Question Below:

Question

Who will win the third round of Tug-Of-War?

Round 1: On one side are 4 acrobats, each of equal strength. On the other side are five neighborhood grandmas, each of equal strength. The result is dead even.

Round 2: On one side is Ivan, a dog. Ivan is pitted against two of the grandmas and one acrobat. Again, it's a draw.

Round 3: Ivan and three of the grandmas are on one side, and the four acrobats are on the other. Who will win the 3rd round? Why?

Answer 1

Hello, Kimani,

I set up a table to keep track. The three rounds are summarized with A = Acrobats, G = Grandmas, and I chose V for Ivan, because I looks too much like a "1." (Sorry, Ivan). The result (RSLT) is a tie for the first two and we need to predict the third, which I did on the "Predict" line in RED.

Since the first two events were ties, I set 4A = 5G and 1V = 2G. We now can substitute using these equivalencies in round 3 On side one, I know that 1V = 2G, so I gave Ivan some food and 2G in his place, for a total of 5G. On Side 2, I know that 4A = 5G, so I gave the clowns cupcakes and replaced them with 5G.

Those changes are reflected on the "Predict" line: 5G and 5G, so I predict a draw.

I hope this helps explain my logic,

Bob