Okay, let’s explore the simple math riddle.
This riddle is a perfect brain teaser because it looks straightforward but requires careful, step-by-step thinking.
The setup is a standard vertical addition problem.
You see the top number, which is 578.
Then there is a plus sign and three empty boxes for a second number.
Finally, you see a line and the sum, which is 701.
Our mission is clear: we need to find the missing three-digit number that, when added to 578, gives us 701.
So, let’s write out the problem as an equation.
The equation is 578 + [missing number] = 701.
The easiest way to solve for that missing number is to think about it in reverse.
If we subtract 578 from 701, the remaining amount will be our answer.
So, we need to solve the subtraction: 701 – 578.
We can work through this step-by-step from right to left, just like in school.
Let’s look at the ones column first.
We want to subtract 8 from 1.
Since 1 is smaller than 8, we can’t do it directly.
We must borrow 10 from the tens column.
However, the tens column is a zero!
This means we have to borrow from the hundreds column.
The hundred is a 7. When we borrow 1 from the hundred, it becomes a 6.
That 10 from the hundred moves to the tens place.
Now, let’s look at the ones column again.
The zero is gone, and the one becomes a 10. Wait, that’s not right.
Let’s do this again, more slowly and clearly.
We can’t take 8 from 1. So we go to the tens place. It’s a zero.
This means we must go to the hundreds place, which is a 7.
We borrow 1 hundred (100). The hundred becomes a 6.
We convert this 1 hundred into 10 tens.
Now, we have 10 tens and 0 ones in our “new” number format.
We can now borrow 1 ten from the 10 tens.
The 10 tens becomes 9 tens.
This borrowed ten is converted to 10 ones.
So, the ones place now has 10 (borrowed) + 1 (original), which is 11 ones.
Now, let’s do the subtraction again.
In the ones column: 11 – 8 = 3.
Great. Now let’s look at the tens column.
We now have 9 in the tens column, not 0.
We subtract 7 from it: 9 – 7 = 2.
Perfect. Finally, we look at the hundreds column.
Remember, the 7 became a 6.
We subtract 5 from it: 6 – 5 = 1.
When we put the numbers together, we get 1 in the hundreds place, 2 in the tens place, and 3 in the ones place.
So, the answer is 123.
This is the exact number that should go in those three boxes in image 58e5d9857edef1a22ae9bda7266c8537.jpg.
To double-check, let’s add 123 to 578 and see if we get 701.
578 + 123 = 701.
Yes, it does!