re: 2nd grade math homework - what is the correct answer?

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or the moron who wrote this question

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I think it is clear the intention was for the kids to subtract 36 from 49. It was just completely mis-worded.

As a teacher, I have seen this stuff quite a bit. The taxpayers pay an assload of money to someone to come up with a “scope and sequence” ( which anyone can view at labelieves.com).

When I actually try to start teaching from this thing it is clear that it was half assed vetted. Some of the answers on the answer keys are essentially made up because I can’t even find them in the readings. The reading level of sixth graders wasn’t even considered and if I went by it faithfully and with fidelity the kids would be bored out of there minds.

...36...

Answer = Op lies.

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Nice edit after Googling.

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You didn’t stipulate that I couldn’t google.

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Poor half dogs.

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Assume the dog show is in a Korean market and there is no requirement for live dogs.

X = Large dogs
X + 36 = Small dogs

Large + Small = 49
X + X + 36 = 49
2X = 13
X = 6.5

Stupidly written question.

42.5 is mathematically correct but a nonsensical answer. Which defeats the entire purpose of a word problem - with a word problem you're supposed to use critical thought to help you arrive at the answer, and everyone knows there's no such thing as a half-dog.

If the word problem doesn't hold up to logic, ditch it and just have a strict algebra problem.

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X + Y = 49
Let Y = small dogs
Let X = large dogs

Y+ 36 = X
(Y + 36) + Y = 49
2Y + 36 = 49
2Y = 13
Y = 6.5

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You got the correct answer but Inthink you have some error in your equation going from "knowns" to "unknowns". Using x then it magically disappears? If "x" equals large dogs then it can't represent total dogs.

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The word problem prompts you to set up a system of equations whereby you have two equations and two unknowns.

The two unknowns:
1. number of large dogs
2. number of small dogs.

The problem gives you enough information to set up two equations:

(Small dogs) + (Large Dogs) = 49
(Small dogs) + 36 = (Large Dogs)

To solve the equations, you have to substitute the second equation into the first so you’re working one equation with one unknown. The ‘X’ doesn’t ‘magically disappear,’ it’s substituted by what we know.

Hope that helps explain it.

Easy math...

100/2=50

50-10=40

40/7=5.7

5.7+36.8=42.5

Duh

You can't do it. if there are 36 more small dogs than big dogs, the number of small dogs plus the number of big dogs must equal an even number. Since the final total number of dogs they're looking for is an odd number, you can't do it. Not without a saw, at least.

There. I've answered it using only logic and no algebra and the OT still will have no idea what's going on because you are some stupid motherfrickers.