90% of People Can’t Solve This Simple Math Problem

𝑥
+
(
𝑥
+
1
)
=
1.10
x+(x+1)=1.10

Combine like terms:

2
𝑥
+
1
=
1.10
2x+1=1.10

Subtract 1 from both sides:

2
𝑥
=
0.10
2x=0.10

Divide by 2:

𝑥
=
0.05
x=0.05

✅ The ball costs 5 cents, not 10 cents.

Why Do 90% of People Get It Wrong?

This is where it gets fascinating. The problem taps into something called cognitive reflection, a psychological concept that measures how much people override their gut instincts to engage in deeper reasoning.