# The Baseball Conundrum

July 30th, 2014 by Math Tricks | Filed under Brain Teasers.

``` // <![CDATA[ (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); // ]]&gt; ```

Here is a brain teaser that has taken several forms in the past, but I remember it as a baseball-themed enigma. Think about it carefully. You may think that your answer is a logical deduction, but it may very well be wrong. Also, if you do come across a store that charges such high prices, you may want to consider shopping elsewhere! So, anyway, the problem is:

If a baseball and baseball bat cost \$110, and the baseball bat costs \$100 more than the baseball, how much does the baseball cost?

The answer and explanation are below, but if you want a hint as to how to solve this puzzle, try to use a little bit of algebra in your reasoning – and try to solve it by using pen and paper!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The cost of the baseball is \$5.00.

How did I solve this problem?  I wrote it out so that I can visually see what is going on (I can’t see it in my mind very well because it is clouded with such unsavory thoughts!):

ball + bat = 110

bat = 100 + ball

by substitution:

ball + 100 + ball = 110

Rearranging:

ball + ball + 100 = 110

2 balls + 100 = 110

2 balls = 110 – 100

2 balls = 10

And so:

1 ball = \$5

So the real question here is, what is so special about the bat that would justify a price of \$105?!!

Tags: , ,

### 5 Responses to “The Baseball Conundrum”

1. David | 2/08/14

Where did the second ball come from?

2. Will | 2/08/14

My question is why does this question wind up here when the answer is so simple. This site has some questions that just melt my brain

3. Steven Pomeroy | 11/08/14

David, that is just some applied algebra that was used to derive the answer. There are not two balls in the example, but the algebra a substitution method that equated: bat = 100 + ball.

If you go line by line carefully, you will see how this method helps you solve the question.

4. Steven Pomeroy | 11/08/14

Hi Will,

This is a classic problem that many are confused by; it is a great example on how algebra can be employed to solve it.

5. Steve | 20/08/14

Tricky!!

Prove you are human - or a smart monkey! * Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.
{"found_math": false, "script_math_tex": 0, "script_math_asciimath": 0, "math_annotations": 0, "math_alttext": 0, "mathml": 0, "mathjax_tag": 0, "mathjax_inline_tex": 0, "mathjax_display_tex": 0, "mathjax_asciimath": 0, "img_math": 0, "codecogs_latex": 0, "wp_latex": 0, "mimetex.cgi": 0, "/images/math/codecogs": 0, "mathtex.cgi": 0, "katex": 0, "math-container": 0, "wp-katex-eq": 0, "align": 0, "equation": 0, "x-ck12": 0, "texerror": 0}