burkphoto wrote:
I looked again. (Oops!)
If ‘she’ is Tracey, then Rachel’s 16 - 4 she gives to Tracey = 12. Then 12/4 = 3, a quarter of what Rachel has remaining. Then Tracey has 4+3, which is 7.
BUT
IF ‘she’ is Rachel, ‘she’ is left with 9.
In any case, the ambiguity of the grammar renders the problem useless unless the math teacher allows BOTH 7 and 9 as answers, and conspires with an English teacher to explain it.
If I answered 7 or 9, and either answer was marked incorrect, I would protest!
Unfortunately, too many math text authors and teachers don’t test their problems for clarity. I had an algebra II teacher in 9th grade who wrote lots of word problems just as bad as this one. She had problems with students who questioned her authority. But I was in an accelerated class, and we ALL questioned authority.
We questioned the principal about our math teacher on a regular basis, and provided a steady stream of examples of her inability to write a coherent, logical, unambiguous problem. She was gone after winter break...
So I appreciate the ‘a slap’ answer!
I looked again. (Oops!) br br If ‘she’ is Tracey,... (
show quote)
get it right this time. The right answer: "a slap"