There have been a lot of discussion in the past about which math questions are on-topic and which one are off-topic. But I today I found [a bit old question](http://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/28100/find-age-of-john) (with amazingly net 4 upvotes) which is clearly a math problem but was re-opened. This made me think to revisit the policy discussed on meta about mathematical questions on this site. Some related discussions I found are given below: >1. [Would this potential post be a math puzzle or math problem?](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2824/would-this-potential-post-be-a-math-puzzle-or-math-problem) >2. [Are math-textbook-style problems on topic?](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2783/are-math-textbook-style-problems-on-topic) >3. [How math-oriented can questions on the site be?](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/165/how-math-oriented-can-questions-on-the-site-be) >4. [I say that a maths puzzle is suitable for this site. The puzzle-setter disagrees. What do you say?](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/3233/i-say-that-a-maths-puzzle-is-suitable-for-this-site-the-puzzle-setter-disagrees) >5. [Is this question I asked on Math.SE better suited for Puzzling.SE?](https://puzzling.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/3000/is-this-question-i-asked-on-math-se-better-suited-for-puzzling-se) Their summaries are (if you are not willing to read these questions): >1. O.P. asked if he can ask a math question and he was permitted to do so. >2. Few features that makes something a math puzzle rather than math problem: - Clever or elegant solution, often an "aha" moment - Unexpected problem statement. - Unexpected or counterintuitive result. > 3. You can ask puzzles that use advanced mathematics. > 4. Another meta post about the scope on this site of a math related question. The question was found to be a math problem. > 5. The title of this question says it all. The given answer on this meta post was "Until a solution is posted, it's hard for us to say." I am OK with first and fourth point here. But the other three kinda cross each-other. If we are using advanced mathematics in a question then the probability of the solution being elegant is pretty low. (However it still is possible.) And those three features that distinguish between a math puzzle and a math problem works well with the [top](http://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/1968/three-impossibly-intelligent-mathematicians) [math](http://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/2258/chaos-and-order-a-visual-puzzle-in-stained-glass) [questions](http://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/24848/how-can-64-65) [on](http://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/2602/the-sheikh-dies) [this](http://puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/16/100-prisoners-names-in-boxes) [site](http://puzzling.stackexchange.com/) (yes, they are five different questions). But these features don't really help to distinguish when new math questions are posted because "Until a solution is posted, it's hard for us to say." And after the solution is posted, every one forgets about the question. And if it is found to be a math problem then very less number of people care to close the posts to maintain the site quality. Even if the question is closed then somehow after a month, the question can be found to be reopened by the math-lovers. Final Question: - Is there any improvement in the policy to get rid of math problems since last time (which was more than an year ago)? - Is there any way to have the same opinion among different users about a question being a math problem or a math puzzle? ---------- Side question: I couldn't really understand what he meant by "Unexpected problem statement." Can anyone please elaborate it?