Need help on Probability-type Question

Optimist · Post by **Optimist** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:41 am

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?

Guest55 · Post by **Guest55** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:58 am

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!

ttmum · Post by **ttmum** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:22 pm

I got 4 ways, same as Guest55

T-4-2 · Post by **T-4-2** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:39 pm

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?)

Optimist · Post by **Optimist** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:20 pm

Thanks everyone. I got the answer of 4 aswell, however, I was not convinced - untill the responses came back.

Thanks again.

T-4-2 · Post by **T-4-2** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:34 pm

I'm so glad both of my children are much, much more intelligent than me