1
$\begingroup$

There are 1000 students in a class. 200 passed algebra, 100 passed statistics, and 150 passed mathematics. Only 40 passed the three courses, while equal number of students passed exactly two courses. If 6 students were absent for the examination, what are the number of students that passed exactly two courses?. And the number that failed each of the courses?

  • 2
    It helps us to help you if you can show us any work you've done on the problem (e.g., organizing the information you're given, your hunches about what to do with that information, etc.), and also ask specific questions, addressing where you're stuck, etc. With respect to homework, a lot of us prefer to provide direction when needed, a few hints, etc., because just writing out an answer isn't going to help you much, in the long run.2011-06-23
  • 1
    @Elizabeth: Not a great class. How many people failed everything?2011-06-23
  • 7
    It's interesting that neither algebra nor statistics are considered as part of mathematics in this word problem.2011-06-23
  • 0
    @amWhy: Actually, I was asking because with current wording the problem is insufficiently specified.2011-06-23
  • 0
    @amWhy: If exactly $40$ are in *each* of the "exactly two" groups, why would one ask how many passed two? To test the operation $40+40+40$? Conceivably. If a *total* of $40$ passed exactly two, can't determine how many passed each course. The original problem may have been OK, we are getting a condensed version.2011-06-23
  • 0
    @user6312: that's what confused me...and I meant that the way it's phrased, "an equal number passed exactly two" to mean 40 passed all three and 40 passed exactly two (not two of each), which doesn't make sense in light of the question...It's just very poorly worded as is.2011-06-23

2 Answers 2