All about flooble | fun stuff | Get a free chatterbox | Free JavaScript | Avatars    
perplexus dot info

Home > Probability
Spotty editing (Posted on 2006-02-14) Difficulty: 3 of 5
Anne, Edward, and Isaac are the three editors of the Perplexus Weekly newspaper. This week, Anne spotted 300 errors, Edward spotted 100 errors, and Isaac spotted 200 errors. Altogether, they spotted 404 errors. Assuming that each error is equally easy to spot, about how many errors did they miss?

  Submitted by Tristan    
Rating: 4.3333 (3 votes)
Solution: (Hide)
Let x = total number of errors.

Anne has a 300/x chance of spotting each error, Edward has a 100/x chance, and Isaac has a 200/x chance.

The total number of errors missed is equal to x times each of the editor's chances to miss an error.

x - 404 = x * (x-300)/x * (x-200)/x * (x-100)/x
x - 404 = (x^3 - 600x^2 + 110000x - 6000000)/x^2
0 = -196x^2 + 110000x - 6000000
0 = (x-500)(-196x + 12000)
x = 500

They missed 96 errors out of 500.

This is based on a problem I have seen before, except I added a third editor.

Comments: ( You must be logged in to post comments.)
  Subject Author Date
SolutionPuzzle SolutionK Sengupta2009-02-01 13:55:43
AnswerK Sengupta2008-10-09 05:01:15
Soviet RussiaHugo2006-02-15 16:21:07
SolutionAnother Approachowl2006-02-15 07:33:27
re(2): Assuming that ...Eric2006-02-15 01:21:58
re: Assuming that ...Gamer2006-02-14 23:28:14
re: WonderingLeming2006-02-14 18:36:04
QuestionWonderingVernon Lewis2006-02-14 17:26:37
Some ThoughtsActually usefulFederico Kereki2006-02-14 15:54:58
re: The answer is . . .Charlie2006-02-14 14:47:54
SolutionAssuming that ...Charlie2006-02-14 14:44:47
The answer is . . .Leming2006-02-14 14:41:24
Calculated GuessRichard2006-02-14 14:40:29
Please log in:
Login:
Password:
Remember me:
Sign up! | Forgot password


Search:
Search body:
Forums (0)
Newest Problems
Random Problem
FAQ | About This Site
Site Statistics
New Comments (3)
Unsolved Problems
Top Rated Problems
This month's top
Most Commented On

Chatterbox:
Copyright © 2002 - 2024 by Animus Pactum Consulting. All rights reserved. Privacy Information