Can you help me understand this student's method for problem #3?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding a student's method for solving problem #3, specifically focusing on the reasoning behind the approach taken to arrive at the answer.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are examining the reasoning behind the student's method, with some suggesting that the approach could be clearer if it directly addressed part b) of the problem. Others compare different methods of calculating an average, questioning the reasoning rather than the mathematical correctness.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the reasoning behind the methods used. There is recognition that both methods lead to correct results, but clarity on the reasoning remains a point of contention.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working within the constraints of the problem as presented, with no additional information provided about the specific details of problem #3 or the scores involved.

halvizo1031
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can someone help me out on #3 please. I can't see the reasoning behind her work.
 

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Her reasoning would make more sense if you jumped straight to answering b).
 
I did look at b and her math is correct but it's the reasoning that I am not seeing. I would have just taken the original 4 scores, added the fifth score, and divided by 5.
 
Obviously both your method and hers are equivalent since they're both correct, but the process which is used is the only difference. It's somewhat similar to solving 5-2 by first starting with 5 and then taking away 2 as compared to solving -2+5 which is to first start with -2.

All I could do in explaining her reasoning would be to repeat exactly what the maths tells you.
 

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