Isn't this such a badly worded question?

[axp107]

If ocean waves strike the shore every 3s and the horizontal distance between adjacent crests and troughs is 1.0m, what is the average speed of the waves?

By adjacent crests and troughs, I assumed adjacent crests and adjacent troughs. Meaning.. crest to crest, or trough to trough.

Apparently its supposed to mean between an adjacent crest and an adjacent trough.

Granted, some of you are going to look at this and say "DUH... ofcourse.. thats what it says". But if you really look at the grammar, it could have gone either way since they use the plural form of crest and trough.

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[FlowLimited]

I agree, it is rather ambiguous at first glance. Technically however, "adjacent" means touching or sharing a common border, so it does describe the situation that they're trying to describe.

If things aren't touching, with no intervening space in between, they aren't adjacent.

However, although they're technically correct, I still agree with you. It's confusing.

 

[Kaydubz]

Hey, I got that question wrong on AAMC 5 too!!!

Yes, the wording could be better. But on the other hand I was like "ooo free points" and just did the calculation without taking a second look at the question stem.

 

[axp107]

Lol this sucks... knowing that the real MCAT could be this ambiguous

woulda gotten a 13 on that sucker if it weren't for that 1 question

 

[CBG23]

I remember that question, too. I was like WTF? after I got it wrong...

 

[ashal]

So how do u do this question. I mean I am confused.

 

[FlowLimited]

So how do u do this question. I mean I am confused.

speed = wavelength * frequency

or

speed = wavelength / period

They give you the period (3 seconds) and the wavelength is (1 meter) * 2 because they give you half a wavelength.

 

[Creightonite]

That question was worded incorrectly. I showed it my Physics teacher, he said that they way they have it worded, it mean that lambda=1m. I would've gotten a 14 if I had that one correct.

 

[UCDavisdude]

If ocean waves strike the shore every 3s and the horizontal distance between adjacent crests and troughs is 1.0m, what is the average speed of the waves?

By adjacent crests and troughs, I assumed adjacent crests and adjacent troughs. Meaning.. crest to crest, or trough to trough.

Apparently its supposed to mean between an adjacent crest and an adjacent trough.

Granted, some of you are going to look at this and say "DUH... ofcourse.. thats what it says". But if you really look at the grammar, it could have gone either way since they use the plural form of crest and trough.

was that aamc 4??familiar

 

[DieselD]

just noticed this one got me 2. sneaky sneaky...

 

[Tan008]

definitely got that one wrong as well, and was confused as to why at first 😛

 

[jzeidenb]

i got this one right but i dont remember if it was by guess or what. It looks like i knew what i was doing