The Dollop sells ice cream cones. Each cone sold is exactly one
of three different types: chocolate or vanilla or twist (chocolate and
vanilla combined). Of all cones sold, contained some chocolate
and contained some
vanilla. If ice cream cones were
sold in total, how many were twist cones?
, 2026
Pick one
Solutions — 2
Solution 1
Of all cones sold, cones contained
some chocolate. Of all cones
sold,
cones contained some vanilla. The total is more than the number of
cones because it counts each
twist cone exactly twice. Thus, must equal the number of twist
cones. That is, cones were
twist, cones were
chocolate, and cones were
vanilla, as shown in the Venn diagram.
Solution 2
Of all cones sold, cones contained
some chocolate.
Of all cones sold, cones contained
some vanilla.
The total is more than
the number of cones because it
counts each twist cone exactly twice. Thus, must equal the number of twist
cones. That is, cones were
twist, cones were
chocolate, and cones were
vanilla, as shown in the Venn diagram.
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