Exploring ChatGPT's Math Skills: A Humorous Experiment
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Introduction to ChatGPT's Math Abilities
In late November 2022, ChatGPT was unveiled by OpenAI, captivating users with its remarkable capabilities. I decided to test its ability to solve math riddles, but the results were rather unexpected. In this piece, I’ll share the riddles I posed to ChatGPT and its responses, leading me to think it might benefit from some math lessons! 😃
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an advanced chatbot created by OpenAI, launched in November 2022. It gained significant attention for its ability to deliver detailed answers across various subjects. This includes translating text, writing software in different programming languages, and even crafting articles.
After a month of its release, I decided to evaluate how well it could tackle math riddles. Honestly, I didn't anticipate the outcomes I encountered.
Sister Age Riddle
The first riddle I submitted to ChatGPT involved determining ages. The riddle was as follows:
"When I was 6 years old, my sister was half my age. Now that I'm 70, how old is she?"
The anticipated answer was 67 years old. Here’s how ChatGPT responded:
ChatGPT's Response to the "Sister Age" Riddle
ChatGPT accurately calculated my sister's age when I was six and seemed to comprehend my question well. Unfortunately, it miscalculated her current age.
Shrimp Riddle
Next, I challenged ChatGPT with another riddle about a shrimp trying to reach a rock. The riddle stated:
"A shrimp must reach a rock that is 5 meters away. During the day, the shrimp advances 3 meters, but at night it retreats 2 meters. How many days will it take for the shrimp to reach the rock?"
The expected solution was 3 days. However, ChatGPT's response was:
ChatGPT's Response to the "Shrimp" Riddle
As observed, ChatGPT's logical reasoning was partially flawed, leading to an incorrect answer.
My English may not be perfect, which might have influenced ChatGPT's replies. Nevertheless, it appeared to grasp my question correctly, yet again, the answer was wrong.
Getting 45 Using Only Four
For my final riddle, I asked:
"How can you make 45 using only the number 4?"
The anticipated response was 44 + 4/4. ChatGPT, however, proposed three solutions, all of which were inaccurate.
ChatGPT's Response to the "Get 45 Using Only 4" Riddle
While it correctly understood the initial steps in the first two riddles, it struggled to reach the correct conclusion in problems requiring multiple steps.
I suspect my English skills might not have been sufficient, influencing the results. I encourage you to try submitting the same riddles to ChatGPT and see if you achieve accurate answers.
As for the third riddle, it could be considered a bit tricky for an AI. I haven’t yet asked ChatGPT to solve equations or calculus problems, but I believe it can handle even the most complex challenges.
Despite this, I think it will encounter more queries that necessitate basic arithmetic, like the riddles I submitted. For such questions, it’s crucial for the model to interpret the question accurately and navigate through multiple steps to arrive at the correct answer.
Chapter 2: Engaging with ChatGPT in the Classroom
In this video titled "How to Use #chatgpt in a High School Math Class," educators learn effective strategies for integrating ChatGPT into math lessons.
Chapter 3: Crafting Interactive Lessons
The video "Create Engaging Lessons with ChatGPT: A Step-by-Step Guide" provides teachers with insights on designing captivating lessons using AI.