This simple yet intriguing arithmetic topic has gone viral on the internet and has piqued the interest of people of all ages. “When does midnight come closest?” appears to be a straightforward question, yet its ambiguity has given rise to a wide range of interpretations and responses. The puzzle was initially shared on Reddit by a Jamaican member.

There were four responses: 11:55, 12:06, 11:50, and 12:03 in the morning. The question’s phrasing, “closest time to,” encouraged creative thinking and produced a range of responses. As the talk continued, 12:03 a.m. emerged as the clear winner, with many claiming that, when looking both forward and backward, it was the closest time to midnight.

However, not everybody was in agreement. While some cited 11:55 a.m. as the time that was closest to midnight the next day, others used the wording of the question to support their selection. During the discussion, some people expressed concern that these kind of questions could confuse children, highlighting the significance of using plain language in math problems.

An intriguing question is raised by the argument: if several interpretations are taken into consideration, can there be more than one correct answer? We were reminded of how much fun problem-solving is and how crucial it is to think creatively by the midnight maths mystery. Which response do you choose? Do you think that various interpretations can result in several correct answers?