Standardized Math test question.....question

[mohini]

 

 

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  This is from the Florida DOE website FCAT sample test for Grade 3 Math.
  
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  Presumably the end of grade 3? Anyway, does it seem like a fair question for a 3rd grader?
  
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  My oldest is just starting 2nd grade math but.... like... I mean... isn't it a bit obtuse? For like
  
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  an 8 year old? Or am I just an English Major?
  
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  Chris gave 2 beach balls to each friend who came to his birthday party.
  
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  He had 8 friends at his party. Which equation could be used to find the
  
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  total number of beach balls Chris gave to his friends at the party?
  
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    F 8×b=2
    
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    G b×2=8
    
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    H 8÷2=b
    
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    I b÷8=2
     
    

   

  And the explanation:

   

   

  The correct answer is I (b ÷ 8 = 2).

  Reporting Category: Number: Operations, Problems, and Statistics

   

  Benchmark: MA.3.A.1.3 Identify, describe, and apply division and multiplication

  as inverse operations.

   

  To solve this problem, write the multiplication equation that could be used to

  find the total number of beachballs, 8 × 2 = b.of the equations shown, ,b ÷ 8 = 2

  is the only equation that could also be used to find the total number of beach balls,

  as it is the inverse equation of 8 × 2 = b.

   

  I mean, I get the the point about inverse operations...

  but really? like that? Is it just me?

   

[cmac]

My son could probably guess the answer correctly, but we've only covered Singapore Math 3A. I agree, he would probably see it as a fact family question. He would be confused by the variable.

[TraceyS/FL]

FCAT is last week (and this), so this is when they would see it.

 

I have seen problems like that in the 4th grade book they use here - my DD is in 2nd, and I babysit a girl in 4th. I despise the math curriculum they are using for the record, but I know the 4th grader struggled with some stuff like this, and had to do things the "hard way".

[Crimson Wife]

There are problems like that on the 5th grade California STAR test because my DD recently went through the released questions. I know there are definitely multiplication and division problems involving the 2's on the 2nd grade test. However, those don't involve the variables, just numbers (e.g. Chris gave each guest 2 balls. There were 8 guests. How many balls did he give? with one of the answers being 16).