11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi,
It would be helpful if anyone could provide the explanation for these questions from Dynamite Book 1, and the topic is 'Confusing information'

1."Anna Starts at her new school on 16th August. she left her old school on wednesday 13th July. How many week days did she not attend school?"
Answer: 21 days.(we are getting the answer as 23 days)

2. "Sarah is ten days older than Scott. If Scott was born on a Thursday , what day was Sarah born?"
Answer: Sunday.(I think the answer would be Monday)

Thanks in advance.

I'd agree with you.

1."Anna Starts at her new school on 16th August. she left her old school on Wednesday 13th July. How many week days did she not attend school?"
Answer: 21 days.(we are getting the answer as 23 days)

How many days in total 14th July-15th August inclusive? 33 - 4 weeks and 5 days. The 4 weeks are 5 weekdays each. The other 5 days are Thursday to Monday - so 3 weekdays and 2 weekend days. Total 23 weekdays.

2. "Sarah is ten days older than Scott. If Scott was born on a Thursday , what day was Sarah born?"
If she is 10 days older, that's 1 week and 3 days.
Count back 3 days (or on 4 days if that's easier) from Thursday and you get Monday (it would have been Sunday if she was 10 days YOUNGER).

I get the same answers as you...

Think the authors of "Dynamite" deserve a rocket for this confusing topic.

I make the answer 22. I would have drawn a quick table but I am useless at tables on the forum.

Anna Starts at her new school on 16th August. She left her old school on Wednesday 13th July. How many week days did she not attend school?"
Answer: 21 days.(we are getting the answer as 23 days)

Left school on Wednesday 13 therefore cannot count that day as she was present.

Thursday 14 and 15 (not 16 and17)
Monday 18 Tuesday 19 Wednesday 20 Thursday 21 Friday 22 (not 23 and 24)
Monday 25 Tuesday 26 Wednesday 27 Thursday 28 Friday 29 (not 30 and 31)
Monday 1 Tuesday 2 Wednesday 3 Thursday 4 Friday 5 (not 6 and 7)
Monday 8 Tuesday 9 Wednesday 10 Thursday 11 Friday 12 (not 13 and 15)

Started School on the Monday 16 August therefore cannot count that day as she was present.

Answer: 22 week days not at school

Patricia

There's a 14 missing on that last weekend - it should be:
Monday 8 Tuesday 9 Wednesday 10 Thursday 11 Friday 12 (not 13 and 14)
Monday 15

Started School on the Tuesday 16 August therefore cannot count that day as she was present.

Answer: 23 week days not at school

The quick way is to start with the number of days in July - 31. Subtract the days before she left the last school - 13. Therefore 18 days in July
Started on 16th August - therefore 15 days in August before this. 18 + 15 = 33
convert to weeks and days - 4 weeks and 5 days.
4 weeks x 5 weekdays = 20
then look at the remaining 5 days, which start with Thursday. Thurs -> Fri -Sat -> Sun -> Mon. 3 weekdays there.
So 20 + 3 = 23

Agreed

I checked that so many times!

Patricia

A silly question because schools are on holiday at that time anyway!

Guest55 wrote:A silly question because schools are on holiday at that time anyway!

But not for a long, if they change the law and indeed extend school terms.

Where does verbal reasoning stop and maths begin?