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Basic Math/The can question

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Expert: Josh - 1/21/2009


Question
I need some help please....my daughter is in 3rd grade and has a math question that i can not figure out...sad for a college graduate but here it goes.

It weighs nothing, it can be seen. And if you put it in a can, it makes it weigh less?

We cant figure it out, and it for some extra credit points...thank you for your help

Answer
HI Randy,

This is not a maths question I don't think.
Does the question read "it can be seen" or "it can't be seen"?
My guess is probably air or gas (like carbon dioxide in coke).

If you fill a can with air, the more space the air takes up, the lighter the whole thing weighs.

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Josh

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When I work through problems, I like to emphasize concepts which I believe are worth noting. I will try to answer questions in the following areas, but not at the advanced level. Algebra. Sequences & Series. Trigonometry. Functions & Graphs. Coordinate Geometry. Quadratic Polynomials. Exponential & Logarithms. Basic Calculus. Probability, Permutation and Combination. Mathematical Induction. Complex numbers. Physics problems.

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I have worked as a teaching assistant in college. My hope is that more people will share knowledge without boundary, give help without seeking recognition or monetary rewards.

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Bachelor degree in Engineering Science

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