In a certain country it is claimed that 1/2 of 5 equals 3. Assuming the same unusual rule of calculation is followed there, what value should 1/3 of 10 have in that country?

Introduction / Context:
This puzzle question looks like a fraction problem, but it is really testing your ability to spot an unconventional rule hidden behind a simple statement. In a certain country, it is given that 1/2 of 5 equals 3, which clearly does not match standard arithmetic. The question asks you to apply the same rule to find the value of 1/3 of 10. You therefore need to infer the special rule from the first statement and then apply it consistently to the second.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• In the puzzle setting, 1/2 of 5 is defined to be 3.
• We assume the same rule is used for all similar fractional expressions in that country.
• We are asked to compute 1/3 of 10 using that same rule.
• The answer must be chosen from the options 4, 6, 8 and 10.
• We treat this as a logical pattern puzzle, not as standard school arithmetic.

Concept / Approach:
If 1/2 of 5 were computed in the usual way, it would be 5 / 2 = 2.5, not 3. The result 3 is close to 2.5, suggesting a rounding rule. A natural interpretation is that, in this imaginary country, whenever a fractional result is not a whole number, it is rounded up to the nearest integer (that is, they always round up). This process is also called rounding toward the next larger integer or taking the ceiling of the value.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret the rule from the given statement: 1/2 of 5 means 5 / 2 = 2.5 in ordinary arithmetic.Step 2: To match the puzzle's statement that 1/2 of 5 equals 3, the country must round 2.5 up to 3.Step 3: Assume that the same rounding-up rule is applied to other similar expressions.Step 4: Now compute 1/3 of 10 in ordinary arithmetic: 10 / 3 ≈ 3.3333.Step 5: Apply the same rule and round 3.3333 up to the next whole number, which is 4.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify that this interpretation is consistent, you can check that it works with the original statement. Using ordinary division, 5 / 2 = 2.5 and 10 / 3 ≈ 3.3333. Rounding both results up gives 3 and 4 respectively, which matches the given special value and the answer we selected. No other simple and consistent rule explains both values in such a straightforward way.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option 6 would require 10 / 3 to be interpreted as something like 5.8 rounded up, which does not match the basic proportion given. Option 8 and option 10 are even further away from 3.3333 and cannot be justified by the same rule that turns 2.5 into 3. Therefore these options do not preserve the consistent rounding pattern that the puzzle describes.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners try to force a direct proportionality between 5 and 3, and then apply it algebraically to 10, which leads to complicated or inconsistent formulas. Others insist on using ordinary arithmetic without adjusting for the puzzle's special rule. The key is to recognise that this is an imaginary rule-based setting and to identify a simple rule that matches the original statement. Rounding up non-integer results is the simplest and most natural explanation.

Final Answer:
According to the special rule in that country, 1/3 of 10 should be 4.