Math problem: Who is correct, The Teacher or The Student?

[darkxshade]

I think the teacher is wrong... reading the question, I figured it was implied that the cut has to result in 3 equal pieces. Not cutting half and then another half any any other possible variation. Otherwise you could essentially cut 3 pieces in under a min if you take a square board and just cut off an inch from 2 corners yielding 2 small triangular pieces and what's left of the board.

 

[TallBill]

Omg haha, that's possibly the funniest thing that I've seen posted on ATOT since I've been here.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

10 minutes to make 2 pieces as stated in the original question. We all assume 2 pieces mean two chunks of whatever. (mainly 1 cut to turn chunk of wood into two chunks of wood). I'm saying if you can find a way such that two "pieces" = two cuts, aka turning a plank into circular pieces, then 15 is fine. 10 minutes to make two circular pieces (two cuts). A third cut to make the 3rd circular piece is an extra 5 minutes.

Please don't try to get me to argue with you on such a stupid thread.

Sorry it was late and it wasn't clear to me that you were trying to change the question in that way, I'm with you now :thumbsup:

 

[Howard]

Well duh, the new board is 12"x12". The first cut is 12" long. But the second cut is only 6" long.

Information not previously provided may not be used.

 

[Gibson486]

LOL....are you guys still arguing about this? Get over it.

 

[Ben90]

Oh grow up and stop acting like a little baby. I am one of many others who can see how the correct answer could be 15. I at least have the sense to give the teacher rather than the student the benefit of the doubt.

I can't believe I'm arguing about this, but the 10/15/20 makes absolutely no sense. Going by the logic you are trying to use it would be:

10/15/17.5/18.75/19.375...

Its sad to see how many people are trying to argue the 10/15/20 (linear) method using logarithmic algebra. Don't make this college drop, who never passed precalc school you.

*edit*
For the sequence type answers, you might want to use 3 dimensions. Instead of saying a 12"x12" board try a 12"x12"x12" cube.

 

[Bird222]

I took it to mean you took a second identical board and just cut it into 3 pieces by making 2 cuts which would mean 20 minutes.

 

[Wyndru]

Teach be trolling.

I would have gone with the logic of 2 cuts X 10 minutes = 20 minutes.

Not the average of the pieces/cut time.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

My god. This is ridiculous. It says to cut A BOARD into TWO PIECES. It doesn't say to cut two pieces off of a board. If it said to slice a pie into two pieces would you assume you needed to make one or two slices?

You have to cut one thing into two pieces. It takes 10 minutes to do this. How long to cut it into three pieces?

Part of this question is realizing that you need to make one cut for two pieces, and two cuts for three pieces. 20 minutes. End of story.

 

[james1701]

Uh, why has nobody stated the question says she gets another board to make the two cuts. She is not continually cutting the first board down to size. It states, she is making the cuts on a second board, not making the first piece smaller. That implies they will all be equal size.

I swear, this thread is littered with hospital administrators, do more with less.

 

[DrPizza]

So how long would it take to cut the board into 1 piece?

:hmm:

Depends... is it a union carpenter?

Information not previously provided may not be used.

Information I *did* previously provide (READ THE THREAD) indicates that your reply to that quote isn't an appropriate answer.

 

[Bird222]

Uh, why has nobody stated the question says she gets another board to make the two cuts. She is not continually cutting the first board down to size. It states, she is making the cuts on a second board, not making the first piece smaller. That implies they will all be equal size.

I swear, this thread is littered with hospital administrators, do more with less.

I kinda said this above.

 

[purbeast0]

i cant believe there are so many stupid people in this thread who think the teacher could be correct, based on the information shown in the image.

 

[Ninjahedge]

We know the answer.

The key comes when the kid brings up the test and the teacher either goes "oops" and corrects it, or tells them to GTH.

I have had both.

Now, the more interesting question would be, how many kids got it right and how many got it "right"