<![CDATA[Cows + goats maths question]]>Saw this article in My Paper. This test was conducted in China and France on Primary school kids.


On a ship there are 75 cows & 34 goats. How old is the captain of the ship?

The objective is to test the reaction of these kids based on type of answer they give.

The results they obtain, most China kids really would provide an answer and never doubt about this question or check with teacher. Most France kids would doubt about it and query the teacher or mock the teacher about the correctness of this question.

Interesting to try on your kids to see what is their reaction and share with us 🙂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/45187/cows-goats-maths-questionRSS for NodeSun, 03 May 2026 03:08:28 GMTFri, 09 Nov 2012 02:53:16 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:01:14 GMT]]>

daisyt:
Saw this article in My Paper. This test was conducted in China and France on Primary school kids.


On a ship there are 75 cows & 34 goats. How old is the captain of the ship?

The objective is to test the reaction of these kids based on type of answer they give.

The results they obtain, most China kids really would provide an answer and never doubt about this question or check with teacher. Most France kids would doubt about it and query the teacher or mock the teacher about the correctness of this question.

Interesting to try on your kids to see what is their reaction and share with us 🙂

Captain definitely above 18 years old to work on board a boat.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/896181https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/896181Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:01:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 09:32:26 GMT]]>

KiasuAhBoy:
A coin box contains 50-cent coins and 1-dollar coins only. The total amount of money is $32. There are twice as many 50-cent coins as 1-dollar coins.


(a) How many 50-cent coins are there?

(b) How many 1-dollar coins are there?



Make all into 50-cent coins or 1-dollar coins, i am going for making it to 50-cent coins....

32 divided by 2 =16

16 is the amount of 1-dollar coins.

Since there are twice as many 50-cent coins as 1-dollar coins, add two groups of sixteen....

16 x 2 = 32

32 is the amount of 50-cent coins.

So,

There were 32 50-cent coins.

There were 16 1-dollar coins.

Answer: (a) 32
(b) 16


Hoped this helps.......... :xedfingers: :salute:
How come maths question in this thread?
Another solution would be:
Every 2 50cts to 1 $1, ratio 2:1 total value will be $2 in each group
$32 divide by group of $2 = 16 groups
Since there is 2 50cts coins in every group, there is 16 X 2 = 32
and there is 1 $1 coin in every group, there is 16 x 1 = 16

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895937https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895937Sat, 10 Nov 2012 09:32:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 05:24:14 GMT]]>

phoenix:
I just asked my 7 years old DD the question and she gave me a really weird look and said \"Is that a trick question? Quantity of animals has no correlation to anybody's age!\" before sighing at her 'misinformed' mother and continued reading her book. :siao:


My almost 5 years old DS just happily shouted \"Very old!\". :rotflmao:
You have very confident and sensible kids! Congrats!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895864https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895864Sat, 10 Nov 2012 05:24:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 04:33:40 GMT]]>I just asked my 7 years old DD the question and she gave me a really weird look and said \"Is that a trick question? Quantity of animals has no correlation to anybody's age!\" before sighing at her 'misinformed' mother and continued reading her book. :siao:


My almost 5 years old DS just happily shouted \"Very old!\". :rotflmao:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895842https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895842Sat, 10 Nov 2012 04:33:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 03:16:00 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
daisyt:

Saw this article in My Paper. This test was conducted in China and France on Primary school kids.


On a ship there are 75 cows & 34 goats. How old is the captain of the ship?

It may not be possible to compute the age of the captain of the ship but we can make assumptions about how long more he will live. Assuming there were an equal number of cows and goats to start with, and that it takes 10 days to consume kambing soup made out of a single goat, that would mean the captain has consumed (75-34) * 10 days = 410 days of kambing soup. Since each bowl contains 164 calories (from http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/generic/indian-mutton-soup/), he would have consumed a total of 67,240 calories. At this rate, he will only be able to enjoy another 32,760 calories or 200 days more before he dies from the total of 100,000 calories.

QED.

Funny haha..... :rotflmao:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895803https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895803Sat, 10 Nov 2012 03:16:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:51:18 GMT]]>

daisyt:
SAHM_TAN:

[quote=\"limlim\"]有个老人住在荒山野岭。

他没养鸡养鸭。
可是他每天都有鸭蛋吃。

are you able to explain why?

他养鸭

Because 他已经在卖咸鸭蛋so everyday has duck eggs to eat？Correct or not hur?[/quote]SAHM_tan answer is correct. mamago got it too..

