Maths puzzle 'dividing the internet - eh?

[hornetrider]

I don't understand the issue here. Took me less than 20 seconds.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/11971692/Can-...

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/vce-maths-proble...

[marshalla]

People don't understand geometry.

[Shaoxter]

Sum of inner angles on a 12 sided shape is (12-2)*180 = 1800
One inner angle = 1800/12 = 150
x = (180-150)*2 = 60 degrees.

I'm sure there's probably an easier way to solve the problem, not least by looking at the picture which is drawn to scale and seeing the equilateral triangle where the x is!

[Impasse]

Into how many pieces is the internet being divided? Is there a section labelled "meh"?

[ColinM50]

360 degrees in a circle, 12 sides so each side leaves an angle of 360/12=30. Two adjacent sides = 2x30. 60 degrees

[FunkyNige]

Am I being really dense or is it just (360/12)*2?
Nothing that simple will 'divide the internet', Shirley?

[Einion Yrth]

FunkyNige said:

Am I being really dense

You aren't, but apparently "the internet" is.

[FredClogs]

Bizzare, I'm no mathematical genius but I immediately said 360/12*2... I needed a calculator to do it like but I can't believe that this has "divided the internet".

[iphonedyou]

Shaoxter said:

Sum of inner angles on a 12 sided shape is (12-2)*180 = 1800
One inner angle = 1800/12 = 150
x = (180-150)*2 = 60 degrees.

I'm sure there's probably an easier way to solve the problem, not least by looking at the picture which is drawn to scale and seeing the equilateral triangle where the x is!

(360/12)*2

Can't believe I actually agree with Matt on something, mind.

[Megaflow]

That has divided the internet? Seriously?

I did it in ~10 seconds, then went back and did it again because I figured it must be a trick question as it was so easy.

I fear for the future of humanity, I really do...

[Oakey]

Even if you didn't know how to work it out you should be able to roughly guess what the angle is. It's not going to be 12degrees is it!

[Einion Yrth]

iphonedyou said:

(360/12)*2

Can't believe I actually agree with Matt on something, mind.

It's alright, he still spelt "bizarre" wrongly.

[killingjoker]

Shaoxter said:

Sum of inner angles on a 12 sided shape is (12-2)*180 = 1800
One inner angle = 1800/12 = 150
x = (180-150)*2 = 60 degrees.

I'm sure there's probably an easier way to solve the problem, not least by looking at the picture which is drawn to scale and seeing the equilateral triangle where the x is!

Wow. I didn't bother with all that and just applied logic.

[alfie2244]

My pea brain instantly saw an equilateral triangle ergo internal angle = 60deg.

[HarryFlatters]

alfie2244 said:

My pea brain instantly saw an equilateral triangle ergo internal angle = 60deg.

Ditto

[alock]

marshalla said:

People don't understand geometry.

I would imagine that many taking the test were expecting to be tested on some of the more advanced concepts they've learn't. Pupils comments about not having enough information tell me they were trying to apply something like trigonometry or Pythagoras and failing. I imagine if the question before this one asked them about the sum of internal angles then most would have got the answer.

I'm not excusing the failure, just explaining it. I actually think tests need more of this type of challenge though. People should be tested on using the knowledge they've gained over their entire time at school to solve a problem rather than copying a technique they revised the night before.

[Eric Mc]

How can the internet be divided when it doesn't understand division?

[Amateurish]

Incredibly, this questions was in "Further Maths" in the Australia equivalent of A Levels. And they were allowed to take in their text books!

[supertouring]

ColinM50 said:

360 degrees in a circle, 12 sides so each side leaves an angle of 360/12=30. Two adjacent sides = 2x30. 60 degrees

Gets my vote.

[ATG]

Hate to make a sweeping generalisation (ahem) but I've not met many journos who were good with numbers. Some were terrified of them. So hyperbole is to be expected.

Lots of the reported comments blame "over thinking". There is no such thing. Either you're thinking clearly or you're not. And anyone using that daft expression isn't. Pet hate. Sorry.