Why people are discussing this maths question online
Twitter users have gone into a spin after a simple maths question from an Irish text book was shared online.
Paul Ryder said his friend, who is a teacher, sent him a photo of the question saying she had never seen anything like it before.
But after he shared it on Twitter on Monday, many users were left confused, thinking it was a trick maths question rather than immediately seeing "the point".
"Craig buys his boyfriend a birthday present that costs €215.65 ($AU343.05) including VAT (Value Added Tax) @ 13.5 per cent," the question read along with a picture of a wrapped present.
“What was the original bill before VAT was added?”
Many responded to Mr Ryder's tweet, asking if there was a trick to the question and whether that was why his friend was surprised by it.
But after realising he had shared it because of the same-sex relationship in the question many praised the text book for being inclusive.
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"Ok had to read this several times. Assumed it was on Twitter as the VAT rate was wrong! But nothing is wrong and it's all rather wonderful," one man tweeted.
Another said: "Both myself and my daughter thought there was something wrong with the sum and had to read it a few times before I realised the boyfriend bit was the point.
"About time, but it's also good that we read the question as nothing unusual."
Others said their school experience would have been different if there were similar inclusive questions in their books.
"The littlest of things like these can help kids that are coming to terms with who they are," one person wrote.
"It would've definitely helped me to (feel) more normal in my teen years when I was realising who I am and coming out and dealing with all of the things that come with that process."
Mr Ryder's tweet was shared more than 200 times and liked over 1700 since it was posted on Monday.
