Quick Question: Does this make sense?

anksta · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:35

Editing a GCSE maths text book at the minute, have this question:

A piece of rope can be cut into an exact number of 6m lengths.
The rope could also be cut into an exact number of 8m lengths.
What is the shortest possible length of the rope?

I know what they're getting at, it's in a chapter about highest common factors and lowest common multiples. They want the answer to be 24m but is it me or is the wording off?

I've only just started this, it's page 6 of a few hundred pages so I dont want to rock the boat too much.

I think it should be

"2 pieces of rope, one can be cut 6m, the other 8m. How many pieces of each are needed to have the same length"

who agrees?

GravyMonster · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:36

I think the original wording is ok.

It implies you have one piece of rope of 24m which you could in to either 6m or 8m lengths, if you were so inclined.

D.P. · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:37

Spunkey said:
I think the original wording is ok.

It implies you have one piece of rope of 24m which you could in to either 6m or 8m lengths, if you were so inclined.

This

anksta · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:39

aaah yeah, I get you now

Mucky_Pup · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:41

The first question implies there is only one pice of rope, whereas your rewording changes this to two pieces of rope. The first one is correct.

laiman · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:46

The first wording is most definitely easier to understand for me.

Pestilence · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:46

If making any changes, I would have the second line start with "The same piece of rope...", which clarifies it further.

V4NT0M · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:53

anksta said:
I think it should be

"2 pieces of rope, one can be cut 6m, the other 8m. How many pieces of each are needed to have the same length"

Click to expand...

who agrees?

The way you worded it makes no sense.

None whatsoever.

anksta · 19 Sep 2011 at 15:59

Skyfall said:
The way you worded it makes no sense.

None whatsoever.

Obviously I wasn't gonna word it exactly like that.

Leaving it anyway, I was just picturing it as a completely different problem.

Gilly · 19 Sep 2011 at 16:01

anksta said:
Obviously I wasn't gonna word it exactly like that.

But... you did?

anksta said:
Leaving it anyway, I was just picturing it as a completely different problem.

...because you're incapable of understanding a GCSE Maths problem? Did you say you're editing it?

anksta · 19 Sep 2011 at 16:04

Gilly said:
But... you did?

...because you're incapable of understanding a GCSE Maths problem? Did you say you're editing it?

good one mate, I forgot how funny you were.

I'm editing it so it makes sense, I had the answer correct and I checked whether it made sense, I'm not arguing that I had it right in the first place am I?

BunnyKillBot · 19 Sep 2011 at 16:15

The answer to 'how many pieces' definitely does not equal 24metres. A piece is not a unit of length. Your rewrite doesnt make any sense.

Frenzy · 19 Sep 2011 at 16:23

What is the shortest length of a rope which can be cut into either 6 or 8m pieces?

GravyMonster · 19 Sep 2011 at 16:26

^ OP, you're sacked

Gilly · 19 Sep 2011 at 16:31

Spunkey said:
^ OP, you're sacked

No, you can't say that, apparently you're trying to be funny if you say something like that.

shamzzz · 19 Sep 2011 at 17:58

The first one makes perfect sense, yours would confuse me a lot!

Jono8 · 19 Sep 2011 at 18:03

anksta said:
who agrees?

certainly not me.

semi-pro waster · 19 Sep 2011 at 18:29

Frenzy said:
What is the shortest length of a rope which can be cut into either 6 or 8m pieces?

Wouldn't you need something to state that it's (multiple) pieces of the exact length? As otherwise the shortest length of rope that can be cut into 6m or 8m pieces could be 16m 1cm i.e. you cut off 1cm and then half it to get 2x8m or you take off 4m 1cm and half the remainder to end up with 2x6m - anything shorter and you don't end up with pieces for both lengths. The phrase "exact" helps to remove ambiguity.

dfarrall · 19 Sep 2011 at 19:45

First is easily understandable.

Killerkebab · 19 Sep 2011 at 21:59

2 pieces of rope

You've already changed the problem.