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Need help on Probability-type Question
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:41 am
by Optimist
Hi there
Tried to do the following, can anyone please help:
In a game played by two teams, there are lots of ways of scoring points.
Ways of scoring, Points
Alpha, 1 point
Beta, 2 points
Gamma, 4 points
How may different ways can a score of 5 be made?
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:58 am
by Guest55
Alpha, 1 point
Beta, 2 points
Gamma, 4 points
You have to be logical to find them all!!
Try one score only first:
1+1+1+1+1 = 5 (now add in the ways with a 2)
1+1+1+2 = 5 (does order matter in the question because you can do these in 'different' ways)
1+ 1+ 2+ 1= 5
1+ 2+ 1+ 1= 5
2+ 1+ 1+ 1 = 5 [ note how I've 'moved' the 2 along to make sure I get all the ways]
1+ 2 + 2 = 5
2+1+ 2 = 5
2+2+ 1 = 5
1+ 4 =5
4+ 1 = 5
So I would, as a mathematician, say 10 but you could also argue that 4 is the answer!
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:22 pm
by ttmum
I got 4 ways, same as Guest55
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:39 pm
by T-4-2
Well I thought the answer was 2. I thought the two teams part of the question was relevant, and that it was the combined score of both teams that had to make 5, therefore the options were:
4 + 1 = 5
1 + 4 = 5
Answer 2 different ways.
(I accept I am probably wrong, but the question isn't very clear, is it?)
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:20 pm
by Optimist
Thanks everyone. I got the answer of 4 aswell, however, I was not convinced - untill the responses came back.
Thanks again.
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:34 pm
by T-4-2
I'm so glad both of my children are much, much more intelligent than me
