AIBU to think this KS3 maths homework is a bit hard or am I a bit thick?

[kicker]

A x E = DI, B x E = AE, C x E = C, D x E = IA, E x E = BA,
F x E = E, G x E = JB, H x E = GI, I x E = FB, J x E = AC

A x E = DI, 4x8=32
B x E = AE, 6x8=48
C x E = C, 0x8=0
D x E = IA, 3x8=24
E x E = BA, 8x8=64
F x E = E, 1x8=8
G x E = JB, 7x8=56
H x E = GI, 9x8=72
I x E = FB, 2x8=16
J x E = AC. 5x8=40

My head hurts.

It looks exactly how you teach Algebra... A×B=C. The fact so many people reached for algebra shows how close/confused to algebra notation it is. By using it as a homework your risking introducing misconceptions into both Algebra and multiples

All the homework is on an app. I have just copied and pasted. The only other instruction is Solve the Code - Homework due in Thursday 29th November!

ExE=BA is the way to crack it.

Because there are only a few options for that and you can work out which one it is with the first two.

Everything just falls into place after that.

This is the sort of thing that completely put me off school in general ...so humiliating if you don't get it ....

That's true of everything in life if you view failure as humiliating and 'getting it' as a fixed state.

Wait, I get it now! @Nacknick - thank you! I can go to bed happy and unconfused.

@TeenTimesTwo

That’s fine, but in that case I think it’s confusing and, frankly, daft to use universally recognised algebraic notation incorrectly.

I’ll file this away in the memory banks for when my son comes back with something similar.

@waterrat not surprised. Maths is awesome, this is not. Your taught algebra then you're given an question that looks like algebra but totally isn't. It's enough to put anyone off

Onthenaughty There's two possibilities for C x E =C: E=1 OR C = 0
Ditto for F x E = E,: F = 1 OR E = 0

We know E^2 is a 2 figure number (BA) so E cannot equal 0 or 1 (must be 4 to 9) Therefore we can start with C = 0 and F = 1
It all falls out from there. It is quite fun for a logic exercise without too much maths involved.

But I agree about the rubbish notation. You spend all your time saying AB = A x B not 10A + B. How to confuse a class.

Glad I could help @StepAwayFromGoogle

I love this kind of stuff!

Stuff like this is why I didn't enjoy maths in high school.

It's a logic code puzzle, not a maths puzzle.

If it was done with pictures of fruit as symbols instead of using letters it would probably be easier to understand, without the "is it supposed to be algebra?" confusion.

Nope not feeling it here. I have a BA (Hons) Psychology and Msc

@DogInATent i was thinking the same. But then I'm aware counting and collecting fruit/pictures was one way of teaching algebra in the first place....

I don't think there's any way of rescuing this exercise from the bad algebra camp

But you don't use CAPITAL letters in algebra.
You also don't use 'x' signs.

It doesn't look anything like algebra.
and they were told it was a code.

If the OP had said in the first post that the instructions were 'Solve the Code' people wouldn't have jumped to it being algebra either.

Perfectly reasonably top set KS3 homework.

Hopeless for non top set (or adults who have forgotten their maths).

@TeenTimesTwo

You teach algebra using the times sign, often in degree level maths. I often use a x sign to clarify part of an algebraic expression because it is correct notation. You absolutely can use Capital letters in algebra especially when you combine algebra with trigonometry.

But clearly I have forgotten my degree level maths....

Green I agree, partially. (and I know I have forgotten 99.99% of my degree level maths ).

But KS3 aren't taught algebra looking like this (especially the capital letters). At least neither of my DDs have, it isn't shown like this in KS3/GCSE revision guides/workbooks. Also KS3 generally won't haven't done trigonometry.

So I think people are over complicating things (and then getting upset when it is a different type of problem). A bit like when someone posts a primary level question and people try to solve it with simultaneous equations. If it is primary it won't be simultaneous equations that's expected.

The OP knew it was a code, just failed to tell MN, which was the source of all the confusion!

Now I remember why I failed maths.
None of this thread has made any sense to me I'm fascinated by people who are able to solve that.

That's another 10 minutes of my life gone. I hate "Maths" problems which can only be solved by trial and error.

Also the notation is rubbish and not clear that digits are uniquely 0-9.

Do quite like the 0 or 1 conundrum and the use of squares and times tables.

Now sad enough to consider whether problem can be reworked for other times tables.

I need a good LTB thread to shut the sums in my head up.