Venn Diagram Question: How many whales were surveyed?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a Venn diagram problem involving whales and their dislikes regarding giant squids, pollution, and Captain Ahab. Participants are attempting to interpret the data provided and solve related questions about the number of surveyed whales and their preferences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about how to interpret the data, particularly regarding the number of whales who dislike pollution and their relationship to other dislikes.
  • Another participant presents a Venn diagram and explains their reasoning for placing values in specific sections based on the provided data.
  • There is a discussion about the total number of whales who dislike giant squids, with one participant questioning the calculations leading to a value of 9 for those who dislike squids alone.
  • Participants correct each other regarding the values assigned to different sections of the Venn diagram, indicating a potential misunderstanding or miscalculation in the initial assessments.
  • There are humorous remarks about the narrative context of the problem, suggesting a light-hearted approach to the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct values to assign in the Venn diagram, and there are multiple competing interpretations of the data presented. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact numbers and relationships among the dislikes.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the calculations and the placement of values in the Venn diagram, indicating potential missing assumptions or misunderstandings in the problem setup.

beans91
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I am finding it hard to interpret this question.

4 dislike pollution but don’t s dislike giant squids and don’t dislike Captain Ahab

This part of text I do not know what to do with do I just add 4 to the 19 who also don't like pollution?

Also The value for the whales which dislike pollution and Captain Ahab is 3 but the the value for all 3 actors disliking everything is 6.

This will leave me with a minus value 3-6 = - 3 is this right do I subtract minus three from both the total pollution and Captain Ahab?

Q3. A number of whales were asked about things that they dislike. 20 dislike giant squids

6 dislike giant squids and pollution and Captain Ahab

23 dislike Captain Ahab

4 dislike pollution but don’t s dislike giant squids and don’t dislike Captain Ahab

11 dislike Captain Ahab and giant squids

3 dislike pollution and Captain Ahab but don’t dislike giant squids

19 dislike pollution

4 have no dislikes

A. How many whales were surveyed?

B. How many dislike at least one of those three things?

C. How many dislike Captain Ahab but don’t dislike giant squids?

D. How many dislike giant squids or pollution?


Thanks
 
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Hello, and welcome to MHB! :)

Here is the Venn diagram I came up with:

mhb_0014.png


I began on the inside and worked my way out.
  1. 6 dislike giant squids and pollution and Captain Ahab - this tells me to put 6 in the intersection of all 3 sets.
  2. 11 dislike Captain Ahab and giant squids - this tells me there can only be 5 that only dislike Ahab and Squids since 6 are already accounted for in step 1.
  3. 3 dislike pollution and Captain Ahab but don’t dislike giant squids - this tells me 3 go into the intersection of Pollution and Ahab alone.
  4. 4 dislike pollution but don’t s dislike giant squids and don’t dislike Captain Ahab - this tells me 4 goes into pollution alone.
  5. 19 dislike pollution - this tells me 6 must go into the intersection of Squids and Pollution alone.
  6. 20 dislike giant squids - this tells me 9 must go into Squids alone.
  7. 23 dislike Captain Ahab - this tells me 9 must into Ahab alone.
  8. 4 have no dislikes - this tells me 4 go outside of all 3 sets.
Can you now answer the questions?
 
Great thank you so much I could not figure out how to find x brilliant!
 
Geeze. The least they could do is make an interesting narrative out of that.. Captain Ahab commanding an army of giant squids to fight pollution?
 
MarkFL said:
Hello, and welcome to MHB! :)

Here is the Venn diagram I came up with:

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/9808

I began on the inside and worked my way out.
  1. 6 dislike giant squids and pollution and Captain Ahab - this tells me to put 6 in the intersection of all 3 sets.
  2. 11 dislike Captain Ahab and giant squids - this tells me there can only be 5 that only dislike Ahab and Squids since 6 are already accounted for in step 1.
  3. 3 dislike pollution and Captain Ahab but don’t dislike giant squids - this tells me 3 go into the intersection of Pollution and Ahab alone.
  4. 4 dislike pollution but don’t s dislike giant squids and don’t dislike Captain Ahab - this tells me 4 goes into pollution alone.
  5. 19 dislike pollution - this tells me 6 must go into the intersection of Squids and Pollution alone.
  6. 20 dislike giant squids - this tells me 9 must go into Squids alone.
  7. 23 dislike Captain Ahab - this tells me 9 must into Ahab alone.
  8. 4 have no dislikes - this tells me 4 go outside of all 3 sets.
Can you now answer the questions?
“20 dislike giant squids - this tells me 9 must go into Squids alone.” but when i add up the numbers in the squids circle (9, 7, 6, 5) it’s coming up to more than 20 so how is it 9 ?
 
liltingchloe said:
“20 dislike giant squids - this tells me 9 must go into Squids alone.” but when i add up the numbers in the squids circle (9, 7, 6, 5) it’s coming up to more than 20 so how is it 9 ?

it’s not ... should be 3, 6, 6, 5 (I don’t see a 7)

Mark was probably thinking about the dislike Captain Ahab total. It happens to all of us.

good catch
 
skeeter said:
it’s not ... should be 3, 6, 6, 5 (I don’t see a 7)

Mark was probably thinking about the dislike Captain Ahab total. It happens to all of us.

good catch
typo error should be 6* but yes thank you
 
liltingchloe said:
typo error should be 6* but yes thank you

like I said ... “it happens” ;)
 

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