Chapter 2.1, Problem 6E

Flesch Reading Ease The Flesch Reading Ease Test is a test that ranks the reading level of passages.² Let W be the total number of words in the passage, S the number of sentences, and L the number of syllables. Then the Flesch test calculates the score F of the passage using the formula

$F=206.835-1.015\frac{W}{S}-84.6\frac{L}{W}.$

a. Calculate F for the paragraph above (the one that describes the Flesch Reading Ease Test). Omit the formula itself. Round your answer to the nearest whole number. (We count 3 sentences, 51 words, and 71 syllables.)

b. For the rest of this exercise, we consider passages that have 10 sentences and 350 syllables. Find a formula expressing F as a function of W for such passages.

c. A passage is thought to be easily understandable by 13- to 15-year-old students if the Flesch scour, rounded to one decimal place, is 60 or higher. For the passages considered is part b, how many words should be in the passage to make it easily understood (Suggestion: First use a table increment of 20 to get an estimate of the answer. Then change to table increment of 1.)

d. What is the maximum number of words in the passages considered in part b? (Can there be more words than syllables?)

e. Bear in mind your answer from part d, and determine the maximum possible Flesch score for the passages considered in part b. Round your answer to the nearest whole number.