Word Problems Minor Problem Types ex. prob pg 136

[jill.a.etter]

hi y'all,

I'm confused about the final mathematics in this one - the question is asking for 'the minimum number of workers who both are salaried and work in operations'. Then the mathematics we are shown INCLUDES (by addition) the number (greater than or equal to 100) for 'neither'. This does not seem logical to me (although I admit, I am blonde). Is it possible that this is a typo? I also know this might not even show up on the test but it's BUGGING ME.

thanks in advance for any help,

Jill

[tommywallach]

Hey Jill,

It is assuredly not because you are blonde that you are struggling here! : )

This isn't really a "rule" so much as just finding a way to visualize a logical leap.

If I told you x = 4 + something bigger than 5, you would know that the result would be something bigger than 9. So we can just write that:

x = 4 + (> 5)

x > 9

See what I mean? Don't worry about being able to do some kind of direct translation. It's more just being able to think about it...

Let me know if that helped at all!

-t

[jill.a.etter]

Hey Jill,

It is assuredly not because you are blonde that you are struggling here! : )

This isn't really a "rule" so much as just finding a way to visualize a logical leap.

If I told you x = 4 + something bigger than 5, you would know that the result would be something bigger than 9. So we can just write that:

x = 4 + (> 5)

x > 9

See what I mean? Don't worry about being able to do some kind of direct translation. It's more just being able to think about it...

Let me know if that helped at all!

-t

Thank you for answering my question, it's not the 'greater than or equal to' i have a problem with. the question specifically asks for BOTH non-salaried workers in operations and salaried workers not in operations, no more no less. what i don't understand is, why is the answer including 'NEITHER'?

confused blonde,
Jill

[tommywallach]

Hey Jill,

I think I understand. Here is the equation for Overlapping Sets:

Total = Group 1 people + Group 2 people - Both (because they've been counted twice) + Neither

Does that make sense? So all they're doing is filling out the pieces of this equation and then solving.

That said, I do find it deeply silly that we use the letter "e" to stand in for "both". What's that about? : )

-t