The apples, bananas and coconuts² conundrum³ is being widely shared online, leaving some puzzle solvers perplexed⁴. 

 

Problem solvers must work out which number each fruit piece symbolizes⁵ in order to crack the brainteaser. 

 

Internet users have been arguing that the answer to the final equation is anything from 14, 15, 16 to 20. 

 

The Problem Site explains: 

 

3 apples = 30, so 1 apple = 10. 

10 + 2 bananas = 18, so 2 bananas = 8 and 1 banana = 4 

4 - 1 coconut¹ = 2, so 1 coconut = 2 

Therefore, 1 coconut + 1 apple + 1 banana = 2 + 10 + 4 = 16 

 

However, if you look a little closer at the problem you will see that 16 is not the right answer. 

 

"Although this is the answer everyone seems to be giving, it's actually not correct. Notice that each bunch of bananas has four bananas (look closely!) except the one in the final line, which has 3 bananas. Also notice that the third line has one coconut, while the last line has only 1/2 of a coconut," The Problem Site adds. "This changes things!" 

 

3 apples = 30, so 1 apple = 10. 

10 + 8 bananas = 18, so 8 bananas = 8 and 1 banana = 1 

4 - 1 coconut = 2, so 1 coconut = 2 

Therefore, 1/2 coconut + 1 apple + 3 bananas = 1 + 10 + 3 = 14 

 

So there you have it, 14 is the right answer. 

 

Or is it? Dr Kevin Bowman, course leader for Mathematics at the University of Central Lancashire, told Mail Online that due to the ambiguity⁶ of the riddle⁷, "there are an infinite amount of possible answers".

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