Neat
word/number Math Puzzlers in October
Mr. Math Puzzler
has come up with some neat puzzlers for October. But, for
the first time in several months, he didn't use any illustrations.
He used only words and numbers.
With the start
of school last month, the number of Math Puzzler entries increased.
Maybe that meant that some of you took Mr. Math Puzzler's
suggestion that you ask your math teacher if entering the
contest might be worth some extra-credit points.
For the rest of
you, there's still time to ask about extra credit for entering
without having to submit another class project.
And, maybe, if
you get all of the October Puzzlers right, your teacher might
be willing to give some extra-extra credit. You also have
a chance to win a $10 Borders' book certificate.
Youth Saint
Louis.com started the Math Puzzlers in September, 2001.
We began the math quizzes as a way to let kids have fun with
math--outside of the classroom.
Wayne Hesse of
Green Park Lutheran School is Mr. Math Puzzler, He teaches
math and also coaches at the school in south St. Louis County.
He's been doing
the puzzles long enough so you can check previous quizzes
and find out how he thinks. (To check past entries, click
on Past Stories at the top of the home page. Starting
September, 2001, you can check questions and then, in the
next month's issue, check the answers.)
Now, you're ready
to enter this month's competition.
If you get all
Puzzlers correct, YSL.com prints the names of winners
the next month. Also, all winning entries are put in a hat
and up to three are selected to receive $10 Borders gift certificates.
In November, we'll
publish names of those who answered all questions correctly.
We'll also include explanations of the answers. (For September
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:
- 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 October, 2002, Math Puzzler Contest:
Name: _____________________________________
Address: ___________________________________
City:_____________________,
State:_____ ZIP_________
Contact phone
no.(____)____________________
The Math Puzzlers
(October, 2002)
1. If one-half
of 12 were 8, what would one-third of 36 be?
Answer:_____________
2. What size square
has a perimeter that is equal (in number only) to its area?
Answer:_____________
3. a.) If the
number of quarters I have is a multiple of 5, it is a number
between 1 and 19.
b.) If the number
of quarters I have isn't a multiple of 8, it's a number between
20 and 29.
c.) If the number
of quarters I have isn't a multiple of 10, it's a number between
30 and 39.
What total number
of quarters do I have?
Answer:_____________
4. Each morning
a farm woman collects the eggs her hens have laid. One day,
she stumbled as she left the coop and all the eggs were broken.
"How many
eggs did you collect?" asked the daughter.
"I don't
know," said the woman, "but I do remember that when
I divided the number of eggs by 2, there was one egg left;
when I divided the number by three, there were no eggs left,
and when I divided by 5, there were three eggs left."
The woman had
more than four eggs but fewer than 40. How many eggs were
broken?
Answer:______________
5. A man said
to a friend, "I have three sons. They are all less than
10 years of age, but greater than one. The product of the
ages of the two youngest equals the age of the oldest. The
sum of their three ages equals a prime number. How old are
my sons?
Answer:______________
6. On the Island
of Odds, one third of the native people always lie, one third
always tell the truth and one third are "normals"
in that they sometimes lie and sometimes tell the truth. The
chances of encountering any one of the three native people
on the road on the island are the same. If a traveler meets
a native on the road each of two successive days, what is
the probability that at least one of the two native people
is "normal?" (Hint: Make a diagram.)
Answer:______________
