Number of Houses

[nycmathguy]

Herman lives in a house on a straight street. For years, there have been 16 houses on his street to the right of his house and 17 houses on his street to the left of his house. Last year, 5 new houses were built on the same street even further to the left of those houses to the left of Herman's house. If these are the only houses on this street, how many houses are on this street?

Let me see.

The only thing that comes to mind is the fact that this cannot be as easy as it seems. My thinking is to simply add the number of houses to the left and right of Herman's house. If that is the case, the answer is 38.

You say?

 

[MathLover1]

answer is 39, you forgot Herman's house

Total number of houses = (houses to the right) + (houses to the left) + (Herman's house)
= 16 + 17 + 1 = 34
and add last year new houses were built , 5
=34+5
=39

 

[nycmathguy]

answer is 39, you forgot Herman's house

Total number of houses = (houses to the right) + (houses to the left) + (Herman's house)
= 16 + 17 + 1 = 34
and add last year new houses were built , 5
=34+5
=39

Herman's house + the rest = 39. I would be crushed if this was a test question for me and I got it wrong by one more house.