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895744https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895744Sat, 10 Nov 2012 00:51:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:13:49 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
daisyt:

Saw this article in My Paper. This test was conducted in China and France on Primary school kids.


On a ship there are 75 cows & 34 goats. How old is the captain of the ship?

It may not be possible to compute the age of the captain of the ship but we can make assumptions about how long more he will live. Assuming there were an equal number of cows and goats to start with, and that it takes 10 days to consume kambing soup made out of a single goat, that would mean the captain has consumed (75-34) * 10 days = 410 days of kambing soup. Since each bowl contains 164 calories (from http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/generic/indian-mutton-soup/), he would have consumed a total of 67,240 calories. At this rate, he will only be able to enjoy another 32,760 calories or 200 days more before he dies from the total of 100,000 calories.QED.

Hi Chief, your math method is dinosaur type, cannot liao. Our PSLE today test only the latest math skill. Give this question to our imaginative kid with ability to think out of the box will sure know what to do. They will tell you :

This type is called pattern la!
G for Goat for 34
C for Cow for 75
A for Age for ??

From G to C is 4 alphabets and change in \"numerical value\" is -41
4 alphabets --> -41
1 alphabet --> 41/4 = 10.25

From C to A is 2 alphabets
Therefore, A = 75 + (2 x 10.25) = 95.5 (Wah! the captain is very old.)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895504https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895504Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:13:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:20:07 GMT]]>A coin box contains 50-cent coins and 1-dollar coins only. The total amount of money is $32. There are twice as many 50-cent coins as 1-dollar coins.


(a) How many 50-cent coins are there?

(b) How many 1-dollar coins are there?



Make all into 50-cent coins or 1-dollar coins, i am going for making it to 50-cent coins....

32 divided by 2 =16

16 is the amount of 1-dollar coins.

Since there are twice as many 50-cent coins as 1-dollar coins, add two groups of sixteen....

16 x 2 = 32

32 is the amount of 50-cent coins.

So,

There were 32 50-cent coins.

There were 16 1-dollar coins.

Answer: (a) 32
(b) 16


Hoped this helps.......... :xedfingers: :salute:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895489https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895489Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:20:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:07:50 GMT]]>The model answer in 3 steps

1. Bring the question to the teacher
2. Question the teacher the accuracy of the question
3. Get back to your seat confidently that the teacher is wrong!

Noted down the model answers and get the kids to memorise by hard.

Hahahahahaha…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895486https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895486Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:07:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:35:44 GMT]]>

SAHM_TAN:
limlim:

有个老人住在荒山野岭。

他没养鸡养鸭。
可是他每天都有鸭蛋吃。

are you able to explain why?

他养鸭

Because 他已经在卖咸鸭蛋so everyday has duck eggs to eat？Correct or not hur?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895475https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895475Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:35:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:31:15 GMT]]>I really wondering if this question is imparted in a set of Maths question and given out by a Maths teacher, what kind of answer would the teacher receive. Any tuition teacher dare to experiment but don’t throw bombs at me if you kena bombard by parents… Hee hee …

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895471https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895471Fri, 09 Nov 2012 10:31:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:07:00 GMT]]>@limlim: I was reading the thread from the 1st page, replied atutor one and reading Chief one have to spend 4.5mins to digest... by the time I read your post 鸭蛋已经賣了 :imanangel:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895353https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895353Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:07:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:35:27 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
daisyt:

Saw this article in My Paper. This test was conducted in China and France on Primary school kids.


On a ship there are 75 cows & 34 goats. How old is the captain of the ship?

It may not be possible to compute the age of the captain of the ship but we can make assumptions about how long more he will live. Assuming there were an equal number of cows and goats to start with, and that it takes 10 days to consume kambing soup made out of a single goat, that would mean the captain has consumed (75-34) * 10 days = 410 days of kambing soup. Since each bowl contains 164 calories (from http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/generic/indian-mutton-soup/), he would have consumed a total of 67,240 calories. At this rate, he will only be able to enjoy another 32,760 calories or 200 days more before he dies from the total of 100,000 calories.

QED.

er...that means how old har?? :scratchhead:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895313https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895313Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:35:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:29:34 GMT]]>

mamago:
SAHM_TAN:

[quote=\"limlim\"]有个老人住在荒山野岭。

他没养鸡养鸭。
可是他每天都有鸭蛋吃。

are you able to explain why?

他养鸭


Good one! :hi5: SAHM_TAN.... this, takes a Chinese ed to understand the question... :celebrate:[/quote]why you nvr solve leh.. you arrive 5 mins earlier leh......

