An infinite number of correct answers

[lovingboth]

From a SATS key stage 2 (i.e. for 6-7 year olds) practice question...

[Poll #1386206]

Comments

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Wow, way to ask a non-specific question! I'm assuming the kids will get points for any two numbers that have a product of 120, though. Otherwise that's just cruel.

[a-musing-amazon.livejournal.com]

(1,120),(2,60),(3,40),(4,30),(5,24),(6,20),(8,15),(10,12) are the positive integers.
While (-1,-120),(-2,-60),(-3,-40),(-4,-30),(-5,-24),(-6,-20),(-8,-15),(-10,-12) are the negative integer solutions,
also (x,120/x) where x is a rational number,
also irrational solutions such as (120^1/2,120^1/2),
also transcendental numbers such as (Pi, 120/Pi),(e,120/e).
also complex numbers, such as (120i, -i).

I suppose the most general answer would be something like (x, 120/x) where x is a complex number a +bi where a and b are real numbers and a+bi <> 0. But this does seem a bot beyond the comprehension of most 5-6 yeat olds.

[trishpiglet.livejournal.com]

I'd give the quickest answer I could think of and then move on to see if the other questions were any more challenging

But then I'm not 6

[haggis.livejournal.com]

An infinite number of correct answers. But also a larger infinite number of wrong answers presumably?

[ergotia.livejournal.com]

I would not have had a clue about that when I was 6.

[badriya.livejournal.com]

I had 30x40 as one but knew it looked too big and had to do it on paper :) I got 10x12 ok at once. I think that was the expected answer if they do tables. Ten times table is one of the first you learn, isn't it?