---
title: Panchayat solves the wrong problem
date: 2026-04-26T19:02:18-04:00
categories:
  - llms
  - funny
---

In [Panchayat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panchayat_(TV_series)) Season 1 Episode 7 [Ladka Tez Hai Lekin...](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12005118/), at around 17:00, Pradhan asks Abhishek to solve problem 42.

![](https://files.s-anand.net/images/2026-04-26-panchayat-q-42.avif)

```markdown
42. A takes 5 days more than B to do a certain job and 9 days more than C.
    A and B together can do the job in the same time as C.
    How many days would A take to do it?

    (a) 16 days
    (b) 18 days
    (c) 15 days
    (d) 20 days
```

The correct answer is [(c) 15 days](https://chatgpt.com/share/69ee9e7d-b6f4-83ea-8b2d-fcca1c4a374e). But interestingly, ChatGPT got it wrong the first time too. It said `(a) 15 days` instead of `(c) 15 days`, and required a fact-check to correct itself.

<!-- https://chatgpt.com/c/69ee9c0d-3f30-83ea-b714-bbdbe86f794a -->

But Abhishek's steps have _nothing_ to do with the problem - he proceeds to solve a _completely different_ problem and ends up with the supposedly correct answer of 37/23.

![](https://files.s-anand.net/images/2026-04-26-panchayat-a-42.avif)

```markdown

(ii)

Qty of x in container (100 l) = 40 lts
Qty of y in the container of 100 ltr = 60 ltr

Qty of Milk in final Mix = 100 × 3/4 = 75 ltr
Qty of water in final Mix = 100 − 75 = 25 ltr

[crossed / scratched working]

x = 40 × 2/3 , 40 × 1/3 = 80/3 , 40/3   [circled]

Qty of Milk & water in 60 ltr of Mix

y = (60 × a)/(a + 2) , (60 × 2)/(a + 2)
  = 60a/(a + 2) , 120/(a + 2)
```

Now, the problem I'm trying to solve is, which of these made the bigger mistake:

- Abhishek, who solved a different problem
- ChatGPT, who got the answer right but the option wrong
- The writers of the show, who failed to correct this obvious error