A chainletter meme
I received this chain email yesterday from a friend (whose name has been removed):
> This is a 5th grade math problem. This is not a trick question. This is a real math problem so don't say that a bus has no legs.
>
> There are 7 girls in a bus
> Each girl has 7 backpacks
> In each backpack, there are 7 big cats
> For every big cat there are 7 little cats
>
> Question: How many legs are there in the bus?
I understand the intent of the question. From a logic standpoint however, I must instead submit the following answer:
Indeterminable; please call the ASPCA. ;)
Why? Well, first off, the problem does not account for the presence or absence of other passengers, or of a driver. It also does not account for whether or not any of the cats have fleas, which also have legs.
In addition, the math problem indicates that 56 cats would be crammed into each backpack. This could only be even theoretically accomplished if the cats were pureed, in order to maximize the packing potential. This may theoretically eliminate all cat legs from the equation, since a cat puree is no longer a solid. This also brings the ASPCA into the question, since pureeing hundreds of cats is a clear case of animal abuse (unless the cats were dead to start with).
From a logical standpoint, it also only says that there are 7 kittens for each cat, not specifically that they are also in the backpacks and thusly on the bus.
In any case, these are seven sick little girls.
> This is a 5th grade math problem. This is not a trick question. This is a real math problem so don't say that a bus has no legs.
>
> There are 7 girls in a bus
> Each girl has 7 backpacks
> In each backpack, there are 7 big cats
> For every big cat there are 7 little cats
>
> Question: How many legs are there in the bus?
I understand the intent of the question. From a logic standpoint however, I must instead submit the following answer:
Indeterminable; please call the ASPCA. ;)
Why? Well, first off, the problem does not account for the presence or absence of other passengers, or of a driver. It also does not account for whether or not any of the cats have fleas, which also have legs.
In addition, the math problem indicates that 56 cats would be crammed into each backpack. This could only be even theoretically accomplished if the cats were pureed, in order to maximize the packing potential. This may theoretically eliminate all cat legs from the equation, since a cat puree is no longer a solid. This also brings the ASPCA into the question, since pureeing hundreds of cats is a clear case of animal abuse (unless the cats were dead to start with).
From a logical standpoint, it also only says that there are 7 kittens for each cat, not specifically that they are also in the backpacks and thusly on the bus.
In any case, these are seven sick little girls.