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Dining Ducks

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Every healthy duck is greedy and every old duck is greedy.
On a particular farm, some ducks are greedy and some ducks are not.

Which of the following statements about the ducks on that farm must be true?

  1. There are both young ducks and old ducks.
  2. All the ducks that are not greedy are young.
  3. Some of the young ducks are sick.
  4. All the sick ducks are young.

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This problem is taken from "Sums for Smart Kids" by Laurie Buxton, published by BEAM Education.
To obtain a copy call the BEAM orderline on $020 7684 3330$. (Price: $£17.50$ plus handling and delivery.)


The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice. More information on many of our other activities can be found here.
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NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.