A contestant was asked whether it would take:
1) More than 15 six-packs,
2) Exactly 15 six-packs, or,
3) Less than 15 six-packs
to equal "99 bottle of beer on the wall".
She had to ask for help because, as she put it, "I don't drink beer".
How many of you are APPALLED that 30 out of 70 adults in the mob did not know the right answer? (Have we become a nation of mathematical idiots???)
2007-01-06 16:43:36 · 12 answers · asked by A_Patriot 2 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
You know, I gotta think that the folks putting together the questions had a side bet on this one, One of them said, "Ask this question" and another said, "No way. Nobody could possibly miss that." and the first guy said, "Wanna bet? I'll bet more than 20% miss it!"
By the way, for any of you who saw the show, only 20 of the 70 missed the question - but you have to figure that anyone who didn't know would guess with a 1 in 3 probability of getting the right answer. So of the 50 people who got the right answer, 10 of them did it purely by luck. So 30 people didn't know.
2007-01-06 17:06:03 · update #1
Ok. First let me be honest with everyone. Im a college freshman who just passed second semester of calculus with an A and Physics I with an A. I've always been strong in math but this question bothers me as opposed to all the answers who are confident that the answer is C. Sorry for my stupidity/dumbness whatever. I just wanted to know how did you guys came up with that conclusion? I didn't watch the show if that helps. And I also am not sure if a can contains more than a bottle or vice versa. This may sound like an obvius answer but sometimes it can be an optical illusion. A simple increase in the can's diameter can cause a significant change in its volume and plus the tallness of the bottle makes it look like it holds more but u gotta account for the thin neck which holds little fluid plus the thickness of the glassmaterial. I have never bother to test it to see which has more. But really, how can u get the answer. Again sorry for me being stupid. If i were one of those people on the show, i would have fallen in the category of guessers.
2007-01-06 20:14:55 · answer #1 · answered by Will 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All you have to do to determine whether or not we've become a nation not only of mathematical idiots but grammatical, historical and essentially anything not on an Ipod or able to be bought in a fast food restaurant seems to be beyond the scope of the intellect of most of the participants here. The younger ones, anyway. With many, you have to read them a couple of times just to determine that the poster is actually writing in the English language! I'll probably get reported for that; stating one's opinion is frowned upon here as it's considered 'mean spirited, hurtful and insulting to others'. Oh, well.
UPDATE!! Even more appalling is the answer from Will, a self described mathematician and physicist! HELLO, WILL! The volume doesn't mean s'hit to a tree; it's the NUMBER of bottles!!!! Sheesh!
2007-01-07 00:58:36 · answer #2 · answered by mr.threethirtyfive 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Every kid in my classes (grades 6 to 9) could come up with the answer to that question. Thank be, as it is at about a grade three level (minus the beer, of course). If you are over the age of 20 in today's North American society, you were probably taught math by rote... the concepts and the operations were separated. People have a very difficult time with practical applications of mathematics, as problem solving was not as stressed in the past. If the question was: what's 15 times 6, more people would have come up with the correct answer (calculator babies aside).
You are correct... it is REALLY scary. Hopefully my crop of young minds will remedy this deficiency. They love math and are amazing problem solvers.
2007-01-07 01:02:42 · answer #3 · answered by Mikisew 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are a world of calculators and electronic registers. Not many people have to think about simple addition & mutiplication anymore. The person in the drive-up looks confused when I hand him/her $9.10 for a bill of $8.85. I just wanted a quarter back, yet he/she will give me two dimes and a nickel. Idiots!!
2007-01-07 00:56:14 · answer #4 · answered by bella 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WOW... why cant they divide by 6... or just multiply 6 by 15 and estimate. what the hell? its called a 6 pack so it doesnt matter if she drinks beer... what kind of morons sit in the 100 person area?! GOOD LORD!
2007-01-07 00:52:17 · answer #5 · answered by DarkAardvark 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
here is one for you a contestant was asked "if you had a nickle of every dime in a dollar how mutch money would you have" and 43 out of 86 people got it wrong. thats half!
2007-01-07 03:02:28 · answer #6 · answered by confuesed2011 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because wine doesn't come in a 6 pack???
She drinks wine from a box???
more than 15
people who drink, can't do math?
people cannot do math in their heads cuz of computer and calculator reliance.
she probably thinks abba is the anser for 2a +2b!!!!
2007-01-07 01:00:58 · answer #7 · answered by Lilly 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
more than 15-packs
2007-01-07 00:52:30 · answer #8 · answered by A Gabbi 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is sad, isn't it? We've become a nation that undervalues intelligence.
2007-01-07 01:04:35 · answer #9 · answered by Brad2598 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lmao thats just sad
i agree
2007-01-07 00:51:18 · answer #10 · answered by aaaaaaaaaaaaaa555 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