05-21-2018, 08:21 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-21-2018, 08:22 AM by cookderosa.)
(05-02-2018, 02:30 PM)acamp Wrote:(05-02-2018, 01:00 PM)dfrecore Wrote:(05-02-2018, 09:38 AM)acamp Wrote: Hey there,
I was going over one of my practice final exams for the MAT 102 course and I found a mistake in the practice final. The question reads:
17. A four-sided shape has all right angles and sides of equal length. That means the shape is both a _____
Incorrect
Topic: Geometry
Both of these options are correct
Watch correct answer
square and a rectangle
square and a rhombus
Neither of these options are correct
Study.com says that the correct answer is BOTH OF THESE OPTIONS ARE CORRECT which that isn't true. A rhombus does NOT 4 right angles. I just confirmed this with TWO math teachers =)
A rhombus CAN have 4 right angles (a square is a rhombus), but it doesn't necessarily have 4 right angles. So the question is not a good one, even if the answer COULD be correct.
I think with math questions, the answer has to be exactly, 100% correct. There can't be ambiguity.
But technically, a square and a rhombus is the correct answer.
I appreciate all the responses. But, a square ALWAYS has 4 right angles. A rhombus doesn't necessarily have to have 4 right angles. Usually, a rhombus does not have 4 right angles. So I agree with you dfrecore - this question is not credible and wayyyyy too ambiguous. I asked to high school state-certified math teachers and they both said a rhombus doesn't always have 4 right angles and thought the question wasn't a good one..
This is why there will continue to be errors. First of all, you can argue questions to death. I've had students argue questions with me. To address a reported error, the course provider first needs one or more content experts in place to review the question and the error. Content experts are not cheap - and students getting PAID to report errors? OMG never happen. You could *literally* report errors on every test (cuz ya never know cha-ching!!) and the number of man-hours needed to just investigate would be ridiculous. I imagine a scene out of Law and Order where a room full of phones are ringing off the hook and everyone is chasing their tale looking for a needle in a haystack.
Best case, they've saved the emails and may give a batch of them to the team/content experts when its time for a content review - so I'm thinking maybe every 3 years or when their ACE eval is up for renewal.