Kirtiman S.

asked • 06/01/19

Are m and n equal?

L=3cm long and lengths of lines m and n are three-fourth the length of L. Are m and n equal?

Ian T.

Is the sum on m and n equal to three-fourths of L ( m+n=(0.75)L ), or are both m and n each equal to three-fourths of L ( m=(0.75)L and n=(0.75)L) ? Because in the latter case it is clear that m and n are equal, but in the former case, we can make no such assumption based on the information given.
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06/08/19

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James L. answered • 06/08/19

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This looks like a trick question. The problem states that m and n are both 3/4 L or 9/4. So, if the problem means what it says, then m and n are equal.

The trick may be that a cursory reading of the problem might cause you to believe that m and n should equal L =3 cm. Believing that m and n must equal L you would (mistakenly) think that if m = 3/4L, then n must be 1/4L so they would add up to L.

So, they are equal because the problem said that each is 3/4 L and there is nothing that stands in the way of their adding up to more than L.

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