Mother is left stumped by her seven-year-old daughter's maths homework question (but could...

DAILY MAIL UK ^ | Jan 31, 2018 | Alex Matthews For Mailonline

[Morgana]

I can't figure it out

[Morgana]

arth ping

[Vendome]

Uhhhh.... 36

[Vendome]

BTW, that is the dumbest answer ever...

[LukeL]

There are 36 more small dogs than large dogs and 49 in total so you need X + (X+36)= 49. By doing basic algebra you get X= 6.5 so there are 42.5 small dogs and 6.5 large dogs. Which are 36 apart and when added equal 49.

[jpsb]

There are 49 dogs signed up to compete in the dog show. There are 36 more small dogs than large dogs signed up to compete. How many small dogs are signed up to compete?

[lefty-lie-spy]

LOL. Weird one for sure. I got the same answer explained in the article.

Total Dogs Large Dogs Small Dogs
49 L 36+L
49=L+(36+L)
49=36+2L
2L=13
13/2=6.5
36+6.5=42.5 dogs...?????!

[Billthedrill]

They should reword the thing, because people who deal in half-dogs get reported to the RSPCA.

x + (x +36) = 49
2x = 13
x=6.5
small dogs = x+36, so 42.5

That's obviously not what they had in mind, but if you can't define a problem correctly nobody can solve it correctly.

[LukeL]

Yup, this would be a question I would ask to students in 7th to 9th grade. 7th if they were very bright and 9th for an average student. It is basic algebra and requires understanding of fractions and the 4 basic math functions which usually doesn’t happen until 6th grade.

[SaveFerris]

One should never enter 1/2 of a dog into a dog show.

I'm thinking that would be an automatic disqualifier, but that's just me.

[LukeL]

What if the other half identifies as a cat? Then you are in even more trouble.

[aquila48]

42 small dogs
6 big dogs
1 medium dog

or...

42.5 small dogs
6.5 big dogs

or...

the idiot that came up with this problem didn’t know what he was doing.

[be-baw]

x=xmall
y=large

x + y = 49
x - y = 36

Simultaneous equations:

2x + y - y = 49 + 36 = 85

2x = 85

x = 42.5 small dogs

[Morgana]

42.5

Sooooooooooooooooo how does 1/2 a dog compete in a dog show???

[SaveFerris]

Or if the 1/2 dog starts chasing the 1/2 cat.

It’s almost like Bruce Jenner competing against Chelsea Manning......

[FredZarguna]

Not really, there was a whole cartoon series about it.

[Billthedrill]

Aquila48 nailed it. 42 small dogs, 6 big dogs, and A CAT!

Dang cats.

[beejaa]

That’s exactly how I worked it out. The x refers to the big dogs and the x + 36 refers to the small dogs. The problem is that there are 6.5 big dogs and 42.5 small dogs, and since there are two half dogs, they both must be really small...

[SaveFerris]

Aquila48 nailed it. 42 small dogs, 6 big dogs, and A CAT!

And A CAT that self-identified as a medium-sized dog!

[Vendome]

Algebra is stoopet....