Re:A “simple” 3rd grade problem
by downandout on Saturday May 04, 2013 @12:36PM
(#5655376)
True, but I think that maybe 1/3 or more of the students would have answered this correctly. At some point during the grading process, you would think the teacher would begin to wonder why all of these students would have answered such a seemingly simple question "incorrectly" and take a second look.
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...because 'trick' questions are (at least, were) part of math. The justification is to make sure people read, and understand, the question.
It's not a trick question, just a bad one. It doesn't include enough information to give an informed answer. Telepathy is required to suss out the author's intention.
In the real world, you can ask more questions and get a more complete picture. On an exam, generally you must accept what you are given.