Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10. What is the total?

The answer is 4100. Don't believe it? Did you get 5000? You can check on calculator for yourself. A lot of people calculate in their mind that it equals 5000. Their minds are playing tricks on them like mine did and I am a math expert. Did it fool you too? If it did or didn't, pass this problem on to others and see what answer they come up with. Interesting and fun.

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102 Comments

Margaret Miller Robinson

Because 90 plus 10 add up to 100. Therefore 4100!

Ajay Patel

Picking up jaw off the floor. Really, people? I am baffled and embarrassed that Americans can't do simple math. Addition is stuff that everyone deals with in daily lives. I get how rushing can lead to 5000 but people are arguing against the right answer of 4100 even with a calculator. Can't believe people can't do easy math and become defensive and in denial. Easy math and logic questions confuse people. What the...?!

Jeff Brobeck

I take it , simple math isn't for everyone

Fran Donnelly

Ajay Patel, Math is an American term, the subject is Mathematics and the abbreviation is maths.

Rita

I just figured it out...wow!! So easy to add it up wrong..!

Larry Fleck

4,090+10=4,100

Steve Kemp

Ajay Patel, I reckon you're right that Americans can't do basic arithmetic - the rest of the world probably got it right and only the Americans got it wrong. I'm baffled and embarrassed that anyone can imagine that only Americans answer these questions.

Howard Groopman

How did so many people get this wrong? I did it in my head in seconds, but anyone could have done it on paper and gotten the right answer.

John W Shreve

Ajay Patel, I didn't know you people had calculators.

Najmi Abbas

It's the same with younger people everywhere. Oldies have learnt to do mental calculations, as we called them.

David Smith

Very good, fell for it too. Used to be very good at mental arithmetic, not so sure now.

Karin Johansson

Lauri Kauppinen, learn math!

John McLardie

What was that all about? Belongs in a puzzle page, not a trivia quiz!!

Tobias Cordingley

Ajay Patel, Math isn’t everybody’s strongpoint just as, English grammar isn’t yours.

Tobias Cordingley

Ajay Patel, you think this quiz is just for Americans? Lol. I’m baffled and embarrassed for you. This quiz goes International. UK here.

JohnnyRoulette

Ajay Patel, why Americans? I got it right, doing the math in my head as I read. Is there some reason to think Americans are missing this more than other countries? I haven’t read the comment below. Perhaps the answer lies there.

Babita Goyal

is the question really worth seven stars!!! ?

Nicholas Miernicki

How can you possibly get 5,000? No matter how you do the calculation it cannot add up to 5,000. In the explanation, the individual claims to be "...a math expert", whatever that means, and is baffled. I was trained in accounting and finance, I wouldn't have lasted long if I couldn't do a little basic math in my head. I pride myself in providing answers to people, while they are still putting the numbers into their calculators and enjoy the confused looks on their faces when they realize that I am correct.