The Most Controversial Math Problems

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Controversial Math slideshow

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Mathematics has little surprises that are designed to test and push your mental limits.

The following 12 simple math problems prove outstandingly controversial among students of math, but are nonetheless facts.

They're paradoxes and idiosyncrasies of probability.  And they're guaranteed to start an argument or two. 

If you're looking for a mathematical way to impress your friends and beguile your enemies, here's a good place to start.

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(h/t) to skaldskaparmal on Reddit for the concept

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(h/t) to skaldskaparmal on Reddit for the concept

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Walt was Business Insider's Deputy Editor for Data and Analysis.Hickey is the author of You Are What You Watch, and also writes Numlock News, a daily morning newsletter. He came from FiveThirtyEight where he was chief culture writer. Walt previously worked at Business Insider from 2012 to 2013, and  graduated from The College of William and Mary with a degree in Applied Mathematics. In additon to his work on elections and data journalism, he also edits comics at Business Insider.In 2022, Hickey won the Pulitzer Prize for Illustrated Reporting for his work on Business Insider's I Escaped A Chinese Internment Camp documenting the plight of Uyghurs in China.