It's a bullshit question
this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2025
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All right, let's break this down.
For this question, for these available answers, choosing at random:
First glance says the correct percentage is 25%. There are four answers, you get to pick one.
However, two of the answers are 25%. This means you have a 50% chance of picking an answer that's right.
Which makes the correct answer C: 50%.
But there's only one answer that's "50%", so you have a 25% chance of picking that one.
Which makes the correct answer "25%", so you have a 50% chance of picking that one.
If we consider that "two answer" equation, we can then consider the correct percentage to be "37.5%" -- halfway between 25% and 50%. That makes the correct answer from the available answers to be B: 0%.
And you have a 25% chance of picking that one at random. So we go back to the beginning, where the correct percentage is 25%.
I think we need to get Matt Parker on this one.
There is simply no solution. If you choose an answer as “correct” it is shown to be not correct, (not a 25% chance to choose 25%, not a 50% chance to choose 50%, not a 0% chance to choose 0%) showing there is no correct answer.
There's always a solution. Even if it's "empty set".
Sure same thing.
They don't say that the random answer is chosen uniformly (though that is the norm in the field). If we relax that, then we're putting a distribution on these where we want:
P(correct with distribution (a,b,c,d)) = some value shown on A,B,C,D
I don't see any assumption that we will pick using that distribution, so I think this avoids the recursion.
Unfortunately this has too many solutions. If you put a total of 0.25 weight on A and D, then the rest does not matter. If you put 0.5 weight on C, again the rest is irrelevant.
You've added details that aren't in the question. It's like asking what are the odds of rolling a "one" on a 1d4, and then saying "Well, if it's not a fair 1d4, then ..."
... I... I literally talked about this. It's the first words.
They don’t say that the random answer is chosen uniformly (though that is the norm in the field). If we relax that,...
What more was needed?
If we relax that, ...
The question is as posed. We have no indication that we should assume a different distribution of "random".
My favorite indication that someone is using a word in an unusual way is that their question has no answer if you interpret it as usual. I reply to you because you argued very nicely that, if this makes sense at all, it must be with a different use of language than we expect.
There’s also, I think, the weird fucky option were 75% sorta works because the 25% applies to choosing 50% and 50% applies to choosing 25% which means that as long as you don’t choose 0% you’re good?
BUT ALSO, none of the question says it’s talking about itself. It could just mean in general, so we can choose 25% on purpose and then glare at whoever made A and D the same.
Use a 50/50 life line to remove two of the wrong answers and break the logic loop.
What if you're left with A and D though
I guess it depends on how 50/50 works whether that's possible or not. Does it remove two wrong answers or does it leave you with one right and one wrong answer? Is light a wave or a particle? We're getting into Schrödinger lifeline territory now.
Then one of those is right, and one is wrong. Probably There's a non-printing character in one of the answers that makes it parse as an invalid answer.
then the show is wrong, and you sue them if get say you're wrong.
Only choose the 50/50 life line if you never mentioned any of the answers as possible answers.
Yes this! It was so obvious what was going on behind the scenes yet the contestants would merrily show their hand every time.
It doesn't say for this question, so 25%
If it isn't for this question, then its unknown how many options you have for the question.
Damn
As you say, the question presented to Fry doesn't mention a question at all. Only an answer. So, you could make an argument that any answer could be the answer to something, and therefore you'd have to choose a 100% chance, which isn't an option.
On the other hand, it asks for the chance of "picking the correct one", clearly meaning "the correct answer". So, as there is no answer that is the correct answer to everything, the correct choice would be 0%, which is an option.
To answer this question correctly we need to use my favorite super power: pedantry. The meme suggest the rules of who wants to be a millionaire are in play, but that is not expressly stated. Furthermore we're going to ignore our societal training at recognizing multiple choice questions because, again, we're not given instructions.
With these powers combined, the question is ambiguous as it doesn't specify the set from which we are choosing. Using the 4 options below the question is an assumption. Therefore we have to conclude that we're choosing from an infinite set of options, every possible decimal value from 0 to 100.
The answer is an extremely small percentage, approaching zero.
So.. 25?
According to my mathematician wife, "it's got the same problem most paradoxes do in that it's self-referential".
I'll break the mold by creating my own paradox, it'll be known as SlurpingPus' Non-self-referential Paradox.
It's 50/50 either you get it right or you don't duh.
/s in case someone didn't realize it
Since it’s Fry answering the question, the answer is B 0%.
Strange loops
Simpler version that fits comfier in my head:
What's the opposite of the correct answer to this question?
- A) There's no correct answer
- B) There is a correct answer
A. There is a correct answer: B.
I have a 100℅ chance to get this answer right.
0%
25/ 25 cancel each other. 50%.
But there's only one 50. What if you pick 0?
0%