December 2014 / January 2015 Newsflash: Tips & Techniques

Upper Elementary and Middle School

Find the perimeter of the shape below. (Hint: there is enough information.)

Solution:

The length on the bottom of the rectangle is the same as the length on the top, although the top has been split into two pieces. Similarly the width on the left is 11 inches and the width on right is also 11 inches, again in two pieces. 

Now, the length of the side is given in inches and the length of the bottom is given in feet. Since we have to add to get the perimeter, the Law of SAMEness requires the units to be the same. Let’s change 2 feet into 24 inches (2 x 12). 

Note that it is not necessary to know the exact measurement of the length and width. All that matters is that we know the total length of each. 

With that, 11 in + 11 in + 24 in + 24 in = 70 inches.

Algebra 

If ax + 2a = c and x + 2 = 3, express a in terms of c. 

Solution: 

If ax + 2a = c, then a(x + 2) = c. Now, substitute “3” for “x + 2” and you get 3a = c, 

so a = c/3.

December 2014 / January 2015 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge

Grades 1 – 5: Jim is 6 inches taller than Bill. If Bill is 4 feet 7 inches tall, how tall is Jim?

Grades 6 and up: Three equally priced pens cost $4.50 altogether. If the cost per pen is increased by $0.50, how much will 5 pens cost at the new rate?

Answers to Last Month’s Math Muscle Challenge

Grades 1 – 5: 9 dogs and 7 owners

Grades 6 and up: 96

December 2014 / January 2015 Newsflash: Math Matters

This holiday season, we’re all about making math practical at home! As you and your kids enjoy quality time (and a much-needed break from school), remember that the holidays come with many opportunities for you to show your child how useful (and fun!) math can be in the real world. From cooking to gift shopping and all points in between, check out this article for our comprehensive guide to keeping your child’s math skills fresh outside the classroom.

In other news, we hope you’ll keep your child’s math progress top of mind as you begin a new year and a new semester! The new year is the perfect time for a fresh start and a new perspective. As the holiday buzz dies down, have a heart-to-heart with your child about progress in math before the second half of the school year really picks up. Here are some talking points to guide you:

•  Look toward the future and set goals. And we’re not just talking about the spring semester. Think big. What does your child want to be when he or she grows up? Having strong math skills could make all the difference as your child pursues a dream career. Help your child understand that regardless of his or her life goals, number sense and problem solving savvy are key to a well-rounded intellectual foundation. Aspiring doctors, accountants, and engineers will find themselves working with numbers day-to-day. Meanwhile, fledgling writers and artists will encounter many situations where a strong understanding of math concepts could provide extra inspiration and help them level up as they explore and utilize their creativity in professional settings. 

•  Get down to details and be realistic. Make it clear that improvement can’t and won’t happen overnight. You need an action plan, hard work, and consistent effort to progress in math. Encourage your child to commit to making math a priority in the coming year. Explore practical options that will lead to progress, including adhering to a study schedule, staying focused and attentive in class, and seeking supplemental help if needed.

•  Be positive! Success starts with the right attitude. Let your child know that you have full faith in their capabilities, and reassure them that you’ll be there every step of the way with love and support when things get tough. 

We’re really looking forward to helping your child meet their math potential in the new year! Let’s make 2015 count!

August/September 2014 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge

Take the Math Muscle Challenge!

Grades 1 – 6: A racehorse can run a mile in 1 minute 40 seconds.  At that rate, how many seconds will it take the horse to run a half-furlong? (Hint – A furlong is 1/8 of a mile.)

Grades 6 and up: Brian is going on a road trip in his van. When he leaves the house, he has a half tank of gas. After driving for 4 hours, he used 80% of the gas in the tank. At that point he had 2 gallons of gas left. How many gallons of gas does the gas tank hold?

Answers to Last Math Muscle Challenge

Grades 1 – 6: 32 ducks

Grades 6 and up: 3366

Note: There are many ways to solve this problem. One way is to start by finding the second and third digit of the combination. As the problem stated, the first two digits are the same and adding them together produces the third digit. That means the third digit is actually twice as much as the second digit. We also know that the second and third digit form a perfect square whose square root is the fourth digit. Looking at the two-digit perfect roots 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, and 81, we see that there’s only one that has a third digit that’s twice as much as the second digit: 36. That means the first digit must also be a 3. Adding 3 and 3 does give 6. Now, we take the square root of 36 we get 6 so the fourth digit is also 6, which is the same as the third digit.

This means the combination is 3366.

June/July 2014 Newsflash: Math Muscle Challenge

Answers to last month's challenges:

Grades 1-6: $37.15
Grades 6 and up: 64 times larger

This month's problems:

Grades 1 - 6: 

Rick goes to the park each day and counts the number of ducks swimming on the pond. On Sunday he counts 1 duck. On Monday he counts 2 ducks. On Tuesday he counts 4 ducks.  On Wednesday he counts 8 ducks. If this pattern continues, how many ducks will Rick count on Friday?

Grades 6 and up: 

Richard put an important document into a safe with a four digit numerical combination. In order for his partner Kevin to retrieve the document he must enter the correct combination. Richard told Kevin that the first two digits are identical and the last two digits are identical (XXYY). He also said the third digit is the sum of the first two digits and the last digit is the square root of the number formed by the middle two digits. What is the combination? (*Hint – The middle two digits together form a number that is a perfect square.)