Nederland High School

Homecoming King and Queen Elections

You have been chosen to serve on the committee that decides who this year's Homecoming King and Queen will be. As a committee, you have already determined the three sets of finalists to be, in no particular order, Alan and Alice, Bob and Betty, and Carl and Cathy. Please note that all finalists are seniors. Furthermore, you have already held elections through class meetings and have collected the following results:

  Freshmen Sophomores Juniors Seniors
1st Alan/Alice Bob/Betty Carl/Cathy Carl/Cathy
2nd Bob/Betty Alan/Alice Bob/Betty Bob/Betty
3rd Carl/Cathy Carl/Cathy Alan/Alice Alan/Alice
class size 60 students 50 students 40 students 30 students

On your own:

1. Look at the election information above. In your opinion, which couple should reign as Homecoming King and Queen? Who would finish 2nd and 3rd? Be prepared to justify you answer.



In your group:

2. Compare the results of each individual in your group. Does everyone have the same result or not? Discuss your reasoning. Were there reasons that you did not take into account? Do you feel that these reasons are valid?

3. As a group, come to consensus as to which couple should finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Explain below, in detail, the method your group used in determining this order.


The Discrete Mathematics Project