3rd grade math

[N-OS X-tasy!]

Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
I get the impression it's supposed to be an algebra problem with two or four solutions, like m.paris posted.

That's entirely possible. However, as previously stated, the problem is unsolvable as presented.

[Todd's keyboard]

bazookaman wrote:

s so that no side is less than 12 inches in length.

Is there a chance that the question is stating the the lengths can't be less than twelve inches? (but the widths can)

[bfd]

Dumbass editors. Probably don't know math, but didn't see a misspelled word so they let it roll. SMH

The crap online and in the texts are rife with these kinds of errors.

[RAMd®d]

Yes it's "whole" not "while". I'm typing on my phone for Pete sakes.

[Janit]

Maybe the typo is that the perimeter should be 50 inches.

sides 2 x 12 and 2 x 13

area 12 x 13 = 156

In other words, the actual problem your child was given was this:

If the sides of a rectangle are all whole numbers, and one side cannot be less than 12 inches, what must the perimeter of the rectangle be if there is to be only one unique value for the area?

50 inches is the only unambiguous version I can come up with -- 52 inches could be either 13 x 13 or 12 x 14, etc.

As phrased, this was NOT a 3rd grade math problem, and the teacher is really bad at proofreading the assignments.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

There is no point in speculating about what the problem should have stated.

[Janit]

N-OS X-tasy! wrote:
There is no point in speculating about what the problem should have stated.

Maybe not to you, but for technical editors such investigation is part of the job description. It is also the necessary foundation for creative science.

Or are you just annoyed that I provided the probable solution to a problem you declared to be "unsolvable."

[wowzer]

What is the solution? Did the teacher explain it?

[bazookaman]

wowzer wrote:
What is the solution? Did the teacher explain it?

I wrote a note on her homework which she should have turned in today. No idea if the teacher saw it or said anything about. I'll ask my daughter tonight. Probable response: "I don't know."

Certainly I'm not the only parent who saw it though.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

Janit wrote:
[quote=N-OS X-tasy!]
There is no point in speculating about what the problem should have stated.

Maybe not to you, but for technical editors such investigation is part of the job description. It is also the necessary foundation for creative science.

Or are you just annoyed that I provided the probable solution to a problem you declared to be "unsolvable."
Good god.

Let me be clear: There is no way for ANYONE here to know what the problem was actually intended to say or what the intended actual solution is. Any speculation to that end is just mental masturbation and has zero value in helping to determine the intended actual solution.

I'll say it again: The problem is unsolvable as presented. If you want to impress me, solve the problem as presented. Otherwise, you've provided nothing. You think any of us here couldn't come up with a dozen different "probable" solutions?

If I'm annoyed with anything, it is your apparent lack of comprehensive reading and critical reasoning skills.