Teenagers Vs. Basic Algebra

Let's set up the equation: x = $1 + 0.5x. Subtract 0.5x from both sides, get 0.5x = $1, therefore x = $2. It's literally one of the simplest algebra problems you can give someone.

But here's where it gets beautiful: 4,200 teenagers confidently voted for $1.50, which would mean the book costs $1.50 and half its cost is $0.75, giving us a total of... $2.25. Not $1.50. The math isn't mathing, folks.

The 1,800 people who voted $2 are sitting there like "did everyone else skip 7th grade?" Meanwhile, 169 brave souls chose $1, presumably thinking the book just costs itself plus... nothing? The confidence-to-correctness ratio in online polls never fails to deliver existential dread about our collective future.