With regards to your first comment (which I just read): “It was unessential to the hypothesis parameters.”, you are correct. But, allow me to change context and you will likely find what follows as extremely irritating, or at least somewhat bemusing at my futile attempt to point out an obvious point.
This is a standard word problem in 5th Grade Common Core Math. I just found it, copied it, no preparation or forethought required. [http://www.lakeshore.wnyric.org/Page/3492 not that it matters]
Nothing strange about it: it is a typical math problem a 5th grader in 2015 will see on a test.
But, what’s wrong with it?
It’s not real.
There’s no Maxwell. There’s no Mom. There’s no skis.
If you had a friend named Maxwell, who was short the cash, would you use one of these things to figure out what he owes?
Maybe you would. Or maybe he’s hit up Uncle Marty for another $50, fix a friend’s computer for $30, help his friend’s little sister with _her_ math homework for a few extra dollars, until he goes to the store and finds out if he has enough money to buy the skis.
BUT WAIT: HE ALREADY BOUGHT THE SKIS. He possesses them. The question becomes even more useless.
Of course this is ultimately a critique on the nature of thought experiments in general. But I expect as much out of people as I expect out of myself.
If you asked the question above, and you work in the Industry and the question actually *MATTERED*? The details would matter. It wouldn’t be algebraic plug and play.
But, as a standard school word problem, I suppose it works. But I ranted about things like the following in the school newspaper. I ranted about them at college. I still rant about them today. Kids aren’t wrong when they say, “These are stupid”. They are. Clever, but impractical. American Pragmatist talking.
There’s no Maxwell. There’s no Mom. There’s no skis.
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