Some Parents In England Were Stumped By This Math Question

[Cosmic Char]

No these are the people making the tests for our children not the competent teachers who actually would teach the kids properly if allowed. This is why I'd never send a child to a public school anymore. They went downhill quickly.

I agree with what you say in principle, but it is the teachers job to teach correctly when presented with incorrect questions. Now, I realize that cannot be done on a standardized test; however, I did not get the impression this was a standardized test question. Correct me if I am in the wrong.
I remember many of my teachers correcting text book errors when in the public school system. I agree, it has gone way down hill!

 

[herbu]

I remember many of my teachers correcting text book errors when in the public school system.

Right! But that was back when common sense really was common, and teachers were allowed to teach.

I know! What we need is more and bigger government to fix it!

 

[markw]

Right! But that was back when common sense really was common, and teachers were allowed to teach.

I know! What we need is more and bigger government to fix it!

Well, the government just came out in favor on unisex bathrooms and showers in schools.
The perfect storm of common sense and the government fixing things.

 

[lsiberian]

Well, the government just came out in favor on unisex bathrooms and showers in schools.
The perfect storm of common sense and the government fixing things.

They also solved all our health care problems and ended global warming.

 

[3db]

I never said it was a good question and the issue so many of you have is what's causing the uproar and is a systemic problem with the direction education is heading as a whole.

As it was originally written with each piece of information on a separate line

There were some people on a train.

19 people get off the train at the first stop.

17 people get on the train. Now there are 63 people on the train.

How many people were on the train to begin with?

The expectation is that students are to immediately eliminate the second line since we are not concerned with what happens at the first stop since it does not affect how many people were originally on the train.

You can disagree all you want, it is what it is and it is what educators in the US and overseas are dealing with every day. For instance, some of my geometry kids recently took the PARCC exam, likely the hardest math test they will have taken up to this point in their lives and it is a cumulative exam encompassing algebra skills and the entire geometry curriculum, with ~3 months left in the school year. Somehow that's fair.

These problems pop up and most teachers are saying to themselves, "Yea and......." Because this are the types of problems we deal with day to day as we prepare kids to take tests that many of them aren't ready for, for a wide variety of reasons. Including the fact that half or over half of the math tests are now ELA tests as well in order to decipher the problem.

This is a messed up question because the question asks how many people were there to begin with. Since the 19 people were part of the original group to begin with, the answer is 65. The answer of 46 complete ignores the premise of "To begin with". The answer is contextual and has nothing to do with math.



My last statement should have read.. the question (not the answer) is contextual and has nothing to do with math.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Why are they taking the train? Do they not have cars?

 

[Chu Gai]

Maybe it's easier to understand this way. Some customers are at the Chicken Ranch enjoying themselves. At 2am, 19 customers leave and 17 enter. There are now 63 customers inside. How many were there originally?

 

[highfigh]

Why are they taking the train? Do they not have cars?

Of course not! You should have figured out that this happens in the post-fossil fuel world of the future, where trains run on ideas & hopes and dreams.

 

[c.coyle]

There are three kinds of people: Those who get math and those who don't.

 

[highfigh]

Maybe it's easier to understand this way. Some customers are at the Chicken Ranch enjoying themselves. At 2am, 19 customers leave and 17 enter. There are now 63 customers inside. How many were there originally?

Depends- how many of the Chickens partake of the goods and services?

 

[highfigh]

There are three kinds of people: Those who get math and those who don't.

What is THAT supposed to mean???????????????

OK, answer this- if it takes a chicken and a half a day and a half to lay an egg and a half, how long does it take for a grasshopper to kick the seeds out of a cucumber?

 

[herbu]

Some customers are at the Chicken Ranch enjoying themselves... How many were there originally?

Oooh Oooh!!! I know! I know!!!

 

[Chu Gai]

Big Joe bought a bunch of Magnum Condoms on eBay. Frank asked if he could have 19. Charlie ran into Joe and gave him the 17 condoms he'd borrowed before going to his sister's sleepover. Joe counts the condoms and finds he has 63. How long has Joe been having sex with his math teacher?

 

[highfigh]

Big Joe bought a bunch of Magnum Condoms on eBay. Frank asked if he could have 19. Charlie ran into Joe and gave him the 17 condoms he'd borrowed before going to his sister's sleepover. Joe counts the condoms and finds he has 63. How long has Joe been having sex with his math teacher?

Eight.........point..........two?

 

[Cosmic Char]

Big Joe bought a bunch of Magnum Condoms on eBay. Frank asked if he could have 19. Charlie ran into Joe and gave him the 17 condoms he'd borrowed before going to his sister's sleepover. Joe counts the condoms and finds he has 63. How long has Joe been having sex with his math teacher?

That would depend on what grade he is getting!

 

[Chu Gai]

Here's one from Japan that stumped a bunch of 20 yo's.

9 - 3 ÷ 1/3 + 1 = ?

 

[MR.MAGOO]

the train derailed and all were killed.

Next question.

 

[lsiberian]

the train derailed and all were killed.

Next question.

Careful Johnny they'll ship you off to jail for those kind of comments.

 

[KEW]

Why are they taking the train? Do they not have cars?

This question came from England, so ...not so much!

 

[markw]

Why are they taking the train? Do they not have cars?

They do, but keep in mind that they drive on the wrong side of the road.