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math questions

he cut some apples into eighths. she and her friends ate all but 17 pieces. how many whole apples and parts of apples did she have left over? tell how you know?
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CompProbSolv
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Please describe how you are trying to get to the answer.  I think it better to help you through it rather than just give you the answer.
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Dr. Klahn

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@Dr. Klahn:
I think you misread it (just as I did on first reading), though it is poorly written.  The question is about the 17 pieces left over, not what they ate.
Now... technically... there are 0 whole apples and 17 parts of apples, but I highly doubt that is the answer that is wanted.
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Ramin

17/8 = 2 1/8           //   ((2*8+1)/8)

So, she had left two whole apples and 1 part of an apple.
left over: 17/8 = 2-1/8 apples

so a minimum of 3 apples

maximum  (or exact) number of apples cannot be known from the information given
@Ramin:
It's a matter of semantics, but if I handed you 8 apple slices, each of which was 1/8 of an apple, would you say you have a whole apple or 8 parts of apples?  As I mentioned, the initial question is poorly worded (not at all uncommon).
I think it follows a simple rule. 17 pieces is left. That means 17x1/8 or 17/8 is left. So 17/8  is equal to 2 apple and one 1/8 means 2 1/8
So.... if I handed you 8 equal slices of an apple, you'd say you have a whole apple?  I'd say I had 8 slices of an apple (that add up to the same amount as one apple, but it is not whole).
@CompProbSolv - You are right,  but this kind of question helps teachers to  teach math to the students at Schools .
I understand.  I think that proper wording wouldn't get in the way of that.  It also helps instruct students when proper English is used as well.
I'm very curious about how the specific answer was selected as the solution.  How are there an infinite number of ways to describe 17 eighths of apples?
@CompProbSolv
Agreed. The answer is 2 whole apples and one apple slice. Not worried about semantics as to whether we have 0 whole apples and 17 slices. :)
We need easier problems. This one took a year to solve.
If this zone were in philosophy then asking whether 8 slices of an apple that is cut up in 8 parts is a whole apple might be an interesting question. But this sounds like a 3rd grade arithmetic question, so IMO, it is better to not over think the answer.