Are you more numerate than the majority of the British Labour Party?

Einhard · 03-10-2012 1:15am #1

A British polling company conducted a survey of British MPs to find out how they rated their numeracy skills, and how their perception of themselves matched the reality.

77% of Tories thought they had a good grasp of numbers.

72% of Labours MPs believed the same about themselves.

They were then asked the following puzzle: if you spin a coin twice, what's the probablity of getting two heads.

77% of the Labour members got it incorrrect. Which probably goes some way to explaining the state of Britain's economy and financial sector!! I still can't get my head around long division, and even I figured it out! :pac:

So...are you smarter than a Labour MP?

Answer to the conundrum is:

stop cheating

25%

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19801666

Praetorian Saighdiuir · 03-10-2012 1:17am

1/4

Skid · 03-10-2012 1:19am

Einhard wrote: »

I haven'still can't get my head around long division, and even I figured it out! :pac:

Congratulations, your maths is adequate. Now, about your grammar ...

msg11 · 03-10-2012 1:23am

Skid wrote: »

Congratulations, your maths is adequate. Now, about your grammar ...

Wash yer jocks

Einhard · 03-10-2012 1:28am

Skid wrote: »

Congratulations, your maths is adequate. Now, about your grammar ...

Thank God there's no grammar-based prohibition on joining Irish political parties!!

keith16 · 03-10-2012 1:28am

I wonder what % of the Irish labour party would get that right. They'd probably try to tax the fcuking coin we are flipping.

A coin-flipping tax.

Where To · 03-10-2012 1:37am

What if it's a two-headed coin?

keith16 · 03-10-2012 1:41am

Where To wrote: »

What if it's a two-headed coin?

My god...this coin-monster will kill us all.

03-10-2012 1:42am

Depends which side it starts on, there's a slightly higher chance of that coming up.

Einhard · 03-10-2012 1:42am

Where To wrote: »

What if it's a two-headed coin?

*Head explodes*

Wee Willy Harris · 03-10-2012 2:09am

Probably...

I'm really terrible at math; but probably...

Where To · 03-10-2012 2:17am

Einhard wrote: »

*Head explodes*

That would leave no heads? Right?

Greentopia · 03-10-2012 2:32am

I knew the answer but unfortunately I'm pretty bad at maths, so to answer your question, yes I am, if based on that one question. If more than that...perhaps not.

Would love/dread to see the results of a similar poll conducted on TD's if 47% of mainly top Public (ie private) school educated Conservatives got the question wrong

Cookie_Monster · 03-10-2012 3:19am

if you spin it it could stay up on it's edge so the answer is not 1/4 but ever so slightly less than that.

tuxy · 03-10-2012 3:28am

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

if you spin it it could stay up on it's edge so the answer is not 1/4 but ever so slightly less than that.

Any figures on how many of them got it correct and gave this answer?

Pherekydes · 03-10-2012 7:20am

The OP extrapolates from 77% of 44 to the majority of the LP. Not good statistics!

Also, you wouldn't decide whether a person is numerate based on a single question (especially one which is based on probability).

seagull · 03-10-2012 1:28pm

This question isn't really maths or numeracy. It's probability.

Are you more numerate than the majority of the British Labour Party?

Comments