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hughee99

(16,113 posts)

11. It depends on how you read it.

Wed Dec 9, 2015, 02:29 AM

Dec 2015

There are TWO objectives...
1. buy as many balloons as you can
2. spend as close to $10 as you can without going over.

You are reading it, as it was probably intended, that the MOST important objective was to buy as many balloons as possible, and the secondary objective was to spend as much of the $10 as possible, but that's doesn't necessarily follow from the wording. I listed them as the first and second objective, but the wording simply says follow all three rules and doesn't specify an order of precedence. That is inferred by the reader, but is not explicitly stated. If the last rule was "Don't spend more than $10" then it's simply a constraint, not an objective, and there's only one answer.

The $9.24 answer doesn't follow rule 3. He could have spent closer to $10 on balloons without going over.
The $9.73 answer doesn't follow rule 2. He could have bought more balloons.

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A 4th Grade standardized test practice question from my 4th grade daughter [View all] hughee99 Dec 2015 OP

It's not unusual, or new. jeff47 Dec 2015 #1

I'll bite. I think there is only one correct answer. Warren Stupidity Dec 2015 #2

The issue is that there are 3 rules, so it depends on which one you give precidence to. hughee99 Dec 2015 #4

Just a stupid test Lithos Dec 2015 #3

That was my initial reaction as well, but when my daughter explained her two answers, hughee99 Dec 2015 #5

Rule 3 disallows two different answers. CBGLuthier Dec 2015 #6

Only if you assume the rule of getting the most balloons is more important than hughee99 Dec 2015 #7

I assume following all three rules is what is required. CBGLuthier Dec 2015 #8

It was written on the question exactly as I wrote it in the post. hughee99 Dec 2015 #9

The rules are simple Perogie Dec 2015 #10

It depends on how you read it. hughee99 Dec 2015 #11

What part of you have to meet all three rules is unclear? Warren Stupidity Dec 2015 #12

Yes, the real world is full of conflicting requirements. hughee99 Dec 2015 #15

I got what you meant the first time you posted it Perogie Dec 2015 #13

Didn't mean to offend you, but I believe you're mistaken when you say hughee99 Dec 2015 #14

It is well worded. But math is not only number facts. This question tests number sense Mass Dec 2015 #16

So in other words, she should have made assumptions not explicitly listed in the question, hughee99 Dec 2015 #17

This is an example of an "open response" problem. Dr. Strange Dec 2015 #18