Some tricky questions for Math Mania
in October

Math Mania--The figuring you'll need for the October Math Mania questions won't be too hard. But, be sure you understand the wording of the questions fully before you try to solve the problems.

And just to make the contest more fun, there is more than one answer to Question 7. Yes, there are seven questions this month.

Ms. Math Mania is Amy Ruzicka, a math teacher at St. Gabriel's School in St. Louis.

She's very serious about teaching math. But, she also realizes you'll probably learn math better if there's some enjoyment and fun involved.

That's also Young Saint Louis.com's reason for publishing Math Mania. We want you to learn about various math strategies. But, our problems offer a double bonus: First, the results aren't figured into your class grade, and, second, there's a chance to win a prize.

If you enter the Math Mania contest and get all seven questions correct, you may win a $10 Border's gift certificate. Up to three Border's certificates are awarded each month to those who get all answers correct..

If more than three entrants get all answers correct, all winning entries will be put in a hat. Then, three will be drawn to get the certificates. If there are three or less winning entries, all will get certificates.

How to enter:

Math Mania Contest
Young Saint Louis.com
813 Rotherham Dr.
Ballwin, Mo. 63011

(All entries must be postmarked by the
15th of the month to be eligible.)

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

Entry for October 2005, Math Mania Contest:

Name: __________________________________ Age: _____

Address: _________________________ School: ___________

City: _____________________ State: ______ Zip: __________

Contact phone: (_____) _____________________

 

October Math Mania

1. Thirty percent of the people in a certain town have unlisted phone numbers. You select 200 people at random from the phone book. What is the expected number of people who will have unlisted phone numbers?

Answer: ________________

 

2. Using the following numbers, how many different ways are there to add 3 numbers to make a sum of 10? A number can be used more than once, but a group cannot be repeated in a different order (e.g., 3+2+1 is the same as 2+3+1).

Answer: ________________

 

3. A frog ate 104 bugs in 4 days. Each day he ate 10 more than on the previous day. How many did he eat each day?

Answer: ________________

 

4. Find the reciprocal (in lowest terms).

Answer: ________________

 

5. What number is as much greater than -12 as it is less than 18?

Answer: ________________

 

6. Move one number to another group so the sum of the digits in each group will be equal.

Answer: Show on the illustration

 

7. Use five 4's to make an equation that equals 261. Any mathematical operations and symbols may be used. Be sure to follow the correct order of operations!

Answer: ________________

 

CLICK HERE FOR ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH'S MATH MANIA