The Unexpected Answer

A math teacher asked a five-year-old student, “If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”  Within a few seconds the student replied confidently, “Four!”

The dismayed teacher was expecting the effortless correct answer three. She was disappointed. Maybe the child did not listen properly she thought. She repeated, “My boy, listen carefully. If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”

The student had seen the disappointment on his teacher’s face. He calculated again on his fingers. He was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy. This time hesitatingly he replied, “Four.”

The disappointment stayed on the teacher’s face. She remembered that this student liked strawberries. She thought maybe he does not like apples and that is making him loose focus. This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, “If I give you one strawberry and one strawberry and one strawberry then how many will you have?”

The boy calculated on his fingers again. There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed. With a hesitating smile the student answered, “Three?”

The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself. But one last thing remained. Once again she asked him, “Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?” Promptly the student answered, “Four!”

The teacher was aghast. “How?” she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice. In a voice that was low and hesitating young student replied, “Because I already have one apple in my bag.”

Moral of the Story:

When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect, don’t think they are wrong. There maybe an angle that you have not understood at all. You will have to listen and understand, but never listen with a predetermined notion.

                                                                                    Karma Siddhantha