Beneath each of the word problems below is a purpose statement (generated by ChatGPT!) that is either missing information or includes unnecessary information.

  • Write an improved version of each purpose statement beneath the original.

  • Then, explain what was wrong with the ChatGPT-generated Purpose Statement.

1 Word Problem: The New York City ferry costs $2.75 per ride. The Earth School requires two chaperones for any field trip. Write a function fare that takes in the number of students in the class and returns the total fare for the students and chaperones.

ChatGPT’s Purpose Statement: Take in the number of students and add 2.

Improved Purpose Statement:

Problem with ChatGPT’s Purpose Statement:

2 Word Problem: It is tradition for the Green Machines to go to Humpy Dumpty’s for ice cream with their families after their soccer games. Write a function cones to take in the number of kids and calculate the total bill for the team, assuming that each kid brings two family members and cones cost $1.25.

ChatGPT’s Purpose Statement: Take in the number of kids on the team and multiply it by 1.25.

Improved Purpose Statement:

Problem with ChatGPT’s Purpose Statement:

3 Word Problem: The cost of renting an ebike is $3 plus an additional $0.12 per minute. Write a function ebike that will calculate the cost of a ride, given the number of minutes ridden.

ChatGPT’s Purpose Statement: Take in the number of minutes and multiply it by 3.12.

Improved Purpose Statement:

Problem with ChatGPT’s Purpose Statement:

4 Word Problem: Suleika is a skilled house painter at only age 21. She has painted hundreds of rooms and can paint about 175 square feet an hour. Write a function paint that takes in the number of square feet of the job and calculates how many hours it will take her.

ChatGPT’s Purpose Statement: Take in the number of square feet of walls in a house and divide them by 175 then add 21 years.

Improved Purpose Statement:

Problem with ChatGPT’s Purpose Statement:

These materials were developed partly through support of the National Science Foundation, (awards 1042210, 1535276, 1648684, 1738598, 2031479, and 1501927). CCbadge Bootstrap by the Bootstrap Community is licensed under a Creative Commons 4.0 Unported License. This license does not grant permission to run training or professional development. Offering training or professional development with materials substantially derived from Bootstrap must be approved in writing by a Bootstrap Director. Permissions beyond the scope of this license, such as to run training, may be available by contacting contact@BootstrapWorld.org.