Total: 4 + 1 = 5 children. ✅
Why is this a trick question?
This type of puzzle plays on our tendency to make assumptions that aren't stated in the text.
The problem never says:
that each daughter has a different brother;
that there are several boys.
He only says that there is a brother for each of the girls, which is perfectly true if they share the same brother.
Final answer
The mother has 5 children: 4 girls and 1 boy. ✅
