All
Math Puzzlers for August are word puzzles
Mr. Math Puzzler
has provided six elaborate, but not super-hard, word puzzles
for August. That's a fun way to end the summer vacation and
get ready for the 2003-2004 school year.
All these Puzzlers
can be answered with numbers. But, sometimes, the best way
to figure the answers are to use line pictures or charts.
Unlike July, all
of these Puzzlers have only one answer. Last month, Mr. Math
Puzzler--math teacher Wayne Hesse--had questions with some
leeway in them. Some even had more than one correct answer.
Young Saint
Louis.com continued the Math Puzzlers all through the
summer. That way, you could keep your math reasoning skills
sharp. They provided an opportunity to sit in the shade with
friends and have a little competition.
If this is your
first time with the Math Puzzlers, you might like to review
past questions and answers to find out how Mr. Math Puzzler
thinks.
YSL.com
Math Puzzlers started two years ago. Using the Past Stories
tab on the home page, bring up a past edition and review questions
and answers. The answers to one month's questions are included
in the next month's edition.
(To see the
July answers, click here.)
Young Saint
Louis.com likes it when kids get all answers correct.
We list all winners the following month. Up to three of them
can win $10 Borders certificates as an extra bonus.
A reminder:
These Math Puzzlers can be quite challenging, especially for
younger kids. Remember, we don't mind if you get help from
a parent or older brother or sister. In fact, you might want
to make this a family activity.
Here's how to
enter:
- Print out
the following entry form.
- Fill out your
name, address and telephone number.
- Give your
answers to the six Math Puzzlers.
- Put your completed
entry into a stamped envelope.
- Mail your
entry to:
Math Puzzler Contest
Young Saint Louis.com
231 So. Bemiston Ave., Suite 800
Clayton, MO 63105
- All entries
must be postmarked by the 15th of the month
to be eligible.
---------------Clip
here to make entry---------------
Entry for August, 2003, Math Puzzler Contest:
Name: _________________________________
Age: _____
Address: ___________________
School: _______________
City:____________________,
State:______ ZIP__________
Contact phone
no.(____)____________________
The Math Puzzlers
(August, 2003)
1. Each of three
towns was menaced by a dragon living in a cave above each
town. The wizards Malefano, Sagareth and Thaumater created
these three dragons. Sagareth's dragon will menace its town
for the same number of years as the square root of the number
of years Thaumater's dragon curse is on its town. Sagareth's
dragon curse also will last the number of years equal to half
the square root of the number of years Malefano's dragon curse
is on the third town. Taumater's dragon curse will last the
number of years equal to twice the square root of the number
of years of Malefano's curse. How long will each curse last?
(Hint: All curses will be expressed in whole years, no fractions.
Also, you need to set up formulas and a table of values for
all.)
Answer: _______________
2. Five glubs
that tried to enter the town of Galvinchy were slain by 10
Knights of the Golden Sword. The knights laid the five glubs'
bodies tail to head with five feet between one tail and the
next head. Stretched out like that, the glubs covered a distance
of 200 feet. The first, third and fifth glubs were all the
same length, as were the second and fourth glubs. Each glub
was either 10 feet longer or 10 feet shorter than its neighboring
glub. Furthermore, each glub's length was a multiple of 10.
What was the length of each glub? (Hint: Make a line drawing
featuring the glubs and the gaps between them.)
Answer: _____________
3. Four cave dwarves,
each of whom works at the same rate, were to complete a mining
job according to a schedule. However, because of an argument,
two of the four quit after working only one day. The remaining
two dwarves finished the job, but it required two more days
than originally had been scheduled. How many days were originally
scheduled for completion of the job? (Hint: Create a table.)
Answer: _____________
4. A certain gardener
had a number of skilled workers, each of whom was getting
$28 a day. He also had a number of semi-skilled workers, each
earning $12 a day. This amounted to a combined daily payroll
of $264 per day. Since many of the jobs didn't require much
supervision, he figured that by reducing the number of skilled
workers by one-half and doubling the number of semi-skilled
employees, he could actually get much more work done at a
cost of only $12 a day more. After making these changes, how
many total employees does he now have? (Hint: Set up a
system of linear equations and then find the answers by using
the addition method.)
Answer:
_____________
5. Art, Boyd and
Carl were sitting at a bar and, to pass time, Art suggested
that they flip coins. Whoever tossed the only head or tail
of the three coins thrown wins 1/2 of the money that each
of the others then has. They all start out with the same amount
of money. Art won the first flip; Boyd won the second flip,
and Carl won the third. Carl then counted his money and had
exactly $13. How much did each have when they started? (Hint:
Use a table and think in terms of common denominators of fractions.)
Answer: _____________
6. After playing
poker for a few hours, George realized that he had lost 3/4ths
of his money, so he stopped playing and went to the cafe for
a bite to eat. He spent $3 for lunch and then returned to
play a few more hours. During this time, he won back 4/5ths
of the money he had lost. He stopped playing for the night
and discovered that he now had $21 less than when he had started.
How much money did he have when he started?
Answer: _____________
