Who won?

Three teams, A, B, and C, participated in a relay race. Each team had ten runners. The results are given in the chart below.

Which team do you think was the winner, and why? (Becker and Shimada)

Alternatives

Might give out an index card with a ranking to each of 30 participants. Or divide the class up into supporters A, B, and C and have each group argue why its own team won.

Approaches

A won because it came in first.

Does the placement of the other runners matter?

B won because it had the most in the top 7.

Why seven?

A won because it was a relay with ten people on a team, and its last team member came in before the least of either other team.

Does the placement of the other runners matter?

C won because it had the most in the top 10.

Why ten?

C won because it has the lowest sum of ranks. ???

Should the earlier winners have even lower "weights"?

Don't the times matter?

What would you do if you knew the times?

Your experience

Have you used this problem with a class and seen approaches other than(or more specific than) those mentioned above? Or do you have other comments or criticisms or stories? If so, please tell us!

Last updated 30 November, 2004