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2018 Math Kangaroo

Problem 7

Problem 7 · 2018 Math Kangaroo Easy
Logic & Word Problems careful-counting

Mike sets the table for 8 people: the fork has to lie to the left and the knife to the right of the plate. For how many people is the cutlery set correctly?

Figure for Math Kangaroo 2018 Problem 7
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Answer: A — 5
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Hint 1 of 2
Sit in each chair in turn; the setting is right only if the fork is on your left hand and the knife on your right hand.
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Hint 2 of 2
Remember that someone sitting on the far side of the table faces you, so their left and right are flipped from yours.
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Approach: stand in each person's place and check fork-on-left, knife-on-right from their seat
  1. Picture yourself sitting in each of the 8 chairs, facing the plate.
  2. From that seat the fork must be by your left hand and the knife by your right hand — tick the places that match.
  3. Exactly five places pass the test, so the cutlery is set correctly for 5 people, answer A.
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