Is This Engineering Test Question Too Challenging for a Freshman?
Hello everyone!
I’m not entirely sure which subreddit to post this in, but I thought you might appreciate this situation anyway.
My son, a high school freshman, is currently taking an engineering class. Recently, his teacher included a logic puzzle on a test that has us both scratching our heads.
I’m really interested to hear your opinions. Do you think this question is suitable for a 9th grader? He’s been working on it for over an hour—he’s really determined—trying to create a table to eliminate possibilities, but he’s feeling incredibly frustrated. I usually enjoy logic puzzles myself, but this one strikes me as a bit… overwhelming. Perhaps we’re overlooking something simple?
I’m also curious where the teacher sourced this puzzle from—could it be AI-generated?
Looking forward to your thoughts!
Here’s the puzzle:
Five students are seated in the back row. Based on the 16 clues below, please answer the following questions:
- Who drinks Red Bull?
- What is the name of the student whose favorite class is Physics?
- Which student prefers water?
- Who has Stew as a best friend?
- Who is sitting in the middle seat?
Clues:
- Laura is wearing a sweater.
- The student in the hoodie is seated to the right of the one in the polo shirt.
- The student in the hoodie drinks Gatorade.
- Ronald prefers Mt. Dew.
- The student in the blue t-shirt has a best friend named Joey.
- The student whose favorite class is Robotics has a best friend named Lola.
- Boba tea is the favorite drink of the student in the middle seat.
- Albert is in the first seat on the left.
- Bette’s best friend is Lark.
- The student whose best friend is Stew sits next to the one whose favorite class is English.
- One student drinks Red Bull to stay awake in class.
- The student with best friend Tammy prefers water.
- One of the students’ favorite classes is Physics.
- Albert is next to the student wearing a jacket.
- The student with best friend Joey is next to the one whose favorite class is Math.
- Elon’s favorite class is Engineering.
It sounds like your son is tackling quite a challenging logic puzzle! While many freshmen can handle complex problems, a puzzle like this might be a bit overwhelming for some, especially if they haven’t had much experience with logic puzzles or deductive reasoning yet.
The clues require careful analysis and systematic deduction to arrive at the correct answers, which might be more suited for students with more experience in logic and critical thinking. It’s understandable that he feels frustrated, as it can take time to figure out the relationships and accurately map out the information using tables or diagrams.
Here are a few suggestions that might help him approach the puzzle:
Break it Down: Encourage him to take each clue one at a time and determine what can be inferred from it. Writing down what he knows based on each clue might help him visualize the information better.
Create a Visual Representation: A grid or diagram can help track different aspects like seating arrangements, drink preferences, and best friends. This can help him see connections that might not be obvious at first.
Look for Direct Relationships: Identify which clues provide direct answers or relationships first. For instance, if a clue states Albert is in the first seat, start from there to build the arrangement.
Elimination Method: Sometimes it’s easier to eliminate what can’t be true or possible rather than trying to find what is true. This might simplify the connections between clues.
Collaboration: Sometimes explaining the clues to someone else can help clarify thoughts. Maybe sitting down together and going through the clues might make the process less daunting.
Regarding whether the question is appropriate for a 9th grader, it may depend on the curriculum and the level of logical reasoning experience your son and his classmates have had prior to this. While some might find it engaging, others could find it overwhelming, especially if they haven’t practiced similar puzzles.
Ultimately, it could be a good idea to discuss this with the teacher if it seems out of place for the students’ developmental stage. Teachers often appreciate feedback from parents, especially when it comes to assignments that might need some revision for future classes.
Hopefully, he’ll be able to solve the puzzle, or at least have a fun experience trying! Good luck!