A total head scratcher

[DJFyrewolf36]

My friend actually had this question on a Job application...I keep going around in circles on it and its kind of irritating lol. Can anyone answer this and explain how they did?

I do wonder how this has any bering on real life, unless the family is packing explosives or something lol.



A family is moving and has a number of electronic devices
in the same packing crate. One of the devices beeps every 8 minutes,
another device beeps every 10 minutes, and a third device beeps every 12
minutes. If all the devices beeped together at 3:00 pm, what time will
it be when they all beep together next?

[Freckles]

What is the job?

[DJFyrewolf36]

I honestly don't know. My friend has been answering math questions like this for over 3 hours just on one application. Quite confusing!

[Twisterdog]

Caveat: I have been out of school a LONG time and my math memories are rusty. This may or may not be correct. :p

To solve this you would need to find the least common multiple of the numbers 8, 10 and 12. That would give you the number of minutes that must elapse before they are in sync again. Then you would add this number to the original time.

Therefore, the LCM (least common multiple) of 8, 10 and 12 is 120. So, add 120 minutes ... two hours ... to 3:00 pm and the answer is 5:00 pm.

I don't think the question is testing real-life problem solving skills. I think it is just a story problem testing basic math skills for a math intensive job.

[DJFyrewolf36]

I just found out that this was on an online application for a gas station. And thank you Twisterdog! Its a lot simpler when you put it that way lol

[moosmom]

Don't ask me, I suck at math. I'm the only person on the face of the earth that keeps her checkbook in pencil!!!:p:p

[Cataholic]

I would answer, "I wouldn't know, I would be so busy doing my job that the beeping sound would be the least of my worries". Or, "I don't know, once the bomb squad arrived, they took control of the situation". Or, "I don't know, it got on my last nerve that I opened the package and removed the batteries". Or, "I don't know, I went on break and never came back, too much darn noise for me".

It was on a job application for a GAS station? Is there a single function that one performs at a GAS station that isn't electronically calculated for them???

[happylabs]

My answer would be: "Who cares?". :D :p

[moosmom]

Right on HappyLabs!!!!!

[Barbara]

It will be at 5. You need the smallest number that can be divided by 8, 12 and 10 without leaving a rest. At 4 the 12 and 10 minute device will beep but 60 cannot be divided by 8 without a rest.

Edit: Twisterdog I now saw that we both agree- that makes it a majority decision ;)

[DJFyrewolf36]

I would answer, "I wouldn't know, I would be so busy doing my job that the beeping sound would be the least of my worries". Or, "I don't know, once the bomb squad arrived, they took control of the situation". Or, "I don't know, it got on my last nerve that I opened the package and removed the batteries". Or, "I don't know, I went on break and never came back, too much darn noise for me".

It was on a job application for a GAS station? Is there a single function that one performs at a GAS station that isn't electronically calculated for them???

LOL this is what I was thinking. I found out more info: This was for an assistant manager postion at a wal-mart owned gas station. I don't see where a manager at a gas station would have to do this kind of math. Maybe its a test to see if people can think lol.