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895302https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895302Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:29:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:16:52 GMT]]>

mamago:
SAHM_TAN:

[quote=\"limlim\"]有个老人住在荒山野岭。

他没养鸡养鸭。
可是他每天都有鸭蛋吃。

are you able to explain why?

他养鸭


Good one! :hi5: SAHM_TAN.... this, takes a Chinese ed to understand the question... :celebrate:[/quote]谢谢 😄

Chinese B3 but I was humming Hi-5 songs, so I guess that helps to keep my brain relax 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895286https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895286Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:16:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:06:48 GMT]]>

SAHM_TAN:
limlim:

有个老人住在荒山野岭。

他没养鸡养鸭。
可是他每天都有鸭蛋吃。

are you able to explain why?

他养鸭


Good one! :hi5: SAHM_TAN.... this, takes a Chinese ed to understand the question... :celebrate:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895274https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895274Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:06:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:05:00 GMT]]>

limlim:
有个老人住在荒山野岭。

他没养鸡养鸭。
可是他每天都有鸭蛋吃。

are you able to explain why?
他养鸭

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895272https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895272Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:05:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:02:39 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
daisyt:

Saw this article in My Paper. This test was conducted in China and France on Primary school kids.


On a ship there are 75 cows & 34 goats. How old is the captain of the ship?

It may not be possible to compute the age of the captain of the ship but we can make assumptions about how long more he will live. Assuming there were an equal number of cows and goats to start with, and that it takes 10 days to consume kambing soup made out of a single goat, that would mean the captain has consumed (75-34) * 10 days = 410 days of kambing soup. Since each bowl contains 164 calories (from http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/generic/indian-mutton-soup/), he would have consumed a total of 67,240 calories. At this rate, he will only be able to enjoy another 32,760 calories or 200 days more before he dies from the total of 100,000 calories.

QED.


Hahahaha.... Chief...... (all of us :faint: )

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895269https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895269Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:02:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:00:27 GMT]]>

atutor2001:
Nebbermind:

Gie this to SG kids and they are start crying 😢

You have missed 1 very important part of SG kids' reaction. They draw 2 models, one for goat and one for cow. Then they start crying.



haha.... :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895266https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895266Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:00:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:57:56 GMT]]>有个老人住在荒山野岭。

他没养鸡养鸭。
可是他每天都有鸭蛋吃。

are you able to explain why?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895263https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895263Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:57:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:38:31 GMT]]>

ChiefKiasu:
daisyt:

Saw this article in My Paper. This test was conducted in China and France on Primary school kids.


On a ship there are 75 cows & 34 goats. How old is the captain of the ship?

It may not be possible to compute the age of the captain of the ship but we can make assumptions about how long more he will live. Assuming there were an equal number of cows and goats to start with, and that it takes 10 days to consume kambing soup made out of a single goat, that would mean the captain has consumed (75-34) * 10 days = 410 days of kambing soup. Since each bowl contains 164 calories (from http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/generic/indian-mutton-soup/), he would have consumed a total of 67,240 calories. At this rate, he will only be able to enjoy another 32,760 calories or 200 days more before he dies from the total of 100,000 calories.

QED.

:rotflmao: buay tahan

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895245https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895245Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:38:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:29:19 GMT]]>

daisyt:
Saw this article in My Paper. This test was conducted in China and France on Primary school kids.


On a ship there are 75 cows & 34 goats. How old is the captain of the ship?
It may not be possible to compute the age of the captain of the ship but we can make assumptions about how long more he will live. Assuming there were an equal number of cows and goats to start with, and that it takes 10 days to consume kambing soup made out of a single goat, that would mean the captain has consumed (75-34) * 10 days = 410 days of kambing soup. Since each bowl contains 164 calories (from http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/generic/indian-mutton-soup/), he would have consumed a total of 67,240 calories. At this rate, he will only be able to enjoy another 32,760 calories or 200 days more before he dies from the total of 100,000 calories.

QED.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895237https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895237Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:29:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:44:05 GMT]]>

wonderm:
Nebbermind:

Gie this to SG kids and they are start crying 😢


You sure it is not covered in GEP class? 😆

They only covered cow and sheep...can use same model? :scratchhead:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895198https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895198Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:44:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Cows + goats maths question on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:16:37 GMT]]>

limlim:
What's the model answer? :evil:


ok.. so, what kind of reaction means what?
ya lor! Why so not transparent one? :frustrated:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895187https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/895187Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:16:37 GMT