The January, 2002, Math Puzzler questions
We're starting
off the new year with all-new questions in the Young Saint
Louis.com Math Puzzler contest.
Our Mr. Math Puzzler,
Wayne Hesse from Green Park Lutheran School, likes to provide
math questions that stretch your mind. But, he wants them
to be fun.
Each month, YSLouis.com
publishes a series of six Math Puzzlers. We make a little
contest out of it, but these are primarily for your entertainment.
They deal with a variety of math concepts but they are not
a class assignment.
All but one of
the January Puzzlers are word problems. The other involves
a problem of objects orbiting in space and includes an illustration.
Remember, the
main objective of the YSL.com Math Puzzlers is to have
FUN. We believe, if a subject is fun, you're likely to learn
more than if it is a chore.
Submit your answers
to this January contest by using the form below. In February,
we'll publish names of those who answered all questions correctly.
We'll also include explanations of the answers. (For answers
to the December Math Puzzlers, click
here.)
As always, we
offer an ADDED BONUS for entries. Each month, we'll
put all entries that answer correctly all six Puzzlers into
a hat and draw for up to three $10 gift certificates from
Borders Book Stores.
A note:
We've made these Math Puzzlers quite challenging, especially
for younger kids. But, we don't mind if you solicit 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
7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 350
Clayton, MO 63105
- All entries
must be postmarked by the 15th of the month to be eligible
for a book prize.
-------Clip
here to make entry-------
Entry
for January, 2002, Math Puzzler Contest:
Name: _____________________________________
Address: ___________________________________
City:_________________,
State:______ ZIP_______
Contact phone
no.(____)_______________________
The
Math Puzzlers
(January, 2002)
1. The clerk misunderstood
the order for rope. He reversed the feet and inches and the
customer got only 30% of what she ordered. What was the length
of rope really ordered?
Answer:___________
2. Jerry went
shopping. He spent half of what he had plus $5 for a shirt.
Then, he spent half of what was left plus $5 for a mystery
novel. Finally, he spent half of what was left plus $5 for
stationery. Then, Jerry had nothing left. How much did he
start with?
Answer:___________
3.
There was a contest to guess how many beans were in a jar.
Herb was off by 6, Sally was off by 5, James was off by 4
and Lucy was off by 3. Susie was correct. One guessed 19,
one guessed 22, one guessed 29, one guessed 25 and one guessed
30. What was the right answer?
Answer:___________
4. Jim climbed
a rock wall at half a mile per hour and descended twice as
fast. The trip took 12 hours. How far was it to the top?
Answer:___________
5. Fifteen knights
were invited to a sumptuous meal at the castle. Before sitting
down, each of the 15 knights shook hands with each of the
other knights. How many hand shakes were needed?
Answer:___________
6. Different things
orbit the earth at different speeds and distances. For example,
satellites and space instruments released by the space shuttle
are only several hundred miles away from earth, while communication
satellites circle at a distance of about 22,300 miles.
In this puzzle,
Satellite X-1 orbits our planet once every nine hours, Satellite
Beta once every 4 1/2 hours and Satellite Parking once every
three hours. At time zero, the satellites are positioned in
a straight line. How long will it take for all three objects
to position themselves again in a straight line?
Answer:__________
