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Are you more numerate than the majority of the British Labour Party?

  • 03-10-2012 12:15am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭


    A British polling company conducted a survey of British MPs to find out how they rated their numeracy skills, and how their perception of themselves matched the reality.

    77% of Tories thought they had a good grasp of numbers.

    72% of Labours MPs believed the same about themselves.

    They were then asked the following puzzle: if you spin a coin twice, what's the probablity of getting two heads.

    77% of the Labour members got it incorrrect. Which probably goes some way to explaining the state of Britain's economy and financial sector!! I still can't get my head around long division, and even I figured it out! :pac:

    So...are you smarter than a Labour MP?

    Answer to the conundrum is:
    stop cheating :)

    25%


    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19801666


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,968 ✭✭✭✭Praetorian Saighdiuir


    1/4


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,873 ✭✭✭Skid


    Einhard wrote: »
    I haven'still can't get my head around long division, and even I figured it out! :pac:

    Congratulations, your maths is adequate. Now, about your grammar ...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,572 ✭✭✭msg11


    Skid wrote: »
    Congratulations, your maths is adequate. Now, about your grammar ...

    Wash yer jocks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭Einhard


    Skid wrote: »
    Congratulations, your maths is adequate. Now, about your grammar ...

    Thank God there's no grammar-based prohibition on joining Irish political parties!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    I wonder what % of the Irish labour party would get that right. They'd probably try to tax the fcuking coin we are flipping.

    A coin-flipping tax.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,455 ✭✭✭Where To


    What if it's a two-headed coin?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    Where To wrote: »
    What if it's a two-headed coin?

    My god...this coin-monster will kill us all.


  • Posts: 25,611 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Depends which side it starts on, there's a slightly higher chance of that coming up.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,920 ✭✭✭Einhard


    Where To wrote: »
    What if it's a two-headed coin?

    *Head explodes*


  • Site Banned Posts: 563 ✭✭✭Wee Willy Harris


    Probably...

    I'm really terrible at math; but probably...


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,455 ✭✭✭Where To


    Einhard wrote: »
    *Head explodes*
    That would leave no heads? Right?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,221 ✭✭✭Greentopia


    I knew the answer but unfortunately I'm pretty bad at maths, so to answer your question, yes I am, if based on that one question. If more than that...perhaps not.

    Would love/dread to see the results of a similar poll conducted on TD's if 47% of mainly top Public (ie private) school educated Conservatives got the question wrong :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,537 ✭✭✭✭Cookie_Monster


    if you spin it it could stay up on it's edge so the answer is not 1/4 but ever so slightly less than that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭tuxy


    if you spin it it could stay up on it's edge so the answer is not 1/4 but ever so slightly less than that.

    Any figures on how many of them got it correct and gave this answer?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,201 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    The OP extrapolates from 77% of 44 to the majority of the LP. Not good statistics!

    Also, you wouldn't decide whether a person is numerate based on a single question (especially one which is based on probability).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,342 ✭✭✭seagull


    This question isn't really maths or numeracy. It's probability.


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