The simple task that hinders most Harvard students

[east]

Students from Harvard University in the U.S. have almost perfect scores on tests SAT . They have to be proven bright young people. This means they are able to get into Harvard and should not have a problem with a simple logical question, right?

Try to solve the following logic puzzle.

Bat and ball cost $ 1.10.

The bat costs $ 1 more than the ball.

How much is the ball?

If you think the answer is "10 cents", then you are wrong. And most students "Harvard" have precisely this effect.
Your turn. Count.

[Sultan Suleiman]

x = cost of ball
cost of bat = x + 1
total cost = 1.10 = x + (x + 1) = 2x + 1
2x = 0.10
x = 0.05

So the ball cost 0.05, the bat costs 1 dollar more than the ball, 1.05, and the total is 1.05 + .05 = 1.10

Spoiler!

Thank you google

[Absinthe]

$1.05 (bat) + $.05 (ball) = $1.10 total price for both? It's simpler than it sounds but very confusing indeed...

[Graham]

That would give you $1.20

So 5c

[Anglojew]

People assume its easy so don't think about the wording.

[east]

I will keep silence till tomorrow

[Insuperable]

Apricity>Harvard

[Scarlet Ibis]

Oops. My first hunch was $0.10 for the ball, and $1.00 for the bat.

$1.00 is only $0.90 more than $0.10, but you know....mental shortcuts and all.

[Piparskeggr]

Students from Harvard University in the U.S. have almost perfect scores on tests SAT . They have to be proven bright young people. This means they are able to get into Harvard and should not have a problem with a simple logical question, right?

Try to solve the following logic puzzle.

Bat and ball cost $ 1.10.

The bat costs $ 1 more than the ball.

How much is the ball?

If you think the answer is "10 cents", then you are wrong. And most students "Harvard" have precisely this effect.
Your turn. Count.

$1.05 for the bat, $.05 for the ball (answered before reading the rest of the thread, took about half a minute of thinking)

[Caismeachd]

I couldn't get it. I have a high IQ and scored ok on my SAT but my brain is too impulsive for that stuff.