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It's almost as if this question was scientifically formulated to provide maximum arguments on internet forums.
Can someone help me with a math (fraction) question?
- Thread starter Pocket10s
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Soldato
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So is the answer "Pukka" or "Luvverly Jubbly!"?
Might have been. Also might have been formulated to test people's problem solving and data presentation skills.
Probably the arguments though.
Anyway, so we're all agreed? The answer is 10?
The question is ambiguous, I half suspect that is the point.
You're insisting on arguing the toss over simplifying a fraction based on conditions you've made up yourself. Two fifths of the total goals is perfectly correct as an answer re: the fraction of total goals given the previous assumptions.
Again if you feel that presenting an answer including the total goals as the denominator is better or is required because of the way the question has been presented then that is up to you, that is a condition you've given.
I've pointed out that there are two interpretations of the question, one of which we can answer and the other we can't unless we know the portion of goals (or total) scored in each half. I don't think there is much more to be gained from this argument over how to present the answer.
No. I'm not making up any conditions. The question asks for the fraction (portion) of total goals. Not the ratio of goals. You're wrong mate.
If you really want to simplify the answer, then it's 10. Not 2/5.
I'm not.
10/25 = 2/5
both are fractions, 2/5 is just simplified
You're trying to make some sort of semantic argument here and did so before with your line "The question is using the word fraction as a synonym for portion." but when I asked for a clear definition of what you mean then you dodged the question.
There is no hard requirement in the question to present the answer as 10/25 as opposed to 2/5 that is just down to conditions you've imposed yourself.
no 10/25 =/= 2/5
10 out of 25 goals =/= 2 out of 5 goals.
They're not fractions.
You can't score 2/5 of a goal.
Soldato
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You need to re-read the question, specifically re: the answer it is looking for
"What fraction of the total goals did the top 6 teams score?"
Like I said I suspect it is designed to confuse, but the answer it asks for is a fraction.
Whether the information given in the question is to be interpreted as a fraction or is to be interpreted as literally meaning there were 5 goals scored in the first half is not clear. Obviously we can answer the question in the latter case, that answer can be presented as a fraction, in that case we know there are 10 goals scored in total out of 25, if we're presenting that as a fraction in the answer then it is two fifths: 2/5.
You've applied your own conditions here it seems, because of the way the information is presented in the question (3/5, 13/20) you've then decided for some reason that because we're reading that in a certain way (3 out of 5 goals) then we can't present an answer as a fraction even when it is specifically requested.
So re: your previous post:
This is incorrect, the question asks for a fraction. If you want to give the answer 10 you're making up your own conditions.
I've not applied any conditions.
the fraction (part of) of total goals is 10.
The ratio of goals is 2/5. The question does not ask for a ratio. Nor does it include any fractions. All of the numbers are whole numbers.
Without the number of goals the answer 2/5 is meaningless.
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Nope, it has meaning, lets try with words: two fifths.
Two fifths of the total goals scored were scored by the top 6 teams.
The question asks for the fraction of total goals, that is all. If you're going to claim that presenting a (simplified) fraction is wrong then you're making up your own conditions.
10 is not a fraction, the question doesn't ask for the number of goals scored by the top 6 teams. You seem want to present the fraction as 10/25 and are seemingly adamant that it can't be simplified to 2/5. There is no reason for this other than you making up your own conditions.
Question is impossible to answer with a single answer because the OP can't do mathematics. You can't add fractions correctly if both fractions are factions of independent scenarios. So you have to work all the possible scenarios.
Assume real world scores the possible actual goals scored are going to be any of these options in each half.
First Half 3/5 = any of the following:
3-5, 6-10 , 9-15, 12-20, 15-25 , 18-30, 21-35 (Top 6 - Total)
Second Half 13/20 = any of the following:
13-20, 26-40 (Top 6 - Total)
Then it's just a case of adding together each possible outcome and rounding down.
So you have at least 14 potential answers. (More if it's some extreme example of goal scoring, of infinite if this was a pure maths question not based on real world example)
These 7 possible answers if 13 goals scored 2nd half by top 6:
16/25
19/30
22/35
25/40 = 5/8
28/45
31/50
34/55
These 7 if 26 goals scored 2nd half by top 6:
29/45
32/50
35/55 = 7/11
38/60
41/65
44/70
47/75
Due to not being able to round down most of the answers happen to be the actual number of goals scored, Just 2 could be rounded down.
Assume real world scores the possible actual goals scored are going to be any of these options in each half.
First Half 3/5 = any of the following:
3-5, 6-10 , 9-15, 12-20, 15-25 , 18-30, 21-35 (Top 6 - Total)
Second Half 13/20 = any of the following:
13-20, 26-40 (Top 6 - Total)
Then it's just a case of adding together each possible outcome and rounding down.
So you have at least 14 potential answers. (More if it's some extreme example of goal scoring, of infinite if this was a pure maths question not based on real world example)
These 7 possible answers if 13 goals scored 2nd half by top 6:
16/25
19/30
22/35
25/40 = 5/8
28/45
31/50
34/55
These 7 if 26 goals scored 2nd half by top 6:
29/45
32/50
35/55 = 7/11
38/60
41/65
44/70
47/75
Due to not being able to round down most of the answers happen to be the actual number of goals scored, Just 2 could be rounded down.
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Now you're getting there... Nearly. You might as well just say two fifths of 25.
I think you will find that 10 is a fraction of 25.
ie, the fraction of the total goals asked for in the question.
The 25 isn't required though, again you're making up your own conditions.
The question just asks for a fraction. You don't need to give the total goals, you just need the fraction of total goals scored by the top 6 teams.
You ignored this point before but that is where you're getting stuck.
10/25 is a fraction and you can simplify that to 2/5
Lol. You seem fixated with giving the answer in a different format than the data is presented in the question.
If I asked you what 1/2 of 1/2 is. Would you consider that the correct answer is 25%?
And yes, you are correct, the 25 is superfluous, which is why the most simple answer to the question is 10. 10 goals. Not a ratio of 2/5.
If you want to give the answer as a mathematical fraction then i's 10/25. But because these are whole numbers, not fractions, if you simplify it, you're turning it into a ratio.
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No I just simplified 10/25 to 2/5, fairly normal if presenting the answer as a fraction, which is what the question asked, you chose to quote me with some rather petty and silly argument based on some conditions you created yourself and for some reason have repeatedly quoted me since then.
While 25/100 is equivalent I'd suggest that 1/4 would be preferable, since it is usual to simplify fractions! Which is what we're doing here 10/25 = 2/5
No. Because he asked for the fraction of the total goals which is unknown.
That's not a trick question, that's a craply worded question. 3/5 is how you write three fifths. If you want to say they scored 3 out of 5 goals, you'd write "3 out of 5 goals".
Ha ha. 3/5 is also how you can write 3 out of 5.
It's not a fraction. 10/25 is a representation of whole numbers.
Just because it looks like a fraction doesn't mean you should simplify it.