My “favorite” word problem is from Beginning Algebra, 6th edition by Lial, Miller, and Hornsby. I had the misfortune of using this textbook to teach a course in beginning algebra.
The distance between Singapore and Tokyo is 3300 miles. On a certain wall map, this distance is represented by 11 inches. The actual distance between Mexico City and Cairo is 7700 miles. How far apart are they on the same map? [#53, p. 117]
Now, this would be an excellent problem… IF THE WORLD WERE FLAT!
July 6, 2007 at 6:10 pm |
then there’s the plane that takes 8 hours to fly from A to B
*against* the wind, but only 7 hours to fly back from B to A
*with* the wind. evidently the wind is blowing at a constant
rate for 15 hours over a stretch of thousands of miles.
what kind of drugs are these people *on*?
(& how can *i* get some?)