Word problems with a political or social agenda, which often reveals racial, religious, or societal divisions, or which exposes discrimination or prejudice against those from a different country, continent, caste, tribe, gender, lifestyle, race, religion, or belief.
Two political math classics in the recreational math literature, which condones bigotry and racism are:
1. A Turkish bath has 30 visitors in a day. The fee for Jews is 3 dirhams, for Christians 2 dirhams, and for Muslims 1/2 dirham. Thirty dirhams were earned by the bath. How many Christians, Jews, and Muslims attended?
2. A sinking ship must cast off passengers to survive. There are 15 Christians and 15 Turks aboard. The captain, himself a Christian, arranges the passengers in a circle where every ninth person will be thrown overboard. How should he make the arrangement so that the Christians survive?
1. A Turkish bath has 30 visitors in a day. The fee for Jews is 3 dirhams, for Christians 2 dirhams, and for Muslims 1/2 dirham. Thirty dirhams were earned by the bath. How many Christians, Jews, and Muslims attended?
2. A sinking ship must cast off passengers to survive. There are 15 Christians and 15 Turks aboard. The captain, himself a Christian, arranges the passengers in a circle where every ninth person will be thrown overboard. How should he make the arrangement so that the Christians survive?
by MathPlus November 23, 2020
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