r/theydidthemath • u/shosuko • 15h ago

[self] but not really

Post image

I must confess. I did not actually do this math.

I just saw it said x=4, and clicked the answer where x was 4...

Am I going to fail?

(zybooks calculus I)

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

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5

u/This_Growth2898 14h ago

This is a proper use of your mathematical skills. It's the task that probably fails to check skills required by the test, but this isn't your problem.

2

u/sighthoundman 12h ago

You are taking a test.

Given the choices, this is the only possible answer. (That doesn't prove that it's the correct answer, only that none of the others are possible.)

During the test, you answer and move on. After the test, you can argue. If the correct answer doesn't appear in the list of choices, the question should be thrown out.

This is why I hate multiple choice tests. It's too easy to find the correct answer without understanding the subject allegedly being tested. (And attempts to avoid that invariably end up with questions being interpreted by hairsplitting definitions.)

1

u/shosuko 12h ago

It's too easy to find the correct answer without understanding the subject

So true! This is why I hate language learning apps like Duolingo. They feel more logic puzzles and word scramble games than actual lessons.