Common Mistakes People Make
Many people miscalculate this puzzle and end up with an answer of 5000 instead of the correct result, 4100. Let’s understand why this happens.
The error typically occurs at the last step. After adding 1000 + 40 + 1000 + 30 + 1000 + 20 + 1000, the brain often assumes the result is 5000 before properly adding the final “10.” This mental shortcut happens because your mind expects symmetry and is likely to misinterpret the sequence as evenly distributed sums of 1000.
Step-by-Step Guide to Solving the Puzzle
Let’s work through the puzzle systematically to ensure we arrive at the correct answer.
Step 1: Start with 1000
The first number in the sequence is 1000. Easy enough.
Step 2: Add 40
1000 + 40 = 1040.
Step 3: Add another 1000
1040 + 1000 = 2040.
Step 4: Add 30
2040 + 30 = 2070.