The discussion revolves around determining the total number of students in a class based on shoe sizes and their frequencies. Participants are comparing their calculations with a provided answer from a book, which states there are 28 students.
There is a mix of attempts to clarify the problem, with some participants agreeing with the book's answer while others express uncertainty about their own calculations. The conversation includes humorous remarks and assumptions about shoe sizes, indicating a light-hearted exploration of the topic.
Participants are noting assumptions about shoe sizes and the distribution of students, with some questioning the validity of the problem's setup. There is mention of a minimum number of students, suggesting that the problem may have constraints that are not fully addressed.
What did you get for the number of students? This is a very simple problem that requires only that you keep a running total of the frequencies of the shoe sizes. BTW, I agree with the book's answer.Phisico said:
It looks like you were adding the shoe sizes instead of the frequencies.Phisico said:
Must have had Hervé Villechaize in the classberkeman said:Who in the world wears a size 2 shoe?
Looks like the problem designer failed to take heed of the fact (among others he apparently disregarded) that the specification "third year maths class" should bias the distribution (of students over/across shoe sizes) to the right.berkeman said:Who in the world wears a size 2 shoe?
HEY, *I'M* supposed to be the nitpicker in chief on this forumDaveC426913 said:Some assumptions happening here: who says they have the same size on each foot?
There are at least 14 students in the class.
Perhaps they wear size 4, but have only one shoe.berkeman said:Who in the world wears a size 2 shoe?