Amad27

Actually, Never mind what I said about the Grice Maxim, think about this: As you said the goal is to teach something, so then the problem must be solvable. Ideas?

Hello, Thanks for the reply @ajb. My only one regard with this is that, don't you think interpreting a problem is in fact, communication, which does in fact required communication skills? Which in then does use the Maxims. That is all I thought of, that is important. Thanks for helping =)

Hello, I just had a question for you, since you seem like the one who wants to help me =) I posted this same thing on another forum. They said you make certain assumptions because of how you learned to communicate. Can you look at the Grice Maxims I posted earlier? And share your thoughts on it. Thanks (and thanks for your commitment)

I think I am getting there. So there can definitely been 2+ ways to do the word problem (which may or may not) always give the correct answer. So it is up to you to choose, which way you want to go right? Thank you ajb (once again)!

Hello, I am a student (15), and I have OCD, so I try to find satisfying answers. Mathematics matters the MOST to me. It's my absolute best and favorite subject. It is because I like math, I try to get the clearest vision I can for it. I try to excel more and more at it =) That is why I asked this question. I was confused about this for quite a while. I am still stumped. For some reason, my brain just can't accept that this is because you shouldn't complicate a problem. The only issue I have with this is that, how would one find out if the correct answer is the simplest or the complicated way. That is why I cant work this out properly. Like on a test, how would you know if the teacher is looking for the simplest or the complicated way?

Actually, The question of whether a problem is solvable (numeric answer) does not depend on it being a university or school problem, but it lies in this, "Find...." In the related-rates for example; it means that you can find the rate so it is solvable. If a problem is not solvable, then you CAN make assumptions (of holes etc..) @ajb, can you help me with something? When you are first ever taught word problems, they dont teach why you don't assume there is a hole (from which air leaves) etc... Then what is the actual reason? Almost everyone I have talked to has said it is so that the problem is solvable; meaning you CAN find the answer (numeric etc). Help?

So, I have a last question on what you said. Is the bottomline that, You make certain assumptions because you are assuming the problem **IS** SOLVABLE?

Actually, What you say here is critical. Check out, http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/dravling/grice.htmlGrice's Maxims The Grice Maxim of Quality states, only say what you believe is TRUE, DONT say what you believe is false. Communication is dependent on the Grice Maxim, which is why this was developed because this is ordinary human communication. In word problem communication the author DOESNT state what is false, but DOES state what is TRUE. Very interesting, what do you think?

I am sorry, I had been trying to answer this question myself, I just thought of this question, and was stumbled; I had never thought of it before. But would you agree with me if I said, Someone else told me, when interpreting a question (word problem) you choose the SIMPLEST INTERPRETATION. Which is without a hole to be exact. Bottomline: Is this true?

Hi, I think I misunderstood then. Which statement were you talking about that is generally accepted then? Thank you so much, I really, really appreciate it.

Hello, That is excellent what you stated. So thus, the BOTTOMLINE is that, You make certain assumptions based on no reason. Accepting it axiomatically? Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it, really appreciate it. -Thanks, Aakarsh

Thanks, The basic idea is making assumptions is required otherwise we will never finish anything? Right, So you make that assumption based on thinking that if you didn't there could be infinite other things to think about? If you had to state it in ONE sentence, what would you say? THANKS

Hi, Hello, I just had a small question about assumptions in mathematical word problems. Suppose you are given a calculus problem (related-rates), "A spherical balloon is inflated with gas at the rate of 800 cubic centimeters per minute. How fast is the radius of the balloon increasing at the instant the radius is (a) 30 centimeters and (b) 60 centimeters?"(Larson Calculus P 153) This is a quoted problem from Larson's Calculus 10th Edition. My question is here: Why do you assume for example that there is no hole from, which air LEAVES? Basically, in general, why do you make unstated assumptions for example, there is no air leaving, or the balloon doesnt explode before the radius is (a) 30 cm etc..? Here is what others say, Others say it is so you could solve the problem, what do you think? Thanks a lot =)