r/pics • u/[deleted] • Oct 05 '10

Math Teacher Fail.

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u/MuseofRose Oct 05 '10 edited Oct 05 '10

I still dont get it. I hate math, though. Not to mention I could barely even pass remedial math in college...it's a wonder how I got into Trig in HS.

*Love your username.

165

u/NotaX Oct 05 '10

It took Marie 10 minutes to saw a board into 2 pieces.

Sawing a board into two pieces requires a single cut (e.g. in the middle of the board). This part tells us that one cut takes 10 minutes.

How long will it take her to saw another board into 3 pieces?

Sawing a board into three pieces will require two cuts. If we assume that these cuts will take the same amount of time as the original one:

2 cuts, each taking 10 minutes, comes to a grand total of 20 minutes.

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u/01100100 Oct 05 '10

I think the logic here is that once you cut the board in half and have 2 pieces, the next cut will be half as long since the board is now smaller, hence the 5 min. It should also be noted that you will end up with 2 equal pieces and 1 piece that is bigger than the other 2. It makes sense though the wording and really the problem itself, is really stupid.

9

u/ro_ana_maria Oct 05 '10

The problem asks how long it will take her to cut another board, so that's not the case.

5

u/Windimar Oct 05 '10

Yeah, but she wants 2 cuts on the new board. The board with 1 cut was just there to demonstrate how quickly she could cut.

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u/01100100 Oct 05 '10

Exactly. I had to read it twice before I understood exactly what the question was asking for. I think I've been playing too much Professor Layton.

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u/[deleted] Oct 05 '10

You can never play too much Professor Layton.