A simple math puzzle about buying and selling a cow has taken social media by storm — and it’s a lot trickier than it looks. Thousands of people have attempted it online, and the answers have been all over the place: $100, $200, $300, $400, $500, even $0. Most people get it wrong on their first try.
So, do you think you have what it takes? Read the puzzle carefully, take your time, and give it your best shot before scrolling to the answer.
The Puzzle
Here’s the scenario:
You buy a cow for $800.
You sell the cow for $1,000.
You buy the cow back for $1,100.
You sell the cow again for $1,300.
How much profit did you make in total?
Go ahead — pause here and work it out before reading further.
Why This Puzzle Trips People Up
Most people instinctively try to look at the whole thing as one single transaction, which leads them to the wrong answer. Others lose track of the running balance across multiple buys and sells. The key to solving it correctly is to treat each transaction separately and track your running profit or loss at every step.
The Step-by-Step Solution
Let’s break it down clearly:
Transaction 1 — First Buy:
You spend $800 on the cow.
Running balance: -$800
Transaction 2 — First Sale:
You sell the cow for $1,000.
Running balance: -$800 + $1,000 = +$200
Transaction 3 — Second Buy:
You buy the cow back for $1,100.
Running balance: +$200 – $1,100 = -$900
Transaction 4 — Second Sale:
You sell the cow again for $1,300.
Running balance: -$900 + $1,300 = +$400
THE ANSWER
