Re: An old SAT problem
- From: "Pubkeybreaker" <pubkeybreaker@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 11 Apr 2007 06:21:22 -0700
quasi wrote:
On 10 Apr 2007 08:29:47 -0700, "Pubkeybreaker" <pubkeybreaker@xxxxxxx>
The solution to a problem should NOT depend on the level of domain
expertise of the
problem solver.
Who says? The math part of the general SAT is not necessarily just a
test of math skills. Reading comprehension, analytical reasoning,
ability to translate simple word problems into mathematical form,
common sense -- these are all fair game.
To some extent, that could be viewed as part of
what is being tested for -- the common sense to keep the
interpretation simple.
I disagree. With this interpretation questions are no longer just
about solving a
mathematical problem, but also about *guessing* what the poser of the
question
intended. This can be a cultural/psychological matter that has
nothing to do with
mathematics.
Absolutely right. There is dependency on cultural experience. If you
don't know what a lease means or what taxes are, you can't understand
the problem. But presumably problems involving simple and compound
interest were taught in the basic high school math courses for the
general student population, so based on that assumption, this problem
was not unfair.
I did not claim that it was unfair. I did state that it was poorly
posed.
If solving the problem requires "knowing about taxes" a truly
knowledgable
solver would realize that real estate taxes are paid *locally* and
become
*deductible* on federal tax returns. Therefore the total investment
is not $9000,
but rather 8500 + 500 - the rebate obtained on federal taxes. This
latter quantity is
impossible to determine from the information given. It would depend
on the marginal
federal tax rate. This is the sort of complication that arises if one
inserts cultural
knowledge requirements into a problem.
If the intent of the test is to measure "quantitative reasoning",
then it should not
require cultural domain knowledge. You can't have it both ways.
.
- References:
- An old SAT problem
- From: jan . amos
- Re: An old SAT problem
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- Re: An old SAT problem
- From: Pubkeybreaker
- Re: An old SAT problem
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- Re: An old SAT problem
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