Viral Math Problem 'Stumping The Internet' - Coconut Plus Apple Plus Banana

This emoji math problem has over 2 million comments on Facebook and is getting coverage in mainstream media and blogs. Can you figure out this Facebook fruit algebra puzzle involving apples, bananas, and coconuts? The video presents what many people consider to be the correct answer. Share your interpretation in the comments.

Facebook over 2 million comments

Facebook version from December 2015

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[kujo]

This is more of an attention to detail puzzle than math

[ssifr]

This is why we use a, b and c instead of apple, banana and coconut.

[georgekromidas]

I got 16 because I didn't know the pictures were different. The debate is in the interpretation, not the math for the most part in my opinion.

[workwithnature]

This is why you should not have letters and fruits in math.

[kristamacgregor]

having 3 bananas instead of 4 is like having O instead of Q, they can be completely different variables once you change the variable/picture at all.

[Nonplused]

Good thing they didn't use a bunch of grapes or a partially filled jar of peanut butter.

[Rehdman]

A simple math problem mutated into an optical illusion. Not fair.

[NewfieLawNerd]

The reason that kids need to be observant when doing math like this is to make sure they always get all the information before solving a problem

[michaelwinter]

Just because f(4) = 4 does not mean you can infer f(3) = 3.

[colewhalen]

When you get so bored you start watching math problems.

[austingulotta]

I hate when "math" problems stump people on the internet. They too frequently are like this question, where the controversy lies in stupid details (which are definitely important, but are stretched ad nauseum). I wouldn't be surprised if the correct answer was a fraction, because that coconut looks more like 2/3 than 1/2.

[joan]

I got it 14, we've been doing math tricks in our FB page with my entire school and it was so much fun every day 😁

[EvilNeonETC]

Considering it came from facebook, the image is probably JPEGed and you wont be able to tell the difference between 3 or 4 pixels.

[mark]

The "one coconut" does not mean that its value is 1. It is a different icon and should be called "x" or left as a variable, not a number. Thus, the answer should be 14x.

[Vearru]

I ended up with 16 as I viewed all similar images as identical like x and *x* they are slightly different but both still x.

[Jaccayumitty]

These problems always depend on either minor variations in the pictures (as this one does) or order of operations, or both to create disputes over the correct answer.

[arcticnerd]

Great, so the controversy here is because shitty drawings are shitty. This is the same as the whole cat / owl thing. It was clearly drawn poorly on purpose to cause problems.

[ammarzahid]

Before watching the vid is the answer 14?

[keniangervo]

I noticed the coconut twist but didn't notice that there was missing one banana so yeah. I kinda got REKT

[stel]

I like your videos mate, but I prefer those where the trick has an interesting mathematical solution over "trick" questions like this. Keep up the good work!