Mr. Math Puzzler is starting the 2004 year with questions that involve series of numbers. Some are pretty easy but others are tougher.

There are some where an educated guess can be the proper approach. Then, there are others where a proper equation would be most helpful.

You remember that Young Saint Louis.com's Mr. Math Puzzler is Mr. Wayne Hesse. He's an eighth grade math teacher at Green Park Lutheran School in south St. Louis County.

The Math Puzzler feature has been on this website since September, 2001. Sometimes we have a bunch of winners and other months no one gets all six Puzzlers correct.

There were three winners in the December competition. Before that, we had gone two months without a winner. But, in December, the winners were 13-year-old Leslie Hlavaty from St. Gabrie Catholic School and two brothers from Chesterfield, 10-year-old Eric and 12-year-old Phillip Hsu.

If you'd like to check on the December questions, answers and explanations, click here.

(If you'd like to check a number of the past editions, just click on the Past Stories tab at the top of the home page. Then, pick any month from September, 2001, on and review both questions and answers.)

If any of our contestants get all six answers correct, we publish their names in the following month. Also, as an added incentive, we enter all kids who get six right answers into a drawing for $10 Border's book certificates. Up to three certificates will be awarded each month.

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:

1. Print out the following entry form.
2. Fill out your name, address and telephone number.
3. Give your answers to the six Math Puzzlers.
4. Put your completed entry into a stamped envelope.
5. Mail your entry to:
   
   Math Puzzler Contest
   Young Saint Louis.com
   231 So. Bemiston Ave., Suite 800
   Clayton, MO 63105
   
   
6. All entries must be postmarked by the 15th of the month to be eligible.

-------------Clip here to make entry-------------

Entry for January, 2004, Math Puzzler Contest:

Name: ___________________________________ Age: ____

Address: _____________________ School: ______________

City:____________________, State:______ ZIP__________

Contact phone no.(____)____________________

The Math Puzzlers
(January, 2004)

1. Begin with a large cube. Slice off a tiny triangular pyramid at each vertex of the cube. How many vertices does the resulting polyhedron have? How many edges does this resulting polyhedron have?

Answer: _______________

 

2. In one round of a TV game show, five questions are asked. The second question is worth twice as much as the first. The third question is worth three times as much as the second. The fourth question is worth four times as much as the third. The fifth question is worth five times as much as the fourth. If the fifth question is worth $12,000, what is the first question worth?

Answer: _____________

 

3. The four children in the Gonzalez family have a combined age of 25 years. Maria's older brother is six times as old as she is. Her next-to-the-oldest brother is 5 years older than she is and the youngest of her brothers is twice Maria's age. How old is each of the Gonzalez children?

Answer: _____________

 

4. An electrical panel has 100 switches in a row, all in the OFF position. Every second switch is turned to the ON position, and then every third switch is changed from whatever position it is in to the other position. How many switches are now in the ON position?

Answer: _____________

 

5. What is the least whole number that is divisible by all the whole numbers from 1 through 9?

Answer: _____________

 

6. Find the product:

(1 - 1/2) (1 - 1/3) (1 - 1/4) (1 - 1/5) through (1 - 1/39) (1 - 1/40)

Answer: _____________