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## Factions or %s of People. When to round up or down?

This topic has 3 member replies
mateodude Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Joined
20 Sep 2007
Posted:
9 messages

#### Factions or %s of People. When to round up or down?

Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:31 pm
Does anyone know if there is a hard fast rule for computing fractions or %s of people (or anything that can only exist as a whole)?

For example, Q72 in OG11 Section 5.3. We are told to find 1/3 of 40 committee members, which is 13 1/3. I assumed that since it is not possible to have 1/3 of a person, round up. That was incorrect logic on my part. The answer is 13.

Is there a universal rule for problems such as this one? Perhaps where one is asked to find max/s or min/s of people using fractions of "whole only" objects? Or is it a case by case situation?

any help would be greatly appreciated

Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:40 pm
This is a very interesting point. When it comes to people--who can't be cut into fractions, as you rightly pointed out--I have always rounded down. Thus far, my results have always been consistent with the OA.

kajcha Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Joined
28 Aug 2007
Posted:
321 messages
1
Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:49 pm
I will suggest to evaluate the situation in the question.

E.g in this particular situation the Q asks what is the greatest no of members who could vote and still the resolution is passed... As you said it is 40/3 = 13 1/3. Now, if you round up the resolution will not be passed so you need to round down.

My 2 cents. hope this helps.

wongee Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Joined
28 Jul 2007
Posted:
76 messages
1
Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:56 pm
I remember this problem, the way to work with this is subjective to the problem. In terms of people the question asked what is the most - so technically we have only half of the next person which isnt humanly possibly, so u have to go with whatever 'whole people' you can get, so the fraction/decimal is brought down.

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