If half of 24 is 8 what would one third of 18 be?

Answer 1

This problem was once featured in an American Airlines magazine Mensa Quiz. It has nothing to do with bases (for example 24 in base 8 equals 20 in base 10) since no base number explains the numbers given). Nor is the answer 6 because the simplistic 1/3 of 18 equals 6 does not explain why 1/2 of 24 is 8 and not 12. Best answer is that the numbers given do not represent the same units. So read it like this: 1/2 of 24 cupcakes is 8 dollars. So what is 1/3 or 18 cupcakes. From the first group, each cupcake is round 67 cent. So 1/3 of 18 cupcakes is (6 cupcakes at 67 cents each) = 4 dollars. So best -- Mensa approved -- answer is...4!

Answer 2

The answer for "if half of 24 is 8 what would one third of 18 be?" is 6 because if you divide 18 into 3 your answer will be 6.