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understanding the language of the exam

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by resilient » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:42 am
If a and b represent positive single digits in the correctly worked coputation above, what is the value of the two digit integer ba?



22
a3
+4b
-------
90


qa is 52, but my answer is 10.

a=2 b=5

however, I thoght that the answer is asking b TIMES a. Is there a technicality that I am missing here? THe math is fine. I am not sure if you can answer this question but I think its worth a shot.
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by Stacey Koprince » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:08 am
Hey, Engin

Yes, have to be very careful with the language here - interpret what this actually says, very literally.

22
a3
+4b
-------
90

what is value of two-digit integer ba?

It does not say what is the value of "b*a." It says that "ba" represents a two-digit integer and we're supposed to figure out what that two-digit integer is.

If they want to ask you what b times a is, they will use a mathematical symbol representing multiplication or otherwise very clearly indicate that they want a product. In this case, they have indicated something else - that each letter represents a digit and they want to know what the two-digit integer ba would be if you replaces both letters with the digit it represents.
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