Form 4 Typos and hints

[Archangl]

Well I just got back from taking Form 4 of the ASTB. There were three definate typos. One asked you to compare the answers to a ungiven number. I left that one blank.

Another one that stumped me was similar to this.

A ranch has ponies and horses. 5/6 of the ponies have horseshoes. 1/5 of the ponies are Icelandic Ponies. Whats the minimum amount of ponies at the ranch? I do not know how to answer this. They gave numbers for the answers I think there was a typo on this one for sure. Guess's anyone?

I dont remember how the third one went, but you'll know it when you see it. There was also a typo in the first sample problem. It shows a - sign instead of an = sign. Its no big deal, but when you take this test be carefull of little tricks and deviations, as well as the typos.

Overall the test was fairly easy. There were six sections, and I finished before the scheduled time on each, with checking my answers and so forth. There wasnt much on nautical knowledge, but avaition knowledge is crucial. Math was pretty easy, the mech comprehension had a few that required some deep thought.

Well good luck to anyone who is taking it soon. Ill get my scores next week.

 

[FlyinHigh]

Arc,

I had all of those exact typos on my test. I guessed on all of them because there is no penalty for guessing, that is also what my OSO told me. I thought that it was bull**** but what can you do about it? Im curious what did your OSO tell you about the typos? Yeah I didnt think we had enough info to solve the pony question. I mean what the hell did the Icelandic thing have to do with it??? I laughed when I saw some of the mistakes in it.

 

[PU Grad]

Oh the answer to the horse/pony question is **. (edit: took out answer) I figured I shouldn't put the exact answer on here just in case you didn't alter the question at all. But there is enough to solve the problem.

Yay math.

 

[Archangl]

So how do you solve it?

 

[PU Grad]

Well, you know that most ranchers don't keep fractional ponies around. The number of ponies needs to be an integer. Also the statistics of composition of the types of ponies also has to be an integer. So, you figure out the least common denominator (remember that term from math class?).

So that I am not dealing with the question on the exam for solving purposes, here is a "smaple problem". If you have a group of people and 1/7 of them are female and 1/3 of them are from Indiana.
So what is the minimum number of people in the group?

Solution:
So, if 1/7 is a female, there must be at least 7 people. (Both 6 and 8 don't work since it can't be evenly divided by 7) So the number of people must be a multiple of 7. Using the same logic as above, the number of people must ALSO be a multiple of 3. The smallest number that is a multiple of both is 21. So the minimum number of people to fit those statistics is 21.

Any questions?

Kobyra

P.S. After creating the ratios, I realized that it sounds like an engineering class, although there would be too many females with that ratio

 

[Archangl]

Yes I do remember that term from math class and many more.

Your example problem is different than the one I have listed above, mathematically. Read again and see.

My wording is directly from the test. I think they were trying to aim for a question similar to you example problem, but messed it up.

In the question on the test, they say there are two animals. Horses and ponies. You dont know the values of each or a total number of animals and therefore have two variables. Of the unknown value of ponies, the problem gives fractions that are red herrings (horseshoes and them being from Iceland), because you are not able to use the information to solve the given problem.

Therefore this problem cannot be solved

FlynHigh: My OSO said that they are ware of these and he told me to fill in each dot (ABCD). He is grading it himself so he knows that they are wrong.

 

[PU Grad]

Tell me how the answer to these two problems differ.

Problem 1:

If you have a group of people and 1/7 of them are female and 1/3 of them are from Indiana.
So what is the minimum number of people in the group?

Problem 2:

If you have a group of people, cats, dogs, mice, etc. and 1/7 of the people are female and 1/3 of the people are from Indiana.
So what is the minimum number of people in the group?

 

[PU Grad]

Or even if I give you the problem:

There is a group of people. 1/7 is female. What is the minimum number of people in the group?

Even this is solvable. In this type of question there is no such thing as a lack of info.

 

[joeschmoe]

The only red herring I see is the fact that there are horses present.

 

[PU Grad]

Give the man a cigar.

 

[Archangl]

To solve it with the information given, you would take the the LCD of the ponies with horseshoes and that are icelandic, which would be 30. This was not a given answer on the test, so therefore I concluded it was a typo.

 

[squeeze]

jeez....

Without outright telling you the answer, the total number is the lowest number divisible by both 5 and 6 that yields a whole number. Do they even teach math in school these days? :icon_what

/history major

 

[FlyinHigh]

Arc,

Let me know when you get your scores back. I just talked to my OSO today and he told me that I wouldnt have mine back for a couple more days, he said they requested the scores from Florida or wherever they get scored at. But he is also going to Quantico to watch some of his guys from my area graduate. I want my scores!!

 

[Archangl]

OK, will do