text: School-Safe Puzzle Games
  
  ## Merry Go Round, Tricky Math Brain Teaser
  
  A very bright girl riding the Merry-Go-Round remarked,  “A third of the number of children riding ahead of me, added to 3/4 of those riding behind me gives the correct number of kids on this ride”;
  
  Can you tell  how many riders there were?
  
  ### 16 Comments to “Merry Go Round, Tricky Math Brain Teaser”
  
  1. Falwan | Profile
  
  1/3 (x-1) + 3/4 (x-1) = x
  
  x = 13
  
  2. goofymushu | Profile
  
  12 including her
  
  3. Hex | PUZZLE MASTER | Profile
  
  N = Total number of kids
  Since this is a circle, the number of kids behind the girl = number of kids in front of her = N-1 as far as I understand.
  (1/3+3/4)x(N-1)=N
  N=13
  
  4. engjs1960 | Profile
  
  There are 13 kids on the ride.
  
  5. Shawn | PUZZLE GRANDMASTER | Profile
  
  All of the other children on a merry-go-round are both ahead of AND behind a given observer.
  
  x = total number of children, other than the little girl
  We need to find x+1 = total number of children, including the little girl
  
  1/3x + 3/4x = x + 1
  
  x = 12
  
  x + 1 = 13 = total number of children, including the little girl
  
  6. suineg | PUZZLE MASTER | Profile
  
  X= Children ahead or behind her (its the same because its a circle)
  1)1/3 X + 3/4 X = 13/12 X (she said this is the number of children in the merry go round)
  So:2) X + 1 is also the number of children in the merry go round.. cause its everybody ahead or behind her plus her
  (1)=(2)—> 13/ 12 X = X + 1—> X= 12 (the number of children in the merry go round)
  Hope this time, I did not have any errors in the algebra :-/ X= Children ahead or behind her (its the same because its a circle)
  1)1/3 X + 3/4 X = 13/12 X (she said this is the number of children in the merry go round)
  So:2) X + 1 is also the number of children in the merry go round.. cause its everybody ahead or behind her plus her
  (1)=(2)—> 13/ 12 X = X + 1—> X= 12 (the number of children in the merry go round)
  Hope this time, I did not have any errors in the algebra ))<
  
  7. Hendy | Profile
  
  1/3 of 12 = 4
  3/4 of 12 = 9
  4 + 9 = 13 total
  12 (front or back) + 1 (bright girl) = 13
  
  8. Blusummers13 | Profile
  
  There are 13 riders.
  
  9. suineg | PUZZLE MASTER | Profile
  
  13 is the answer is X + 1= 12+1=13
  cool man
  
  10. munna | Profile
  
  Total 13 riders including the girl.
  
  11. Mashplum | PUZZLE MASTER | Profile
  
  n = # of other riders
  
  3/4n + 1/3n = n + 1
  9n + 4n = 12n + 12
  13n = 12n + 12
  n = 12
  
  There were 13 riders.
  
  12. Bobo The Bear | PUZZLE MASTER | Profile
  
  Because the merry-go round is circular, every rider (other than the girl herself) is considered to be ahead of the girl AND behind the girl as well.
  
  If there are “X” other riders, then the equation is:
  (1/3)X + (3/4)X = X + 1
  
  This yields a solution of X=12, and by including the girl, we have a total of 13 riders.
  
  13. mimi112 | Profile
  
  13 riders
  
  14. jamesbuc | Profile
  
  As a merry-go-round is circular then there are the same number of kids riding ahead of the girl as there are behind her. This number is equal to the total number of kids on the ride minus one (the girl in the question):
  
  (x-1)/3 + 3(x-1)/4 = x
  
  Multiply through by 12:
  
  4(x-1) + 9(x-1) = 12x
  
  13(x-1) = 12x
  
  13x – 13 = 12x
  
  x = 13
  
  There are 13 children on the ride.
  
  15. RK | Founder | Profile
  
  very good! 13 is correct
  
  16. RogHyde | Profile
  
  13
  As the riders are all in a circle, there are the same number in front of the bright girl as behind her. The only number that is divisble by 3 and also by 4 (to get 3/4) is 12 or a multiple of 12. One-third of this number plus 3/4 of this number must add up to one more than this number (to allow for the girl as well).
  The only number that meets these criteria is 12 plus the girl, makes 13 altogether.
  If there were thirteen altogether (including the bright girl) there would be 12 in front (one-third of 12 = 4) plus 12 behind (3/4 of 12 = 9) totalling 13 (9 + 4).