(no subject)
May. 23rd, 2005 03:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theweaselkingNorth Carolina students throw flag, penalise school system with ten-yard penalty and loss of down after their (correct) answer to a math question is marked incorrect.
The question is this: An American football team has the ball on a first down. Over the next 6 plays, they lose 6 yards, gain 3 yards, lose 2 yards, gain 7 yards, gain 12 yards, and gain 4 yards. What's their average gain per play?
And, of course, the correct answers are either "This is a trick question. That situation is not possible in American football" or "-7/3 yards, since there was a turnover at play #4 and the other two are 'gains' for the opposing team". The answer the school board wanted was "3 yards", which is not correct no matter how you phrase it.
The question is this: An American football team has the ball on a first down. Over the next 6 plays, they lose 6 yards, gain 3 yards, lose 2 yards, gain 7 yards, gain 12 yards, and gain 4 yards. What's their average gain per play?
And, of course, the correct answers are either "This is a trick question. That situation is not possible in American football" or "-7/3 yards, since there was a turnover at play #4 and the other two are 'gains' for the opposing team". The answer the school board wanted was "3 yards", which is not correct no matter how you phrase it.