Posted: 9/10/2008 3:36:32 PM EDT
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Turns out I've been outwitted by a 6th grade math book, which is not suprising. I was also outsmarted by a homeless guy and ended up passed out in a motel bathtub with a sore posterior. But I digress... My kiddo's math book has a question that she couldn't get, and I'm stumped. I'm sure we're both overlooking something obvious, so help us figure this out. Question: Obama's campaign collected a total of 1,364 pennies and quarters from the Gay Circus Midget Black Power Alliance in the form of donations. They collected 234 more pennies than quarters. How much money did Obama's campaign have to show for this donation? Choices are: A. $149.24 B. $158.34 C. $229.40 D. $237.12 The bonus question was, how many Iraqi babies did George Bush kill today? We were stumped on that one too, but it's extra credit so you can skip that one. I'm mainly interested in the math problem....It seems there's an assumption about the amount of quarters/pennies, what am I missing? (btw, these teachers sure ask funny story problems nowadays) |
P = number of pennies Q = number of quarters P + Q = 1364 P = Q + 234 so if P + Q = 1364 then (Q + 234) + Q = 1364 2Q + 234 = 1364 2Q = 1130 Q = 565 P = 565 + 234 = 799  799 pennies is $7.99 565 quarters is $141.25 Total is $149.24 |
00:06:40 |
550 + 784 = 1334, but there is supposed to be 1364. What happened to the 30 extra coins? ETA: Nvm, looking at your math you had a calculation error. |
Got it, I see what I did wrong....but wow, my kid stood ZERO chance on this. Waaaay above her math skills (and mine, apparently). ETA, she got the Bush baby total right tho. |
Fixed |
Simple arithmetic error like the kind that has plagued me all my life. 1364 - 234 = 1130, not 1100 above. That's where they went. 
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