Need a solution to this frustrating question

[Explosive]

Well, I shall begin by posing this question (the question in question, one might say):

What is 30 minutes divided by 30 seconds?

You look at that, and the answer is pretty obvious. Its 60, of course. How did we get to this conclusion? A minute is twice as big as 30 seconds and 30 seconds is half the size of a minute. So we automatically either do 30 / .5 or 30 * 2. They both equal 60, as you may have already guessed.

But 60 what?

Lets go back a little, first. The real problem, essentially, is that minutes and seconds are different units. However, its a 'real life' question and isnt set up like '30y/30x' (assuming we knew 2x = 1y) as it would be in a mathematical equation, so that isnt immediately picked up on.

Alright, with that established we know why we have almost unconciously converted it to 30 / .5 or 30 * 2. It needs to be converted into the same unit. in the first, it has put it into the form of minutes, with the second, seconds.

This brings us to the answer of 60. Ok, thats all well and good but what are the units? If its done the first way the answer is 60 minutes. Fair enough. The second way, it is 60 seconds. Hang on a minute, how can one question like this have two different answers?

Ok, lets have a quick break here.
*Elevator music is played*
Time to get back into it.

We'll try something different now. How about just going back to that part where we were talking about how we need to convert it into the same unit so that we can do something with it?

So we know we need to convert it. Lets try converting it into minutes.

30 minutes = 30 minutes
30 seconds = Half a minute = .5 minutes

Really simple, no? So:

30 / .5 = 60

60 minutes (this part has been covered before)

Alright, we have an answer. But isnt the question also in seconds? Yes. So shouldnt we convert the 60 minutes back into seconds? Hell, I dont know. If we did that, the answer would be 360 seconds. Oh no, now we have three possible answers.

Are minutes or seconds what the answer needs to be in? It isnt specified. But we know now that there are three answers which means... there must be four. I'd imagine you would have picked up on it now, but if you havent Ill go through it for you.

The other option is to convert the question into seconds.

30 minutes = 30 * 60 = 1800 seconds
30 seconds = 30 seconds

1800 / 30 = 60

60 seconds (again, we discovered this earlier, but through a different and more simple method)

And here is where we realise there are four answers. 60 seconds equals 1 minute.

Well ffs, whats the bloody answer.
1 minute?
60 seconds?
60 minutes?
360 seconds?
How the hell can one question have four answers?
Its bloody stupid, thats what it is.

Admittedly 1 min = 60 sec and 60 min = 360 sec, but we still need one answer only.

Which is more 'important' or 'dominant'? Minutes or seconds? What should the answer be phrased in? Does it matter? And which method is correct?

We could always say that the answer is 60 blocks of 30 seconds, but that is cheating. I need a proper answer god damn it!

I vaguely touched on algebra a little bit back there, but im not really into that. Maybe someone good at maths can get a mathematically correct answer? I still want it in real world results with an answer that seems 'right'.

Please help me.

(As a bit of background, I thought of this question while hanging around with three guys who were getting stoned. I cant remember what triggered it, but they were no help in solving it...)

[zsinj]

[scorch]

You want real world results? The real world has no need to divide minutes by seconds!! If you can show me something that requires it then i'll possibly help you some more!

[Paryniux]

I think you will find the answer is in neither minutes or seconds. Think about it -

30 minutes / 30 seconds or, in other terms, how many 30 second intervals are in 30 minutes? 60.

Booya baby!

[Paragon101st]

Explosive sms'ed me this question the other night when he was in the process of getting drunk...we both agreed it was a stupid question.

Still, it's one that would have an answer, right?

[Paryniux]

Paragon, read my post. kthnxbye.

[Explosive]

yeah, you COULD say the answer is 60 groups of 30 seconds but thats cheating

[Mel |F]

He sms'd you this question? omg how long was the friggin sms?!

/me dies

[Paryniux]

It's not cheating, my friend - it's called "Solving a simple problem."

Just remember to KISS. (Keep It Simple, Stupid)

/me resuscitates Mel using various methods...

[Explosive]

Originally Posted by Mel |F

omg how long was the friggin sms?

21 sms'... = $5.25

[Mel |F]

I think I would have killed you in some way. Talk about spammage!

[Jantar]

It's called a dimensionless number, there are lots of them about. (eg/ One of the most commonly known is Reynold's Number which is: fluid density x fluid velocity x pipe diameter / fluid viscosity - used to determine if fluid flow is laminar or turbulent .) So yes - the answer is 60, with no units.

[Explosive]

LIES!!!!11!111!!!!1#@21

[Paragon101st]

Way to kill our fun, Jantar

[Paryniux]

Call it what you like, it's still basic.

Sometimes you have to think about things in a more simple manner Explosive

[Explosive]

pary, 60 groups of 30 seconds was one of my original thoughts
BUT
i rejected it
because its not the 'unit' im looking for, but a description.

parhaps it should be 60 ha-mins?

[Paryniux]

A description is you all you need...

[SuperSammo]

I was going to say something similar to Jan but he beat me to it

gwork

[Paragon101st]

Oh you were not, glory-stealer

[Explosive]

dirl.

(dirl = die irl)

[Paryniux]

Pfft, you all suck. I have the glory for solving it. ME ME ME!!!

So..

dirl