is a 5p pence piece.

Re: Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:54 pm
by yoyo123
actually I think it's fairly good and makes you examine the evidence..quite mathematical

Re: Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:58 pm
by Guest55
Why is 6 afraid of 7?

Because 7 8 9 ....


Why did the mathematical tree fall over?

Because it had no real roots ...

Re: Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:05 pm
by yoyo123
Guest55 wrote:Why is 6 afraid of 7?

Because 7 8 9 ....


Why did the mathematical tree fall over?

Because it had no real roots ...
:lol: :lol:

Re: Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:16 pm
by Guest55
Why did the chicken cross the mobius strip?

To get to the other ... oh


Did you hear about the maths teacher they arrested yesterday?

No

He was carrying a protractor... so they arrested him for possession of an instrument of maths construction.

Re: Johnny Ball's Math's Joke

Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:07 pm
by Looking for help
yoyo123 wrote:actually I think it's fairly good and makes you examine the evidence..quite mathematical
I think the answer was that the other coin was 10p , pointless, although there was some stuff about 2 and a half bob and a sixpence but that's only any use if you can do old money (I'm old and I can't ) - hence I prefer the 7 8 9 joke and similar ones