Everyone enjoys a good puzzle sometimes, and here’s one that has recently captured the internet’s interest. It was meant for kids, but this tricky math question has grabbed the attention of people of all ages and sparked a lively online discussion. First shared on Reddit, this brain teaser has reminded us how much we love solving challenging questions.
In June 2023, a Reddit user from Jamaica named @yawdmontweet posted a puzzling question: “What is the closest time to midnight?” It seemed simple, with four choices: A. 11:55 a.m., B. 12:06 a.m., C. 11:50 a.m., and D. 12:03 a.m.
This question quickly became popular, getting over 1.4 million views and lots of comments with different thoughts and answers. The phrase “closest time to” made people think creatively and come up with different ideas.
Debating Interpretations and Seeking Solutions
As more people joined the discussion, most agreed that option “D” was the closest to midnight. Many thought 12:03 a.m. was the closest, whether you looked forward or backward in time.
But not everyone agreed. Some said that the phrase “closest time to” versus “closest time until” could make a difference. Those who supported option “A” argued that it was nearest to the next midnight.
Some people got creative and looked at how the word “midnight” appeared in the options. This made some choose option “A”, thinking it was more closely connected to the word itself.
The Role of AI in Solving the Puzzle
During these debates, some people asked artificial intelligence for help. The chatbot ChatGPT joined in and said simply, “The closest time to midnight would be D. 12:03 a.m.”
The Controversy of Multiple Correct Answers
With all this debate, one commenter mentioned that these questions might confuse kids. They said that the different ways to interpret the question—whether thinking about the time until the next midnight or just minutes forward or backward—could be frustrating and make kids lose interest in math.
So, which option would you choose? Do you think there’s room for more than one correct answer based on different interpretations?
