document.write( "Question 1209287: Hi
\n" ); document.write( "The number of students with cavities is 6 more than the number without cavities. When 1/8 of the number with cavities was treated they totaled the same number as the students without cavities. How many of the original group of students have cavities and do not have cavities.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #848104 by greenestamps(13334)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I see a math problem written with such terrible English that its meaning is a mystery.

\n" ); document.write( "\"The number of students with cavities is 6 more than the number without cavities.\"

\n" ); document.write( "Okay, I get that.
\n" ); document.write( "x = # without cavities
\n" ); document.write( "x+6 = # with cavities

\n" ); document.write( "\"When 1/8 of the number with cavities was treated they totaled the same number as the students without cavities.\"

\n" ); document.write( "I have absolutely no idea what that is supposed to say. My best guess as to what that terrible English is supposed to say is that 1/8 of the number with cavities is equal to the number without cavities; but that leads to nonsensical answers.

\n" ); document.write( "And the statement suggests that if a student with cavities is treated he no longer has cavities. That is not so. Once you have cavities, you have cavities. They don't disappear when they are \"treated\".

\n" ); document.write( "Now on to the question that is asked.

\n" ); document.write( "\"How many of the original group of students have cavities and do not have cavities.\"

\n" ); document.write( "What is the word \"original\" doing there? The group of students never changes....

\n" ); document.write( "And finally, ignoring the \"original\", we have the question

\n" ); document.write( "\"How many of the ... students have cavities and do not have cavities.\"

\n" ); document.write( "That is an absurd question. With the language used there, it is asking for the number of students who both have cavities and do not have cavities. You either have cavities or you don't; it can't be both.

\n" ); document.write( "ANSWER (without having to try to interpret the given information...): 0

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