Keep those Math Puzzlers
coming in the summer

Some of you apparently are taking the summer off when it comes to entering the Math Puzzler competition. The number of entries in June fell off but we did have a winner.

But, Mr. Math Puzzler --math teacher Wayne Hesse of Green Park Lutheran School--has come up with a whole new set of questions for July. This time, there are no illustrations, just word questions.

He's got some crazy names but most of the questions are pretty straight forward math. You can get some clues by looking back at Puzzlers from previous months.

(To look for clues, just click on the Past Stories tab at the top of the home page. Then, you can review puzzlers all the way back to when they started in September, 2001. If you check September, 2001, questions, you can get the answers by clicking on to October, 2001. The answers to one month's questions are always listed the following month, all the way to the present.)

Young Saint Louis.com started the Math Puzzlers last fall as a way for kids to participate personally in the website. Each month, Mr. Math Puzzler comes up with a half-dozen new, brain-teasing math questions.

We've included a ready-made entry form below that you can use to send in with your answers. If you get all Puzzlers correct, we print the names of winners the next month and offer an added bonus for up to three of those getting all the answers right.

All winning entries are put in a hat and up to three are selected to receive a $10 Borders gift certificate.

Remember, you can enter more than once. If you think a Puzzler could be answered more than one way, you can print out two different entry blanks. That way you can give one answer on one entry and a second one on the other form.

Submit your answers to the July contest by using the form below. In August, we'll publish names of those who answered all questions correctly. We'll also include explanations of the answers. (For June winners and answers, click here.)

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
   7733 Forsyth Blvd., Suite 350
   Clayton, MO 63105
   
   
6. 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 July, 2002, Math Puzzler Contest:

Name: _____________________________________

Address: ___________________________________

City:___________________, State:______ ZIP_______

Contact phone no.(______)____________________

The Math Puzzlers
(July, 2002)

1. How far do you have to count before using the letter A in the spelling of a number?

 

Answer:_____________

 

2. Make 1,000 by using exactly eight 8's. You may use any operation signs between the numbers that you need.

 

Answer:_____________

 

3. Change the ZIP code 63125 from Arabic numerals to a Roman numeral. (Hint: Because we don't use large Roman numerals very often, you might want to check in the front or back of a big dictionary to see how to handle numbers that go into the many thousands.)

 

Answer:_____________

 

4. Gareth collects winged cats. One day, a friend asked him, "How many winged cats do you have now, Gareth?" Gareth answered, "I have two-thirds of their number plus two-thirds of a winged cat." How many winged cats does Gareth have?

 

Answer:______________

 

5. Jarblek, Belgar, Poklgar and Garion were each paid the same hourly rate to build a bridge. One day, Jarblek worked the full day, Belgar worked half of a day and Poklgar worked half as long as Belgar and one third as long as Garion. Together the four earned 40 lucs. How many lucs did each receive?

 

Answer:______________

 

6. A knight on horseback left Belft to ride to Dalch at the same time another knight left Dalch on horseback to ride to Belft along the same road. The first knight traveled 30 miles per hour and the second knight traveled 28 miles per hour. How far apart were the two knights one hour before they met?

 

Answer:______________