One other "problem" I saw with this exercise was the considerable "skewness" between them. In order for it to be "fairer" you would have to use a similar # of digits for both of them, e.g. if you say 1/16, you should counter with, say, 243 (or 14, whatever), or something to that effect. Marcus On Fri, 20 Oct 2000 11:55:48 James R. Frysinger wrote: >I don't know who was addressed in your original message, Norm, but I >presume it was some official in DeKalb County's school administration. > >You inadvertently (perhaps) provided a very simple exercise in the first >step. The sum is 63/64 because the series is >1/64+2/64+4/64+8/64+16/64+32/64 which is (2^7-1)/64. Another way of >looking at it is that by adding an additional 1/64 to the stack and then >accumulating upwards, one has 64/64 from which the temporary 1/64 must >now be subtracted, leaving 63/64. > >Jim > >Norman Werling wrote: >> >> Gentlemen: >> >> I am an age 64 registered voter living in Georgia House District 64. I am >> vitally interested in the education of DeKalb's children as well as that of >> my grandchildren who all live elsewhere but mostly in Georgia. >> >> I would ask both of you to humor me and complete the following exercise. >> Then do me the honor of replying with total honesty and without any >> preconceived notions. Agreed? >> >> Step one is to add the following: >> 1/64 >> 1/32 >> 1/16 >> 1/8 >> 1/4 >> 1/2 >> ------- >> >> ------- >> >> How long did it take you to add them.? ___minutes and___seconds. >> >> Do not scroll down further until you have done the problem and answered the >> question with your best recollection of the time needed to answer. Be fair >> now! >> >> Now add the following: >> 1 >> 2 >> 4 >> 5 >> 6 >> 7 >> ----- >> >> ----- >> >> How long did it take you to add them? _____minutes and _____seconds. >> Do not scroll down until you have done the problem and answered the question >> with your best recollection about the time needed to answer. Be fair now! >> >> After you have done both and filled in the blanks, just hit "reply" and send >> it back to me. Then we can talk about it via email or telephone, whichever >> you prefer. >> >> Thank you for participating, >> >> Norman V. Werling >> 1240 Hunters Drive >> Stone Mountain, GA 30083-2545 >> 404-292-9328 > >-- >Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!" >James R. Frysinger, CAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/ >10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Charleston, SC 29407 phone/FAX: 843.225.6789 > > Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com
