KUALA LUMPUR, April 13 — It is a mathematics question meant to test the logical thinking of Primary Five students in Singapore, but has left adults baffled and arguing online over its solution.

According the Singapore daily The Straits Times, the problem gained prominence after it was shared by local television presenter Kenneth Kong after it had stumped him and his wife as well.

“This question causes a debate with my wife... and it’s a P5 question,” he said, captioning a picture that showed a logic question, which was uploaded on Friday.

The picture was of a mathematics test meant to evaluate 11-year-old but contained no numbers whatsoever, only an exposition of the logic problem and 10 dates that were possible answers.

“Albert and Bernard have just become friends with Cheryl, and they want to know when her birthday is. Cheryl gives them a list of 10 possible dates,” the question reads.

The question goes on to list 10 random dates, adding a stipulation that Cheryl reveals the date of her birthday to one friend, and the month to the other.

It then lists dialogue between Albert and Bernard that is meant to provide the logic to the answer.

Stumped over the solution, some Internet users tried simply guessing while others took to humour to answer the question.

“Albert and Bernard decided that after knowing Cheryl’s birthday, they will no longer keep in contact with her as they now understand the complexity of their relationship,” commented a Facebook user named Kenneth Soh.

“What the heck they want to teach P5 students this kinda flirting game?” Tan Poi Cheong said, which was also among some of the most read comments.

“Check on her facebook,” another user, Alvin Klavier Tan, said simply.

The more diligent took it upon themselves to upload their own diagrams to illustrate how they arrived at their answers.

Kong today uploaded what he believes to be the right answer to the riddle, which was submitted by a Singapore-based learning centre Study Room.

“Though I can’t verdict who’s answer is a definite one, but likelihood July 16 is a much sensible one. But how to explain it, you may check out this gentleman’s post,” Kong said.

Study Room also reassured Facebook users that the question will not appear on the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), a nationwide examination all Primary 6 students in Singapore must take before attending secondary school.

“To be sure, MOE has clarified this WON’T be a PSLE question. Still it is a fun logic question. This is the solution. Did you get it right?” Study Room said, referencing Singapore’s Ministry of Education.

The Straits Times reported that the post has since gone global, appearing on the Australian Federation of International Students Facebook page as well as on entertainment site reddit.com and Philosophy Forums.

While Singapore’s mathematics syllabus has been adopted by many Southeast Asian and South American countries as well as by the United States, parents have also raised concerns that students were facing “tremendous stress” at schools.

UPDATE: The Straits Times has reported that the mathematics question is in fact not for Primary 5 students but one taken from the Maths Olympiad competition for Secondary 3. Read more here.