Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Homework corner

Find homework help from other Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Why is my answer not correct?

61 replies

Ruprekt · 30/10/2013 10:02

24 pirates.

1/3 found gold

1/4 found rubies

1/2 found neither

How many found gold and rubies?

My calc was 8 found gold, 6 found rubies, 12 found nothing.

So, 14 found gold and rubies.....but 14 + 12 = 26........

Waaah

I love literacy but maths aint my thing.......ConfusedConfusedConfused

Please help......

OP posts:
Original poster
Ruprekt · 30/10/2013 10:07

Bump

OP posts:
Seeline · 30/10/2013 10:11

I came up with the same as you.... and I've got an A level (although that was a very long time ago Grin) I got one of DDs Y5 maths questions wrong hte other day too Blush

Ahardyfool · 30/10/2013 10:12

DS and I think there is a typo!

Original poster
Ruprekt · 30/10/2013 10:12

Lol Seeline! I need the correct answer though!

I think I am reading it wrong.....is there a small fraction that found gold AND rubies?

OP posts:
cece · 30/10/2013 10:13

wouldn't it be 8? If only 8 had gold then no more than that can have gold and rubies? >

DrownedGirl · 30/10/2013 10:13

Some of those who found gold also found rubies
That's the number you are looking for

There are only 12 who could have found gold or rubies

Where is the overlap

answers · 30/10/2013 10:14

Not all of them who found gold found rubies as well :)

cece · 30/10/2013 10:14

or maybe it would be 6?

Original poster
Ruprekt · 30/10/2013 10:14

Ds thinks the answer is 2........

OP posts:
FunnysInLaJardin · 30/10/2013 10:14

I think your answer is right and that 2 pirates found both gold and rubies

YDdraigGoch · 30/10/2013 10:15

Some of them might have found more than one thing. So the 8 that found gold might also have found rubies.

Ahardyfool · 30/10/2013 10:15

I think the small fraction who found both could be the key here... This would make this a riddle more than a legitimate maths question!

pushmepullyou · 30/10/2013 10:16

24 pirates

12 found nothing therefore 12 found gold, rubies or both.

If 8 found gold and 6 found rubies then then 2 must have found both or there wouldn't be 12 who had found nothing.

So 6 just gold, 4 just rubies, 2 both =12

Helspopje · 30/10/2013 10:16

12 none
6 r
8 g
6+8 = r + g +rg
14 = r + g + rg
rg = 2

MrsMangoBiscuit · 30/10/2013 10:17

8 found gold.
6 found rubies.
12 found nothing.

So 12 found SOMETHING.
12 - 8 who found gold = 4 who found ONLY rubies.
6 total rubies - 4 rubies only = 2 gold AND rubies.

Original poster
Ruprekt · 30/10/2013 10:17

I was adding together the pirates that found gold and the pirates that found rubies, not thinking there was a small percentage who found both. Smile

OP posts:
IamtheZombie · 30/10/2013 10:17

Zombie thinks 2 pirates found both gold and rubies.

8 + 6 = 14 - 2 = 12 + 12 = 24

pushmepullyou · 30/10/2013 10:18

X-post with everyone Grin

MrsMangoBiscuit · 30/10/2013 10:18

Gargh I type too slow one handed, baby DD2, I'm blaming you! Grin

AliceinSlumberland · 30/10/2013 10:18

The answer is 2 I think,

12 found nothing

8 found gold

6 found rubies

=26

But there are 24 in total so two pirates must have been counted in both the gold category and the rubies category, so they found both:

nothing: 12
Gold:6
Rubies: 4
Both: 2

=24 (I hope)

LordEmsworth · 30/10/2013 10:18

well - if 12 found nothing, then 12 found something

14 items were found by 12 pirates - so 2 pirates must have found 2 items each

2 therefore found gold and rubies, 10 found either gold or rubies, plus 12 who found nothing ... equals 24 pirates

IamtheZombie · 30/10/2013 10:18

x-post

AliceinSlumberland · 30/10/2013 10:18

Hahahah too slow!

Original poster
Ruprekt · 30/10/2013 10:19

Do we think the answer is 2 then? GrinGrin

OP posts:
Seeline · 30/10/2013 10:19

Ah - so I did get hte maths right Smile As usual it was the logic at the end that stumped me Grin