jenniferlee Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 OK, we are totally stumped on this one. Please help because I don't have an answer key and I can't stand to just skip it.: With each filled seat, the number of people on a Ferris wheel doubles. Write an expression to describe this situation. How many people are on a Ferris wheel with 17 seats filled? Thanks you math whizzes :) Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Wouldn't it be 17 x 2 (double the number of seats filled)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oasis Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Wouldn't it be 17 x 2 (double the number of seats filled)? :iagree: This is what I assumed it meant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alenee Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Or could it be written 17x = 34 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 nm - stupid question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celia Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 let y = people let x = seats therefore 2(x)=y so 2(17)=34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Peach Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 I thought when a number doubled each time, you would use exponents, so 2 with 17 as an exponent. A ridiculous number on a ferris wheel, but isn't that what you'd do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 With each filled seat, the number of people on a Ferris wheel doubles. What is the grade level on this book? And who is the publisher? (Just insanely curious) ANyway, the question doesn;t seem to make sense as it is worded. 1 seat filled = 2 riders 2 seats filled = 4 riders... yep, that's doubled. 3 seats filled = 6 riders, nope... not doubled unless you squeeze 4 in that seat, which might work- giving you 8 riders until you get to... 4 seats filled = 16 riders? (based on doubling the previous answer which was squeezing extras into a seat.) :confused: Perhaps they meant "With each filled seat, the number of riders on a Ferris Wheel is double the number of seats filled." Or something like that. Wonder what the teacher's guide actually says here. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 … With each filled seat, the number of people on a Ferris wheel doubles. … /QUOTE] I thought when a number doubled each time, you would use exponents, so 2 with 17 as an exponent. A ridiculous number on a ferris wheel, but isn't that what you'd do? :iagree: That's how I read the question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dealea86 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 I thought when a number doubled each time, you would use exponents, so 2 with 17 as an exponent. A ridiculous number on a ferris wheel, but isn't that what you'd do? I think you're right. To the OP, let's look at them next to each other: y=2x 1 seat filled = 2 people 2 seats filled = 4 people 3 seats filled = 6 people 4 seats filled = 8 people That's not doubling, it's adding two each time. y=2^x 1 seat filled = 2 people 2 seats filled = 4 people 3 seats filled = 8 people 4 seats filled = 16 people So for 17 seats filled, 2^17 = 131,072 people on the ferris wheel. That's one big ferris wheel.....:001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 I thought when a number doubled each time, you would use exponents, so 2 with 17 as an exponent. A ridiculous number on a ferris wheel, but isn't that what you'd do? :iagree: This is how I read it too. But as a math major, I would say it was very poorly worded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cottonmama Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 :iagree: This is how I read it too. But as a math major, I would say it was very poorly worded. :iagree: My guess is that they were *trying* to get at the 2x=y equation, but they mistakenly described a 2^x=y equation. But the concrete thing they used to embody the problem didn't make sense with what they *said* and instead makes us think of what they (probably) *meant*. ETA: I would not give this problem to my kids without editing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenniferlee Posted June 14, 2012 Author Share Posted June 14, 2012 This is basic algebra from ck12. There is no answer key for the practice problems. I figured it was something to do with exponents, but I just could not get it to work in any way that made sense. Maybe it is worded incorrectly? I would love it if that were the case because then I would not feel so dumb. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 I would love it if that were the case because then I would not feel so dumb. :D LOL - don't feel dumb. It is very poorly worded IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deniseibase Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 It's not REALLY poorly worded, what they didn't tell you is that there are only TWO seats on the Ferris Wheel :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 It's not REALLY poorly worded, what they didn't tell you is that there are only TWO seats on the Ferris Wheel :lol: :lol: :lol: I think what I did was to fill in with my own experience with Ferris wheels - each seat for every Ferris wheel I've ever been on seats two people. So that's why I just got y = 2x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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