How Old Is the Captain?

If a ship had 26 sheep and 10 goats, how old is the captain?

The answer to this question is simple: There's not enough information. However, many 5th grade Chinese students who took the test with this question (and so did many adults) tried manipulating the numbers to solve it. For example, 26 + 10, or 26 - 10 to create answers of 36 - 16. A news reporter concluded that the answer should be at least 28 after researching Chinese boat licenses and cargo laws.

The question originated from French scientists, who wanted to study how students react to a seemingly absurd problem. Most students tried manipulating numbers, which was completely unexpected. Only a few came up and said that there is not enough information, which was the answer.

The way students react to this question shows schools and the world one thing: Education is failing to teach children critical thinking and common sense and the fact that some questions can be unsolvable. Some people think that children are taught that every question has an answer and so it is better to answer it than leave it blank.