I just found out an undeniable truth. It is sad but so totally indisputable because it has been proven beyond a shadow of doubt. My mathematical abilities are only of primary 3 standard. That realization would send a lot of adults into a tizzy and perhaps vehement denial but it just confirms what I'd known about myself all along.
Yesterday was a day of reckoning. There were at least 3 questions that befuddled me. Why do they set such mind-boggling questions?? I grumbled more than once as I gnawed the end of my pencil to a messy stump. Not a pretty sight. My boy just raised his left eyebrow at me and shrugged as if to say, "You tell me. You've been through the same education system."
I was even advised by my Maths lecturer to drop the subject at A levels. He said I should just concentrate on my strong subjects and not 'waste time' trying to figure out Sine, Cosine, Tangent and Cosecant. So much for motivation and encouragement. But I forgive you, Mr Seah. You only meant well.
Okay, back to the mind-boggling questions. I managed to make sense of the other two but this one really takes the cake.
When Peter is 10 years old, his father is 4 times as old. How old will Peter be when his father is 3 times as old as he is? The answer should be 15 years old but for the life of me, I can't figure out why or how? Is there anything wrong with Peter's father? Or the question?
It's probably just me. Sigh!
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3 comments:
heck! I was a science student and I am just as bad as you are! :-D
got to do with workg out a math equation and getting an answer from there. All told, his dad must be more than forty years old and the closest must be 45, making Pete at 15 yrs of age to tally the age difference. :-)
Any other age wld make Pete's dad live longer as tho he has drunk the fountain of youth or like Benjamin Button growing up as a baby... :-D
Hahaha. Being Benjamin Button might not be a bad idea considering how we gain wisdom as the years progress, it's good to have the youth & physicality to go with it!
Mocha, I enjoy your writing. All those literature must have helped shape this gift. Clearly, your strength is in writing and not Math! Haha...
Regarding the 'problem' we must look at it from a primary 4 syllabus and not from an adult's point of view.
Don't berate yourself, OK? Logically, it doesn't make sense. Peter's father is either 4 times or 3 times older than he is. Not both. But if you work it through units (which is what schools are teaching kids these days), you will see why.
Scenario 1: Peter is 10 yrs old, his father is 4 times as old as he is:
Peter (10)
Father (10) (10) (10) (10)
Peter’s father is therefore 40 years old and 30 years older than him. One point to take note is that he will always be 30 YEARS OLDER than him, which brings us to Scenario 2...
Scenario 2: Peter’s father is 3 times as old as he is, how old does that make Peter?
Peter (15)
Father (15) (15) (15)
30 yrs old divided by 2 units = 15.
As his father is 3 times older than he is that would make Peter 15yrs old.
By working with units, children are supposed to think 'out of the box' & adapt the concept to solve the 'problems'.
Hope this helps ;0)
Hello Fr, I would never have placed you as a science student because you're such a prolific writer. Hope I'm not guilty of stereotyping!! Hehe. But I believe the ability to write and speak well is such an asset to your vocation :)
Roger, thanks! That was an enlightenment. If only my math teachers were clear like that, I would never have to drop the subject.
Anyway, it's all water under the brigde now. You're also right that the syllabus these days differs greatly from our days. Yes, I remember my child having to draw rectangular models and units now. Aiya, why didn't I think to work the problem that way?
So technically, Peter's father can be TWICE his age too, the point being that the age difference is 30yrs. When Peter's 30 yrs old, his dad would be 60.
Eureka!
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