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AR15.COM
4/20/2012 11:43:54 PM EDT
Here is the question:

You have 1ml of 24% solution
and
you have 1ml of 16% solution

The solutions of the same chemical and in the same medium.

If you mix them you end up with:

A: 2ml 20% solution
or
B: 2ml 40% solution

I say the answer is A.

(I need an outside party to settle a disagreement)

Thanks!

4/21/2012 12:30:25 AM EDT
[#1]
(16 + 24) /2 = 20%
4/21/2012 4:39:52 AM EDT
[#2]
What's the other party say about it?
4/21/2012 4:54:58 AM EDT
[#3]
20% is certainly the correct answer.



Think of it as:




16 parts per 100

+ 24 parts per 100

equals 40 parts for 200.  




divide both sides by two to get parts per 100.
4/21/2012 8:56:28 AM EDT
[#4]
Thanks guys.  No matter how many times I explained to my friend that it would be 20%, she insists that it would be 40%.  To her, it is like if she takes a 100mg aspirin and a 325mg aspirin, then the total dose is 425mg - which is correct, but she doesn't grasp how percentages of liquids will blend to an equal portion between the two %  as long as they are mixed in the same quantities.

In my opinion, for a 27 y/o college graduate (BA), she should be able to understand.  So much for the quality of education for (blank) university!  

(don't want to get in a pissing contest regarding which college, but it IS a California institution).


4/22/2012 4:17:03 PM EDT
[#5]

The percentage concept is throwing her off, instead try an example without percentages.
4/23/2012 5:55:59 AM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:

The percentage concept is throwing her off, instead try an example without percentages.


This.

Reduce it to hard numbers without percentages.

And she is not all that bright.
4/25/2012 5:49:07 AM EDT
[#7]



Quoted:


20% is certainly the correct answer.



Think of it as:




16 parts per 100

+ 24 parts per 100

equals 40 parts for 200.  




divide both sides by two to get parts per 100.


Best way to visualize it.

 
4/25/2012 3:31:49 PM EDT
[#8]
In my opinion, for a 27 y/o college graduate (BA), she should be able to understand


While I certainly agree that she should be able to understand, I would be much more disappointed if she had a BS and couldn't grasp the concept. While critical thinking skills are taught in both programs, they are geared more toward humanities and social science than "hard science" in BA programs.
4/26/2012 9:56:32 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
In my opinion, for a 27 y/o college graduate (BA), she should be able to understand


While I certainly agree that she should be able to understand, I would be much more disappointed if she had a BS and couldn't grasp the concept. While critical thinking skills are taught in both programs, they are geared more toward humanities and social science than "hard science" in BA programs.


This is not "critical thinking skills."

This is understanding chemistry so basic you learn it back in junior high school.


Maybe she can dive a 1% solution up into 100 containers, then mix them all back together to get a 100% solution.
4/27/2012 6:22:17 AM EDT
[#10]
It appears that the science aspect of it has been explained to her and she chooses to disagree with it. As the saying goes: "I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you." If that's not a problem with her reasoning process (AKA, critical thinking), then no such animal exists.
4/29/2012 9:11:28 AM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
It appears that the science aspect of it has been explained to her and she chooses to disagree with it. As the saying goes: "I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you." If that's not a problem with her reasoning process (AKA, critical thinking), then no such animal exists.


Understanding basic solution arithmetic is not a 'critical thinking' skill.

Next thing you know she will split a shot of booze in half and double the proof when she puts the halves back together.

This ranks up there with 1+1=2



4/29/2012 9:53:40 AM EDT
[#12]
Edit: Never mind, post above me basically said the same thing.
5/6/2012 10:24:05 AM EDT
[#13]
I apologize, your argument is indeed persuasive. This young lady (supposition) could not have possibly passed several required classes containing this subject material in secondary school and university in pursuit of her BA. She must, therefore, be either stupid or ignorant. I stand corrected.
5/17/2012 9:06:54 AM EDT
[#14]
Downright scary isn't it?

There are supposedly 'educated' folks who appear to have slept through some significant parts of their 'education.'