OT: Math problem

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  • May 29, 2014 at 12:56 am #185913
    Mamabear
    Member

    Someone posted this on FB and I had to share it because someone told me repeatedly my answer was wrong (it wasn’t). Just wondering if the myth that accountants are good at math is true. 🙂 Who knows the answer?

    A group of students attend a math club. Half of the students are boys. 3/9 of the boys have brown eyes. What fraction of the group are boys with brown eyes?

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  • May 29, 2014 at 1:03 am #558679
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    1/2 * 3/9 = 3/18 = 1/6?

    May 29, 2014 at 1:04 am #558681
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    3/18 aka 1/6?

    I had a former coworker as a complicated-yet-simple question (meaning long and drawn-out, but basic addition and subtraction once you understood the question), and when I gave an answer, he replied simply with “Check your math”. I did, came back to him, same answer. This went on for a bit, and then I caught the twinkle in his eye – he wasn't saying I was wrong, just to “check your math”. The whole point was to pester me with thinking I'd made a mistake. 😉 Not sure if that's what your FB friend was doing but that's what your post made me think of!

    May 29, 2014 at 1:47 am #558682
    Mamabear
    Member

    1/6 is correct!

    @Lilla–That's funny. I'm going to start telling people that to make them doubt themselves. 🙂 Sadly, that was not what this person was doing. They were absolutely convinced that it was 1/3. Multiple times we went back and forth about who was right. It was a fun break from studying tax law, says the former Algebra tutor. 🙂

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    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

    May 29, 2014 at 1:54 am #558683
    jeff
    Keymaster

    True Story that stumped several nurses in my extended family:

    My sister-in-law's dog had 5 puppies.

    They were in a large dog pen.

    They pooped in the large dog pen.

    Someone bought one of the 5 puppies.

    Question: What was the reduction in poop?

    That person then brought the puppy back.

    Question: What was the increase in poop?

    AUD - 79
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    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    May 29, 2014 at 2:03 am #558684
    JamesBJames
    Participant

    P(boy) = 1/2

    P(brown eyes|boy) = 1/3

    P(boy AND brown eyes) = P(boy) * P(brown eyes|boy) = 1/2 * 1/3 = 1/6

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    May 29, 2014 at 2:08 am #558685
    Mamabear
    Member

    @Jeff–Maybe I'm being too literal, but I'm going to go with no reduction and no increase. If the question had been “What was the reduction of poop in the pen?” then that would have been an unsolvable riddle. The puppy is still going to poop, just not in the pen. Or knowing you–it's not a riddle at all and you're just trying to see what people say about it. Hmmmm.

    CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
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    AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
    FAR (04/12/14) 81
    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

    May 29, 2014 at 2:11 am #558686
    jeff
    Keymaster

    Don't be literal 🙂

    What is the reduction/addition of poop in the pen?

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    May 29, 2014 at 2:14 am #558687
    Mamabear
    Member

    OK then 1/6th?

    CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
    BEC (08/10/13) 80
    AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
    FAR (04/12/14) 81
    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

    May 29, 2014 at 2:17 am #558688
    jeff
    Keymaster

    No 🙂

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
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    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    May 29, 2014 at 2:21 am #558689
    Mamabear
    Member

    I got nothin. I have to sleep now, but I will check in the morning to see the answer.

    CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
    BEC (08/10/13) 80
    AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
    FAR (04/12/14) 81
    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

    May 29, 2014 at 2:31 am #558690
    jeff
    Keymaster

    5 dogs

    Then 4 dogs

    Then 5 dogs

    🙂

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    May 29, 2014 at 3:46 am #558691
    M.O.D.
    Member

    1/5 reduction = -20%

    1/4 increase = +25%

    BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
    Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
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    May 29, 2014 at 3:48 am #558692
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Well you weren't exactly clear because one could assume there were 6 total dogs in the pen after the older dog had 5 puppies 🙂

    May 29, 2014 at 4:22 am #558693
    jeff
    Keymaster

    Details…details… 🙂

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    May 29, 2014 at 10:30 am #558694
    Mamabear
    Member

    Yep–I thought Mama dog was in the pen too.

    CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
    BEC (08/10/13) 80
    AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
    FAR (04/12/14) 81
    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

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