Author Topic: 3rd grade math problem....I'm not kidding...you know you're old (Read 10855 times)

ChicosBailBonds · « **on:** May 20, 2008, 10:47:04 PM »

Tory, Heather, Kara, and Donna went to see a movie. Heather took the first seat. Kara and Tory did not sit next to each other. Donna only sat next to Tory. In what order did the girls sit?

Any ideas...I've had 4 adults take a crack at this....one is an engineer.

ATWizJr · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:09:03 PM »

wouldn't the order have to be Heather-Kara-Donna-Tory?

ATWizJr · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:15:26 PM »

oops, my solution can't be correct unless there is an open seat between Donna and Kara. I think......

ChicosBailBonds · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:16:55 PM »

Quote from: ATWizJr on May 20, 2008, 11:15:26 PM

oops, my solution can't be correct unless there is an open seat between Donna and Kara. I think......

Yeah, we're stumped....the adults I've sent this to all have different answers from an open seat to two rows to three rows. No slam dunk answer yet

Thomas' Danish Delight · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2008, 11:41:15 PM »

It's gotta be multiple rows....no way they're sitting consecutively all next to each other.

It's probably

Heather
Donna/Tory or Tory/Donna
Kara

That or the open seat solution...

Heather-Kara _______ Donna -Tory

Unless this is one of those..."There is not enough info needed to solve the problem" kind of deals...

ATWizJr · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2008, 01:51:38 AM »

did they see the same movie?

BrewCity83 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2008, 08:23:14 AM »

Kara sat on Heather's lap.

MU Chi_IL · « **Reply #7 on:** May 21, 2008, 08:44:17 AM »

Is Tory a boy?

Henry Sugar · « **Reply #8 on:** May 21, 2008, 09:00:28 AM »

Fun question - my take is that the answer depends on what we assume by Heather taking the first seat.

If it means that she sits down first anywhere she pleases, then the answer is easy (K, H, T, D)

If it means that she sits at the first seat in the row, then there either is no answer or we're looking at something goofy like an open seat or multiple rows.

Granted, I know nothing about third grade teaching levels, but to assume open seats or multiple rows seems a bit tricky for a third grade problem. Maybe it's just poor word choice in the problem?

rocky_warrior · « **Reply #9 on:** May 21, 2008, 09:19:51 AM »

Quote from: Henry Sugar on May 21, 2008, 09:00:28 AM

Fun question - my take is that the answer depends on what we assume by Heather taking the first seat.

If it means that she sits down first anywhere she pleases, then the answer is easy (K, H, T, D)

I'd have to agree. When I first read it, that's what I thought. When you say "Heather took the first seat." it could just mean she sat down first. Which is what I would expect a 3rd grader to think**

** - seeing as how I'm only about as mature as a 3rd grader

ChicosBailBonds · « **Reply #10 on:** May 21, 2008, 09:20:17 AM »

Quote from: Henry Sugar on May 21, 2008, 09:00:28 AM

Fun question - my take is that the answer depends on what we assume by Heather taking the first seat.

If it means that she sits down first anywhere she pleases, then the answer is easy (K, H, T, D)

If it means that she sits at the first seat in the row, then there either is no answer or we're looking at something goofy like an open seat or multiple rows.

Granted, I know nothing about third grade teaching levels, but to assume open seats or multiple rows seems a bit tricky for a third grade problem. Maybe it's just poor word choice in the problem?

Henry....you might have the answer. Though I must say the option of sitting on the lap is rather funny from the other poster

Coach Norman Dale · « **Reply #11 on:** May 21, 2008, 12:07:17 PM »

Please update us when you get your child's homework back!

ChicosBailBonds · « **Reply #12 on:** May 21, 2008, 12:23:38 PM »

Quote from: Coach Norman Dale on May 21, 2008, 12:07:17 PM

Please update us when you get your child's homework back!

I will

I had one of our space engineers here look at it and he was bamboozled. "THERE IS NO ANSWER" he kept saying. Have to agree with him, the question is worded too vaguely.

MUPig · « **Reply #13 on:** May 21, 2008, 06:24:29 PM »

Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on May 20, 2008, 10:47:04 PM

Tory, Heather, Kara, and Donna went to see a movie. Heather took the first seat. Kara and Tory did not sit next to each other. Donna only sat next to Tory. In what order did the girls sit?

Any ideas...I've had 4 adults take a crack at this....one is an engineer.

It has to be a misprint.......

Heather --> Kara --> Donna --> Tory

Would it make more sense if it said "Only Donna sat next to Tory?". Otherwise, it is impossible without an empty seat.

BrewCity83 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 22, 2008, 04:27:31 PM »

I think Henry had it right...

Kara-Heather-Tory-Donna

If you can interpret "Heather took the first seat" to mean "Heather sat down first" in a seat somewhere not on the aisle, then this is the answer.

Otherwise, Kara sat on Heather's lap.

Coach Norman Dale · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2008, 11:20:46 PM »

I think MUPig has it right with the misprint explanation -- two words transposed. Remember this was 3rd grade homework not a Mensa exam.

ZiggysFryBoy · « **Reply #16 on:** May 22, 2008, 11:42:35 PM »

those girls is sluts, sittin on each other's laps and all.

ATWizJr · « **Reply #17 on:** May 26, 2008, 09:06:42 AM »

so, has the teacher given and explained the answer yet?

Share.

augoman · « **Reply #18 on:** May 26, 2008, 01:42:39 PM »

Quote from: BrewCity on May 22, 2008, 04:27:31 PM

I think Henry had it right...

Kara-Heather-Tory-Donna

If you can interpret "Heather took the first seat" to mean "Heather sat down first" in a seat somewhere not on the aisle, then this is the answer.

Otherwise, Kara sat on Heather's lap.

Brewcity has to have it..., "took the first seat" doesn't mean she sat on the aisle.

ChicosBailBonds · « **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2008, 01:13:32 PM »

Brewcity was correct according to the answers provided in the text book by the teacher. It's all how you interpret the wording.

ATWizJr · « **Reply #20 on:** May 28, 2008, 01:29:45 PM »

and 3rd graders can make that distinction? Wow!

BrewCity83 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2008, 01:31:49 PM »

Woo Hoo!! On to Fourth Grade I Go!!

Henry Sugar · « **Reply #22 on:** May 28, 2008, 02:16:22 PM »

Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on May 28, 2008, 01:13:32 PM

Brewcity was correct according to the answers provided in the text book by the teacher. It's all how you interpret the wording.

<cough>

spiral97 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 28, 2008, 02:20:41 PM »

Quote from: Henry Sugar on May 28, 2008, 02:16:22 PM

<cough>

here.. this should help your coughing..

Henry Sugar · « **Reply #24 on:** May 28, 2008, 02:30:29 PM »

Quote from: spiral97 on May 28, 2008, 02:20:41 PM

here.. this should help your coughing..

That's a good suggestion. Thanks.

spiral97 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 28, 2008, 02:32:41 PM »

BrewCity83 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 28, 2008, 04:32:06 PM »

Quote from: BrewCity on May 22, 2008, 04:27:31 PM

I think Henry had it right...

Kara-Heather-Tory-Donna

If you can interpret "Heather took the first seat" to mean "Heather sat down first" in a seat somewhere not on the aisle, then this is the answer.

Otherwise, Kara sat on Heather's lap.

Henry...see my original quote above...I gave you due credit. Just clarified it so the other third graders could follow.

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Author Topic: 3rd grade math problem....I'm not kidding...you know you're old (Read 10855 times)