Math 234 Writing Assignment #2
AFTER TYPING IN THIS DOCUMENT YOUR RESPONSES TO EACH EXERCISE, SAVE THE DOCUMENT (WITH YOUR NAME IN THE APPROPRIATE PART OF THE FILE NAME), AND SUBMIT THIS ASSIGNMENT BY ATTACHING THE DOCUMENT TO AN EMAIL TO THE INSTRUCTOR ().
NAME: (Type your name here)
Below you will read a (fictional) story. After reading the story, decide whether or not you believe Amanda’s logic in the story is flawed, and type a short essay (say two or three paragraphs)below the story in this document,addressing the following: If you believe that Amanda’s logic is not flawed, then explain how if the quiz occurs on, say, Wednesday of the following week, you will not be surprised; if youbelieve that Amanda’s logic is flawed, then explain what this flaw is.
Story. It is Friday afternoon, and high school student Amanda is sitting in her last class of the day. As soon as she (gleefully) notices that there are five minutes of class left, the teacher, Mr. Grumble, announces that a quiz will be administered one day next week, but the day on which the quiz will occur will be a surprise.
"Oh, Mr. Grumble," Amanda chirps sweetly after raising her hand, "Don't you realize that it is impossible to have a surprise quiz one day next week. We all know you won't have it on Friday, because if the quiz has not occurred by Thursday, then everyone would know that Friday has to be the day for the quiz, and it won't be surprise. This means that the quiz has to occur on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. We all know you won't have it on Thursday, because if the quiz has not occurred by Wednesday, then everyone would know that Thursday has to be the day for the quiz. This means that the quiz has to occur on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. We all know you won't have it on Wednesday, because if the quiz has not occurred by Tuesday, then everyone would know that Wednesday has to be the day for the quiz. This means that the quiz has to occur on Monday or Tuesday. If you don't have the quiz on Monday, then we will all know it is coming on Tuesday, but that leaves Monday as the only choice for the quiz, and it certainly will not be a surprise if we all know it is on Monday."