Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Middle School Math?

My friend Amy sent me this great math problem today. See if you can figure it out. Reply with your answer in the comment section and after a few days I will let you know if you get it right!

This is a 5th grade math problem. If you can't stand word math problems, just turn away now. This is not a trick question. This is a real math problem so don't say that a bus has no legs.

There are 7 girls in a bus
Each girl has 7 backpacks
In each backpack, there are 7 big cats
For every big cat there are 7 little cats
Question: How many legs are there in the bus?

Good Luck!!

16 comments:

Debra Fiterman said...

I'm going with 1582...

So fun tonight and book club is NOT dying. What do I win if I'm right???

Nate Hanson said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Nate Hanson said...

10,990 FTW (For the Win, for those of you who aren't current on their acronyms or who don't play WoW (World of Warcraft) for those of you who actually have a life)

Anonymous said...

Vernon County registers 1582 also...

!
Dad

Anonymous said...

HINT: One of two answers given so far is the correct answer.

Debra Fiterman said...

I just realized my mistake!! Oh no...why on earth woul each girl have 7 backpacks?? That is just excessive.

Nate Hanson said...

Assuming that Debra did in fact make a mistake; that means that Vernon County is also incorrect. Leaving me to bask in all of my Middle School Math Glory. What do I win?

Becca said...

Oh NO YOU DIDN'T
I just started drawing a picture, determined to get it right, and I just realized that
a) I don't have time to draw the picture
b) I'm starting to sweat
c) The drawing and sweating is EXACTLY why I ended up crying through most of my grade school math classes

Anonymous said...

OH COME ON...I'M TOO OLD FOR THIS...WHO CARES HOW MANY LEGS...HOW'D THOSE 7 GIRLS GET ALL THOSE CATS 'IN' THOSE BACKPACKS....TOF

Anonymous said...

Well, I always hate telling Nate that he is right, but 10,990 IS the correct answer. Hopefully there were no tears shed over this one...

Nate Hanson said...

Woot Woot!

Anonymous said...

I think Nate is the teachers pet...!

Dad

Anonymous said...

Are you sure!??? I got 12,348
14legs on the girls + 343 lg cats x4 = 1372, 2401 small cats x4 = 9604As in school, please show the work!

and who is the blog administator?

love Mom

Anonymous said...

Dang, re-added by hand and got the 10,990. So much for modern technology (the calculator was modern tech in the 70's)

I wonder where Gert gets her competativeness from?

Mom

Amy J said...

Wow I can't believe I just now found your posting about this math problem! I am CRACKING up reading the entries about it because I'm so glad it has brought so much enjoyment to so many people. I loved the problem...probably only because I got it right away but hey at least I know I'm in the right line of work. Anyway, Debra I agree it's totally excessive to have 7 backpacks with all those cats on just one little girl. Becca, I'd love to see the picture! I guess I should keep the word problems coming...

Anonymous said...

clearly these were not farm cats.

Uncle Todd.